s90 with ikelite housing question/problem

[landcruiser]

newbie question . . . .
sorry guys if this has been answered before . . . i recently got a canon s90 and an ikelite housing and i've run into 2 issues. the first is that i'm unable operate the mode dial on the camera through the housing . . . the rubber piece slips on the mode dial. i was able to remedy this by sticking an additional rubber disc on it . . . but is this normal ?

the second question is that after using it (i've only been on 2 dives with it) i noticed a fair amount of condensation on the inside. i'm pretty new to the whole underwater photography thing but never had this problem with my 720is/canon housing.

any thoughts or advice would be appreciated. thank you kindly for your time.

regards,
d

 

[KhunNeal]

The ikelite mode dial will depress, have you tried pushing down on it after inserting the camera ?

I have not had any problem with condensation, in contrast my old camera an Olympus 5050 always had condensation problems. maybe you dive in colder water than I do.
Try using silica packs, you should be able to buy them at a camera store - try and get the smallest size available, there is not a lot of room in the ikelite housing.

 

[Jorgy]

As KN mentioned the mode knob moves up and down, make sure you push it all the way down.....

See first two pics below......

I did have an issue with my housing, on the second dive in St Thomas I could not get the camera to turn on with the on/off switch, after the dives I traced the problem to how the camera fits in the housing.......so I ended up inserting a foil tablet holder as a "shim" on the left side, see third pic.....this allowed the camera to work for the rest of the trip.....

I am not sure if this a housing issue or my specific camera......if the on/off button is a bit recessed on my S90.......in any event with the shim it works......

Finally, add desiccant pacs to you camera, I like these from Olympus as they come individually wrapped, see forth pic, they are not cheap, but rather than fog up a housing.....

Hope this helps........M

 

[Nemrod]

Condensation is an operator error issue. You need to close the camera where possible the evening before the dive with the desiccant installed. Keep the camera in shade, wrap it with a towel etc.

If you open the housing on the boat, do it in the shade or under a towel.

N

 

[landcruiser]

guys, thanks so much for your reponses. jorgy, the pictures were appreciated. i did push the knob down all the way . . . but it still slips . . . the extra rubber shim i added seems to do the trick . ..

jorgy, my on/off switch is a bit troublesome like yours . . .

with regard to condensation i had put a small dessicant pack in the housing . . . but i'm not sure how old it was (i grabbed it out of a random electronics box at home). i'll order some new ones and give it a whirl. thanks again everyone . . . much appreciated.


regards,

d

 

[Nemrod]

guys, thanks so much for your reponses. jorgy, the pictures were appreciated. i did push the knob down all the way . . . but it still slips . . . the extra rubber shim i added seems to do the trick . ..

jorgy, my on/off switch is a bit troublesome like yours . . .

with regard to condensation i had put a small dessicant pack in the housing . . . but i'm not sure how old it was (i grabbed it out of a random electronics box at home). i'll order some new ones and give it a whirl. thanks again everyone . . . much appreciated.


regards,

d

You have to use new ones or "recharge" them. The old one you put in was useless.

It is normal for the mode knob to slip, you need to push down on it gently when you turn it. Yes, it is supposed to retract for camera removal.

N

 

[Jorgy]

if your on/off button is troublesome that would indicate that the housing is a bit off....

I wonder if other users have this issue.......

I also discovered you can turn the camera on by first going to preview then depressing the shutter release the camera fully powers up.....

Maybe for your housing a shim on both the left and right side would be better.....

The left for the on/off and the right for the mode dial......

M

 

[Jorgy]

For desiccant please see link.......

Individually wrapped......

Olympus | Silica Gel Desiccant | 200923 | B&H Photo Video

Hope this helps......M

 

[KhunNeal]

I had the same problem w/ on/off, I would guess it happens with all units

I used a spacer/washer from a computer motherboard, the small red washer used between the motherboard and the screws. Just took off the plastic top, slipped the washer on, put the plastic cap back and it worked great.

 

[Jorgy]

Interesting that all three of us had an issue.....

I wonder if Ike has a position on this?

Can you post a pic of your fix? It seems more robust than my shim solution....

M