fogging lense

hi ho

ive started having a problem with my lense fogging.

its sumer where i dive so the ambient temp can be around 30c + when im gearing up . plus a of humidity as well.

what is happening latley is that my lense remains clear till i enter the water( which is 19c ) then fogs up for the first 30min of the dive ,gradually clearing up

what can i do to prevent this from happening???

im using silica gell pacs but i think theve stoped working (ive tried recharging them by microwaving them )

where can u buy the small silica pacs u use in cameras?

thanks

matty

We typically dive where the air temps are very high, so we have the room air conditioning running. I assemble everything in the room in the cool dry air. When I leave to go to the dive boat, everything fogs up on the outside, but the inside of my lenses and ports stay dry.

That works in a hot climate with AC, but I don't know what problems you would have in other situations.

Jim

Jimbo has it right ..

it doesnt matter where you are .. the problem you are having is the same.

If you odnt have access to an Air Conditioned room to assemble in then you do have other options which are less good.

1. Silica Packs, available from B&H photo and most camera stores.

2. If you assemble the camera and housing outdoors it is almost guarenteed to fog up. In the caribbean it takes only 5 - 10 mins to unfog as the waterw is relatively warm, ie closer to air temperature than you have to deal with so it is an acceptable loss of shooting time. But if no other option is available leave your camera in a rinse barrel of water or hanging in the water you will be diving in for as much time as possible in order to make the fog go by the time you dive. So set camera up, oplace in rinse barrel get ready to dive, and dive. Will be less fogged up time.

even though that method will work i dont advise it as you are just extending the time your camera has to flood ! I know too many people that have lost equipment to rinse barrels on boats as t hey leave them in there and they bounce around and water gets in.

AC is the way to go.

Giles

thanks guys

most of the diving im doing is land based and my accom does not have a/c so its a bit dificult.

ill get some new silica pacs and try that.

so if possible i should set up my camera in a situation where the ambient temp is as close to the water temp as possible ????? & dry air if possible?

reguards

matty

Dry air is more important than the temp of the air, although the closer the lens is to the water temp, the less fogging you'll get if you have moisture in the housing.