Strange Canon Camera Problem. Need Advice!

[khsjsilver]

I have been diving for several years with the Canon S80 with the WP-DC1 housing. The camera and housing have already worked perfectly. Several weeks ago when I was diving in Jamaica, I encountered a very strange problem with my camera.

Before entering the water, the camera was all set and perfect. After I got into the water and reached our bottom depth of about 65 feet, I went to snap some shots. I quickly realized that there was something wrong with the camera. While I was able to take pictures and the shutter button worked fine, almost all of the other button controls on the camera were not working. I could switch from taking pictures to viewing the pictures, but that was it. I couldn't zoom, I couldn't scrolls through the pictures, I couldn't delete a pictures. None of the controls on the would work. Here is the really strange thing - While the camera is set to shut itself off after 1 minute of non use, the camera stayed on the whole time and wouldn't shut off. This killed the battery life pretty quickly.

When I got back into the boat after the dive, the camera (still in the housing) and all of the controls started working again. This pattern of activity continued throughout all of my dives that week. By the way, there were no leaks in the case.

I wonder if somehow the pressure could have been causing the problem, but I have never had any problems in the past and the housing never leaks. I called Canon and they said that they have never heard of any problems like this. Canon suggested that I send them the camera & housing, but they also said that there was no real way that they could test the camera since they wouldn't be taking it on a real dive.

I thought about replacing the O-Ring, but as I said, the camera wasn't leaking. In addition, I am planning a trip to the Caymans and I would hate to take the camera on the trip without having a guaranteed fix.

Has anyone heard about something like this? Does anyone have any suggestions??

Thanks for your help.

Ken

 

[jdcpa]

Likely one of the housing buttons is pushing on one of the camera controls.

Check and see if all of the housing buttons are fully retracted.

 

[String]

Had same problem with my A620 a few times and it was caused by one of the other buttons permanently pressied in by the housing.

 

[khsjsilver]

Do you think that a stuck button would only happen when at the bottom depth? The camera was fine when I was out of the water.

Also, why would a stuck button this effect the camera not shutting down after the minute of non-use?

Thanks.

 

[SparticleBrane]

Like the other posters said, chances are there's a button being pushed, or (IMHO) more likely, the zoom was probably being 'zoomed' the entire time, which usually leads to the camera not doing much else. Why? Because it's continually receiving an input, and that's all it can do at that one point in time.

That would also explain why the camera wouldn't shut off -- it was continually receiving an input to zoom or do whatever, so it was "in-use".

 

[String]

Do you think that a stuck button would only happen when at the bottom depth? The camera was fine when I was out of the water.

Sometimes the increased pressure will cause it, sometimes a bang from jumping in can cause it. Occasionally it can happen in the housing on land. The solution i found was proper maintenance of the housing - some light machine oil in the buttons and springs worked for me.

 

[khsjsilver]

I took a look at the inside of the housing to see how fluid the buttons are and I do see that a couple of them are a little "sticky".

What is the best way to lubricate them? Is machine oil the right lubricant to use?

Since most of the parts are plastic, I wouldn't have guessed the machine oil is the right thing to use.

Thanks for all your help!!

Ken

 

[SparticleBrane]

I would take it for a few more dives before stating to mess with the housing. The problem might have resolved itself. If not, pay careful attention to the buttons and levers to see what is causing the continuous input issue.

 

[Scuba Ken]

Also try a different battery, If the battery is getting old it may not be providing correct voltage as the temperature drops when you enter the water and cause the computer in the camera to go nutty.

 

[bhalah]

Here is a link to the underwater photography section of the canon website.
There may be some useful info there.

Digital Cameras - High-End, Advanced Digital Cameras - Performance and Style, Digital ELPH Cameras - Easy and Fun! A-Series Digital Cameras - E-Series Digital Cameras - Underwater Photo - Underwater Photography - Canon USA Consumer Products