Condensation concerns

[Wiggsy]

Despite putting in one (sometimes 2) new Olympus silica gel sachets before each double dive, I am still often getting condensation problems in my Olympus PT 019 housing (Oly c5000z camera). And this when other divers with other Olympus cameras get through a whole trip on the one sachet! We were diving Beqa, Fiji one month back - air temp was 25-27 degress - water temp was 27 degrees (celsius obviously) The problem was also often hard to detect as I usually had an Epoque wide angle lens on and could not actually see then lens plate!

The mystery as to why this camera/housing combo is so prone to condensation may be in the lack of airspace around the lens barrel. I notice, relative to other camera housings, there is little potential for air circulation (the housing is very tight to the camera body).I have had success when I can close the housing up in front of a cold air conditioner, but that is not always available


Any ideas would be greatly appreciated - as I'm tired of getting foggy results 2/3rds of the way through almost every dive. .

 

[Gilligan]

There are a few reasons for condensation occuring.

It is important to put the camera in the housing in as dry a climate as possible. That's why an A/C environment is best. It is also important to keep the housing/camera out of the sun and heat. That's where a soft beverage cooler comes into play as it is insulated. Put the housing/camera in the cooler before you exit the building.

I use re-chargeable desiccant (silica) in my PT-010 housing on every dive. One of the keys to using the desiccant is that it is not used up to begin with hence the re-chargeable type. You can order it in bulk from The Preservation Station (link). This desiccant is purple when charged and turns pink when it needs re-charging. That can be accomplished at the lowest temp in a toaster oven or a microwave.

Another thing to remember is keeping the supply of desiccant charged. Keep it in a glass jar, not plastic, and one with a seal on the lid. I keep mine in an empty mustard jar. I also have a small glass jar (from pimientos) that I keep the desiccant stocking in that I am currently using until it turns pink then I replace it. I use a cut-off piece of nylon stocking to put the desiccant in with a twist tie. That way you can cut a piece to fit the space, or spaces, in your housing.

I have kept a supply of charged desiccant for months in a glass jar ready for use. I get anywhere from 3 to 5 uses from a stocking before having to change it. I am not loading my camera in an A/C environment but it is not very humid here on Maui.

I keep my camera setup in a soft insulated beverage cooler in direct sunlight on the deck of my kayak and have never had a fogging problem.

 

[Diver Dennis]

An old girlfriend had the same camera, well a 5050 I think, anyway, she had the same problems and it was the camera heating up in the housing after about 85 shots on a dive. I don't know if it is particular cameras or what but she did the same things you were doing and still had problems. She ended up limiting the number of shots she took per dive.

 

[caribbeansoul]

Two things I found helped with this problem. Do not leave the housing sitting in the rinse tank between dives. The sun can heat up the water in the rinse bucket and when you take the camera from there straight to cooler water it can cause condensation in the housing. Also, cover the housing with a wet towel or keep it in the shade between dives. This will also help to keep the housing from heating up, reducing condensation during the dive.

 

[jlyle]

OK - as a chemist, I need to jump in here. If there is no moisture inside the camera/housing, it cannot give you condensation, no matter how much it heats up in the sun or while taking pictures. To avoid condensation, you must avoid moisture.

Rule 1: NEVER TAKE A CAMERA FROM AN A/C ROOM OUTSIDE IN A WARM, HUMID CLIMATE! You will get condensation inside the camera that will plague you later. Instead, put the camera in a plastic bag before you leave the room and let it equilibrate with ambient temperature before removing it from the bag to take pictures.

Rule 2: Load the camera into the housing in your A/C room, where the air is much lower humidity. In a pinch, you can purge the housing with some air from a scuba tank (tank air is dry).

Rule 3: Use fresh dessicant packs. See previous replies to this thread.

Rule 4: See rule 1!

 

[Gilligan]

I agree with jlyle in that if you step out of an A/C environment into a hot and/or humid climate with a camera the lens is guaranteed to fog up with condensation until the temp in the camera equalizes.

I will clarify my previous statement. While in Thailand in a 90+ temp and near 100% humidity I loaded my camera into the housing with desiccant in my A/C room then took it outside in the soft beverage cooler. It never fogged up. I must assume it is equalizing while sealed in the housing as it would in the plastic bag that jlyle stated. I still believe the soft insulated cooler is a major player in the "condensationless" routine.

 

[Wiggsy]

Thanks for the help folks! Food for thought - I reckon the main problem is that I'm just running too hot with the shutter and generating heat - it's does seem to be a problem on all the big dives (Blue Corner at Palau! - Fantasy at Beqa Lagoon Fiji) when I'm really pumping the shots through. I looked at each shot and on some dives I'm taking over one photo per minute.....Regarding taking a camera out of a cold air cond room into a hot humid environment - I did that once at Palau and had condensation forming on the outside of the housing - specifically between the outer lens plate and the wide angle lens attachment. I suppose the key is to keep the temperature of the housinmg as neutral as possible and avoid fluctuations. Can be annoying though - and with the C5000z housing there is very little air circulation near the lens plate (which is the coldest part of the housing as it conducts heat fastest and therefore attracts moisture quickest.)

There is precious little room for larger dessicant sachets in this housing - I have been using the Olympus slim ones but will give the reusable product a try.

Thanks again! Good shooting.

 

[jlyle]

.....Regarding taking a camera out of a cold air cond room into a hot humid environment - I did that once at Palau and had condensation forming on the outside of the housing -

Maybe I should have been clearer, never take an unhoused camera from an a/c room outside in hot humid climates. Not only will you get condensation on the outside of the camera, but also inside.

Heat is not the culprit - it's moisture inside the camera/housing. If you don't have any moisture inside your camera/housing, you will not get condensation, no matter how many pictures you take or how warm the camera gets. On the other hand, if there's any moisture inside your camera, it will lead to condesation inside the housing in cool/cold water.