Rain-off on L&M glass lens

I like to take some shots at the surface at the end of the dive such as the boat bearing down and customers climbing the ladders etc.. Not easy with a housing as big as the Bluefin FX1 but just about possible.

I want to try some Karshine "Rain-off", the stuff used on car windscreens, to help the water run off and get better footage. I also want to use it for future "half in half out" jobs. I think I've had more pro jobs like that than I have had submerged ones.

Has anyone tried this? I've heard Rain-off can craze and crack plastic lenses, but the Bluefin has an uncoated hardened glass lens. Is it safe to use?

Also would the image quality underwater be any worse?

And how long would it last before needing refreshing?

Nick, Rainex will be fine...as you said uncoated glass. I would recommend an alternative as you must maintain the rainex coating for it to work consistently. Here are two good options i have used for over-unders with the FX1:

1. Spit. Big spit ball on the lens after packing those sinus's during the dive. Spit, quick rinse dip and good to go

2. Liquid soap (bio safe of course) carried in a small mask defogger container. One or two drops on the lens..dunk/rinse and good to go.

let me know if the works for you.

shawn

2. Liquid soap (bio safe of course) carried in a small mask defogger container. One or two drops on the lens..dunk/rinse and good to go.

Probably best not to dunk in the tank for cameras, if anyone sees soap go in there they can get bummed

When we shoot the day Whale Sharks DVD's we just use good old spit, then splash water over it, while standing on the marlin board or from the mask dump bucket / deck hose.

The more spit you use the better. It lasts for a drop then next drop do it again etc.

That way we can get clear shots of falling in the water with the people and any split shots for that drop.

Have used rainex & shampoo but it always seems to not last or leaves a bead somewhere. Also once back on the boat we need to wipe the lens dry so you can get onbaord shots of people so spit always turns out being the best thing to use in these conditions.

I use spit myself. RealDrew...i was referring dunkingin the ocean...certainly not camera rinse tanks.

Thanks all. So with the mask and that big lens to cover I'm going to get like Pavlov's dogs before their dindins and start phlegming up 10 minutes before the dive

I use spit myself. RealDrew...i was referring dunkingin the ocean...certainly not camera rinse tanks.

Shawn figured you did (I mean not use the rinse tanks ) but threw it out there just in case. Sometimes you see things on the boat that make you go

BTW how did the PAL conversion finally work out?

I went with the Natress Conversion and it worked really well. none of the stutter i had seen using other methods.

-thanks for checking

I went with the Natress Conversion and it worked really well. none of the stutter i had seen using other methods.

-thanks for checking

Glad it worked out, what you are doing is really great