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Date Posted: Mon, Jun 28 2004, 18:16:37
Author: Alex Kang
Subject: Re: underwater camera housing reliable?
In reply to: Char 's message, "underwater camera housing reliable?" on Mon, Jun 28 2004, 12:50:48

I've been using my Canon A40 U/W housing for almost 2 years and 45 dives without any mishaps so far. Manufacturers will only warranty against manufacturing defects, not against flooding as this really depends on how well you maintain the housing, and in particular the O-rings. Flooding is usually caused by O-rings failing.

If you maintain it well i.e. change new O-rings once a year or once every 2 years, check your O-rings to ensure free of cracks, grease it, make sure it's clear of dirt and dust before you close the case, test it before bringing it out on a dive etc. you'll minimize the chances of flooding. On most consumer uw housings including those from Olympus and Canon, there is only a single O-ring. Some professional uw housings come with 2 O-rings for added security. I believe one of the Olympus uw housings (I think for 5050) also has 2 O-rings.

Other tips:
1) The less frequently you open the case, the less chance of flooding.
That's why I prefer to use cameras with AA batteries. A set of 4 freshly charged batteries on my A40 easily lasts me a whole day of diving (avg 3 dives) - and I've even gone a whole weekend of diving without changing batteries. Usually I open my casing only once per day to pop in a fresh set of rechargeables. If it survives the 1st dive of the day (usually the deepest), it'll usually survive the rest.

2) Always test out the housing after you close it.
Immerse in a tub of water, move it side-to-side to create some pressure and watch for leaks (continuous stream of tiny air bubbles). Sometimes I just bring it out snorkeling, skin-dive to about 3m and check for leaks. I've also heard of divers who bring out an empty uw housing on their first dive to make sure their O-ring is in good condition before putting their camera into it for the next dive.

3) Take care not to bump your casing on rocks, corals etc. when diving. I usually strap the camera to my hand and hold it instead of attaching it to my BC and dragging it along. That way I avoid bumping it and it's always ready for shooting.

4) When night diving, I will attach a small uw torchlight to my housing strap. That way it's easier to spot leaks and also if it ever slips out of my hand, I should be able to see it. A silum stick may also work, though a torch is brighter. Don't rely on light from the camera LCD as most digicams have auto-turn off to save power.

5) When diving, check the housing after you enter the water before you descend, and when descending, keep an eye on the housing to check for leaks.

6) Always rinse the camera in fresh water after a dive to get rid of salts and minerals that get left behind when seawater evaporates. Then dry it and clean it before you open the case.


Even if you follow all these tips, you may still encounter flooding. If that ever happens, never compromise your own safety to save the camera if it starts to flood. Don't rush up to the surface! Hold the case in such a way so that water pools in a portion of the housing that is not in contact with the camera or is least damaging to the camera. Ascend gradually as usual, following decomp stops if needed, the reduction in pressure should slow down the leak. Most uw housings have positive buoyancy and should float provided not too much water has entered. Perhaps as a last resort, if you carry a dive sausage, you could even attach the camera to it and inflate the sausage to bring it up to the surface! Since it is highly visible, that way you can easily find your camera to recover it.

In the end, it's all up to you whether you want to take the risk diving with a >$1000 camera in a $350 casing. I've known a few divers who've flooded their housings and lost their digicams. For me, I'll go with something cheaper like the S$500-600 Canons and Olympuses that's less painful if that ever happens!

Alex.
Redang Island Rendezvous
www.redang.org

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Replies:

[> Re: underwater camera housing reliable? -- Char, Wed, Jun 30 2004, 0:29:42

Hi Alex, wow! thanx so much for all the valuable information & advice! it will certainly be of great help in preventing my camera frm drowning when i get my own uw housing. Still undecided at the moment though, if i shd buy the housing or buy a cheaper digicam with housing. How much does ur digicam cost together with the uw housing?


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[> [> Re: underwater camera housing reliable? -- Alex Kang, Wed, Jun 30 2004, 4:26:31

When I bought my A40 with marine pack 2 years ago, it cost me about S$900. For that price today, you can get the Canon A75 or A80 with marine pack. The A75 has an underwater scene mode for shooting with the marine pack - not sure how well it works. I'm waiting for the Canon A85 or A90 which should also have that underwater scene mode. Rumour is it would be announced around Aug or Sept.

If you want good prices for cameras & uw housing, try Jade Gift Shop at Shaw Towers in Beach Rd, or Paris Silk in Holland V, or Cathay photo.


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