G9 and underwater housing

[Roberto Chaves]

Hi,

I've been looking at buying the G9, as it seems to be the first interesting compact camera for a photographer.
I'm traveling abroad and I am considering getting the Canon WP-DC21 underwater house for it.

However the only two reviews I found complain that it fogs quickly.
On said it only took a few minutes and the other said it fogs in 10-40 min.

Just wanted to hear if anyone else has any experience with this combination, or maybe knows of another underwater housing that would work the the G9?

Maybe one can put some silica or similar inside the housing to get less fogging ?

[Nigelfrommanchester]

I have used the IXUS 850IS with the Canon underwater housing and have found it excellent - very well made with good controls. If you want an underwater housing it woould seem sensible to buy a model made specifically for the job. (It does make the camera much bigger though.)

Fogging is caused by the environment rather than the housing. If you trap warm moist air in the housing and then submerge it in colder water you will get condensation. If this happens you need to dry the housing and seal it while in an air-conditioned environment.

Biggest problem I have had is the battery failing unexpectedly because it gets cold. Its almost impossible to change it once you are wet.

[Paul Kay]

Fogging can be a problem and as has been pointed out the remedy may be to 'prep' the housing and seal it in as dry an environment as possble.

As has also been said Silica Gel is another solution.

You should be able to order "Indicator Silica Gel" from a chemist or pharmacist - when I last bought a pack I think it came in a 0.5 Kg bag, and this has lasted me years and years, which was a few £s. Indicator Silica Gel has a blue (cobalt) colouration which gradually turns pink as it absorbs water - and it can then be dried out over a radiator (or even in a microwave I believe). A small amount wrapped in a bit of old stocking closed with a tie wrap can help stop condensation in a housing and is cheap and easy to replace. I used to do this when I used plastic housings but I now use alloy housings which seem far less prone to fogging.