http://tinyurl.com/bmt5y is a waterproof housing for a Canon Digital Ixus 700 (known by a different name in the United States). I was thinking it would be a nice way to protect my camera while kayaking. But then I was wondering, "how does it keep the lens dry?" Then it became obvious that it probably doesn't. It expects you to be fully dry or fully submerged, not a mix of the two. Consequently I figure the lens is always going to be distorted with drops of water or dried salts, etc. So I guess this equipment is totally pointless for a kayaker? *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I have a Canon S1IS with a waterproof housing designed for the camera by Canon. I have used it in various kayaking, canoeing, sailing and snorkeling situations. It's easy to use and makes provisions for use in the underwater environment and in highly-lit situations by providing a little shadow box around the LCD screen. I find that when above the water surface, a quick swipe of a finger across the glass lens cover removes the larger drops of water, leaving whatever is left outside of the focal range of the lens. The S1IS (and presumably its new replacement the S2IS) have large zoom ranges of 10 to 1 and 12 to 1 respectively. In use, the front element of the lens is quite near the glass lens cover of the case, minimizing the focusing issues caused by small droplets on the cover. The electronic shake-minimizing feature of the cameras (the "IS" part) is also helpful in the aquatic environment. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I have a small Canon with a similar housing. Water does get on the lens and in my experience is hard to remove in such a way that you get clear pictures. Leaving a skim of water on the lens after wiping seems to result in fogged pictures. I have sense switched to a larger camera with a large lens opening which is easier to clear of water, and a few drops are less likely to cause big problems. The small camera will work OK if you create a lens cap to keep splashes off and are a little careful with it. Nick On Jun 18, 2005, at 10:21 PM, Black Coffee 2002 wrote: > http://tinyurl.com/bmt5y > is a waterproof housing for a Canon Digital Ixus 700 (known by a > different > name in the United States). > > I was thinking it would be a nice way to protect my camera while > kayaking. > > But then I was wondering, "how does it keep the lens dry?" > > Then it became obvious that it probably doesn't. It expects you to > be fully > dry or fully submerged, not a mix of the two. Consequently I > figure the > lens is always going to be distorted with drops of water or dried > salts, > etc. > > So I guess this equipment is totally pointless for a kayaker? *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I have a similar housing for my Olympus 6050 and have used it for kayaking and scuba. It is bulky and a PIA on the surface. I just picked up a Pentax Optio WP which is rated waterproof for 1 meter for 30 minutes. http://www.ritzcamera.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId =13261111&storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001 It does a great job and requires no bulky case or bag. I just keep it in my PFD pocket. Cya *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I would not trust the Pentax WP for significant water exposure. While it is probably fine for getting splashed, and maybe the occasional roll, I wouldn't trust it for many kayak scenarios. It is rated JIS-8 (See below). Basically this is promising just slightly better than JIS-7. Note that 1 meter for 30 minutes says nothing about being splashed by a wave, which can be more severe. Also note the line in 7d: "the water temperature does not differ from that of the equipment by more than 5 degrees Kelvin." A warm camera dropped in to cold water can suck water into the works. Also note that it says nothing about salt water. A lot of fresh water on electronics can be a minor problem, a little salt water can be a big problem. I prefer the housing route as they are designed for indefinite immersion at deep depths, and any water that does get into the housing probably won't be hitting the camera under pressure. from http://www.opticsplanet.net/water-proof.html : Grade 8 Protected against the effects of continuous immersion in water. Ingress of water in quantities causing harmful effects shall not be possible when the enclosure is continuously immersed in water under conditions which shall be agreed between manufacturer and user but which are more severe than for numeral 7. Test conditions for Grade 8: continuous immersion subject to agreement Unless there is a relevant product standard, the test conditions are subject to agreement between manufacturer and user, but they shall be more severe than those prescribed in 14.2.7 and they shall take account of the condition that the enclosure will be continuously immersed in actual use. Summary of test conditions for Grade 8: Test means: Immersion tank. Water level: by agreement. Water flow rate: not applicable. Duration of test: by agreement. Grade 7 Protected against the effects of temporary immersion in water. Ingress of water in quantities causing harmful effects shall not be possible when the enclosure is temporarily immersed in water under standardised conditions of pressure and time. Test conditions for Grade 7: temporary immersion between 0.15m and 1m The test is made by completely immersing the enclosure in water in its service position as specified by the manufacturer so that the following conditions are satisfied: a) the lowest point of enclosures with a height less than 850mm is located 1000mm below the surface of the water; b) the highest point of enclosures with a height equal to or greater than 850mm is located 150mm below the surface of the water; c) the duration of the test is 30min; d) the water temperature does not differ from that of the equipment by more than 5 degrees Kelvin. However, a modified requirement may be specified in the relevant product standard if the tests are to be made when the equipment is energised and/or its parts in motion. Summary of test conditions for Grade 7: Test means: Immersion tank. Water level on enclosure: 0.15m above top, 1m above bottom. Water flow rate: not applicable. Duration of test: 30 minutes. On Jun 20, 2005, at 1:37 PM, Bob Denton wrote: > I have a similar housing for my Olympus 6050 and have used it for > kayaking > and scuba. It is bulky and a PIA on the surface. > > I just picked up a Pentax Optio WP which is rated waterproof for 1 > meter for > 30 minutes. > > http://www.ritzcamera.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay? > productId > =13261111&storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001 > > It does a great job and requires no bulky case or bag. I just keep > it in my > PFD pocket. > > Nick Schade Guillemot Kayaks 824 Thompson St Glastonbury, CT 06033 USA Ph/Fx: (860) 659-8847 http://www.guillemot-kayaks.com/ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Not necessarily. It is simply one more thing to check when you are taking a picture. A quick spray with a water bottle and wipe with a chamois takes care of most of it. If you are taking snapshots for the scrapbook it is completely adequate. If you are a pro taking for publication, it may take a little more effort. I use the Canon housing form my digital camera and I'm quite pleased with it. I've seen some people keep their camera and housing is a ziplock bag. It keeps most of the spray off the lens. I don't bother. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Black Coffee 2002" <black-coffee2002_at_karavshin.org> To: "'Paddlewise'" <paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net> Sent: Saturday, June 18, 2005 9:21 PM Subject: [Paddlewise] camera housing > I was thinking it would be a nice way to protect my camera while kayaking. > > But then I was wondering, "how does it keep the lens dry?" > > Then it became obvious that it probably doesn't. It expects you to be > fully > dry or fully submerged, not a mix of the two. Consequently I figure the > lens is always going to be distorted with drops of water or dried salts, > etc. > > So I guess this equipment is totally pointless for a kayaker? *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I absolutely agree. The book suggests it is fine for snorkeling. I have my doubts. It may well be that the electronics are potted and there are no corrosable components exposed, but I doubt it. It's not a camera I would take rolling in the cold Pacific on a warm summer day when the temperature difference would be 20 or 30 degrees F. It is great for nature paddles, etc. I treat it like my GPS. If I know it is going to get wet, it goes in a bag. For occasional splashing, it doesn't Cya! *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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