G11 Canon Housing buttons sticking at depth?

[Angry Turtle]

My wife just got a G11 and corresponding canon housing.

She took it on our Bonaire trip this past week.

Everything was well except when going below 70 ft.

The shutter button would get stuck, and would not un-stick until she went shallower.

The same thing happened on more than one dive, and would always resolve itself by going shallower.

Is this a known or common issue or could it be just her housing?

We are wondering if she should exchange it for the same or get a different brand. Our closest diving is typically done in 70-80 ft and this would render the housing unusable.

 

[Bubbletrubble]

Have you tried this DIY fix?

I see this as a maintenance issue. It can happen with any housing. Post-dive rinsing is very important. Make sure that you work the buttons in fresh water while rinsing. An extended soak (overnight) in fresh water can also be helpful.

 

[Warmwater Wank]

I'd say both--it's a known and common issue with the Canon housings (I have a G-10 in a WP-DC28 housing). Some food grade spray silicone sprayed into a cap then dunked out w/ a toothpick onto the shaft inside the button springs can help or silicone lube from your O-ring kit. Don't go slurping stuff on, but basically the O-ring around that shaft may benefit from the attention and allow the shaft to move freer and hopefully be less "sticky". I get my Macro button sticking more than others, which I can see if I look carefully from the side. If you know which button is sticking, a fingernail lifting at depth may help. (Maybe...)

The springs are a bit on the weak side but if you don't have the nerve, patience or manual dexterity for the DIY fix above (which is the best way!) the extra lube approach may help. Rinsing is crucial--it's easy on Bonaire not to soak your camera in fresh water (working all the buttons of course) as soon as you come up. Keep a spare water bottle around and at least splash off the buttons--doesn't take much to make them stick. What's to worry though--the good stuff is usually above 70' anyway! // ww

 

[Angry Turtle]

Thanks BT and WWW

We haven't done the DIY treatment.

The housing though, always received a thorough working of the buttons in freshwater and a half-hour soak after we went back to the resort for more tanks (about twice a day) and in the evenings. It just got a quick rinse in between consecutive dives.