More questions about leaks in the WP-DC34

[Knuknuk]

Long time reader, first time poster.

I bought a G11 with the Canon WP-DC34 housing last month and have done around 40 dives with it in Malapascua, Palau, and Yap. First 10 dives in Malapascua - no problems with leaks or condensation. In Palau, I started getting a couple of drops in the case on some dives. 1-2 drops of moisture would usually end up in the barrel, or I would sometimes end up with "bits" of moisture around the viewfinder gasket. I can see the mold release lines on the case, but I'm not sure if this is the case of the leaking or it is from improper cleaning/setup (although I thought it was done fine).

I have not yet tried to remove the mold release lines, but I'm thinking of doing it next week. Any advice or suggestions before I push ahead.

Cheers,

Sean

 

[Nemrod]

It is probably condensation.

N

 

[slowhands]

This sounds like condensed fog, not a leak. Moisture "in the barrel" is the tipoff.

There is no cure, just partial solutions. When the humid air in your housing cools in the water, the housing has a little condensation. Most often you will notice it on the port glass, because the glass transmits heat better than the plastic of the rest of the housing. Try to close up your camera in a low humidity area (an air conditioned room). Put a small silica gel capsule or maxi pad in the housing to accumulate the moisture. That's the best you can do.

 

[HerraduraDivers]

Fogging who build drops? There must be a LOT of humidity in that housing in order to creat drops from fogging. If it would like to be so, he would experience a "no Photo" situation where he could not photograph anything because of the heavily fogged lens as she - as slowhands explained- will fog before the rest of the housing (in a plastic housing!). I rather guess that there is a leak somewhere.

Chris

 

[ozziworld]

If there was enough water for drops to form, you could try tasting it if salty. Condensation would be fresh water.

 

[HerraduraDivers]

Good idea ozzieworld, i've overseen that test to verify the reason of the drops. Sometimes the simplest solutions are just too near to see...
Chris

 

[debinator]

I also have a G11 with the canon housing and it worked fine for about 35 dives before I noticed a couple of drops of water inside my housing as well. I couldn't figure out where the "leak" was coming from and discontinued the use until I could get back home and call Canon. When I spoke to a rep, he insisted that they had never had a report of leakage. And, also stated that the housing came with no warranty! After discussing this issue for a while with him and stating that the box states it is waterproof to 120 feet (not water resistant), the rep finally gave me an address to send it back to have them look at it. But again stated that it was not under warranty. After they received it, they got in touch with me and stated they would be either "repairing" this housing or sending me a new one. They sent me a new one. I had done some research and found that others were having a problem because of a bit of plastic in the housing that needed to be "filed" down to smooth it out around the edges to allow it to close tightly. So perhaps if you call them and send it back, they can replace yours as well as any others who are having that same problem. Good luck