Should I test my new Olympus PT-005S

I just received my new Olympus PT-005S. My first chance to dive with it will be on vacation next month.

I'm thinking that it might be a good idea to dive once with it empty just as a test. I am limited to six dives this trip, so I really hate to waste a dive. I am leaning on going for broke and using the camera on the first dive.

I would welcome any thoughts that folks may have.

Hi Bill,

You should use your camera BEFORE your first dive. Ideally, you would experiment with it in a pool to get familiar with the controls, strobe power/use, etc.

Trust me, this will save you a lot of frustration on your $$$$$$ dive trip.

As for taking it down empty - probably not necessary. If it doesn't leak in the first 5 meters, it probably won't leak, but YMMV.

Cheers

James Wiseman

Test it before you leave on the trip. A pool test is preferable, but even if you can dunk it in the tub, you'll usually know whether it will leak or not as most leaks occur at shallow depth (unless you take the housing way below its rated depth. Oh, and if you haven't called your insurance company to make sure they'll cover it in case of a flood, you might want ot give them a ring .

MikeO

any time I go on a dive trip I try to arrive at my location one day early and then ALWAYS take the housing into the pool (or preferably deeper) without the camera in the housing. I do this even though the housing has worked for years without a leak. You never know when you my have knocked an O-ring loose. If you haven't used your rig before take some stuff into a pool and shoot some shots. Its the quickest way to learn. After doing all this when you finally get your camera rigged for that first dive put the whole rig into the rinse tank and look for bubbles. If you have a leak that is about the only place you will have a good chance of saving the camera. Do this before every dive you make with the camera (except the last one).

As the others already said:

Try the empty housing in the pool or tub before you use it with the camera the first time.

I've never heard of an oly case that arrived damaged but you never know.

Imagine your camera drowned on the first dive. Then you'd have 5 dives left without it and you'd probably hate that too.

I'd also try to take some pictures in the pool, just to get familiar with the setup and handling.

Have a nice trip - Sabine