Canon G-11 / Canon WP-DC34 Leaks

[Cabbie]

Has any one experienced an "unexplained" leak on ascent with this set up ?

After a 40 minute dive. max depth about 23 metres, I took a few photos - mixture of macro and mantas - then tucked the camera away for the ascent and noticed that the leak detector I'd installed was flashing nicely red when I was on the safety stop and there was a little puddle of water inside.

Rinsed and dried out the housing, checked the o-ring etc. Put the empty housing in a bucket of water after a couple of days (camera is now an expensive paperweight), pressed all the buttons and it remained as dry as a bone inside.

Would I be better off getting an Ikelite housing if (when) I replace the camera or should I just put it down to bad luck ?

 

[mitsuguy]

When you say tucked away? Was it stressed in any way???

Some have claimed leaks due to plastic burrs along the o-ring, but with the two different Canon's and two different Olympus housings, I am yet to detect any sort of burr (though I don't doubt it can happen)...

IMO, if you value your camera, insurance is a great thing - I've always heard the saying "its not if your camera is going to flood, its when"

 

[Nemrod]

The OEM housings are known to have a leakage issue with mold flash or mold lines. There are reasons people pay for the premium Patima and FIX housings. N

 

[HerraduraDivers]

or the Ikelite housings what is the half of the Patima/FIX housing and is a fine housing as well.
Anyway, fill the housing with toilet/houshold paper and dive again, the paper would absorb the water and indicate you where the leak is. It can be also that you had a hair/lint catched on the o-ring and it's not the housing itself.

Chris

 

[peterbj7]

I use a G10 with the relevant Canon housing and have never had a problem, nor with Canon's housings for three other cameras, nor manufacturers' own housings for Olympus & Casio cameras. Most of these were in rental use at my dive centre, but never leaked. I have lost two cameras, but one was when preparation was rushed and flawed, and the other was when an idiot of a customer (there are too many of them) opened the housing underwater.

Whilst it's possible there is some obscure fault with your housing, I would first suspect the way it was prepped for diving.

 

[pjhansman]

IMO, if you value your camera, insurance is a great thing - I've always heard the saying "its not if your camera is going to flood, its when"

Insurance? Is this a rider on your house insurance or a specialty item thru a different company? I already drowned one camera, my own fault because I rushed things, but I have a nice new G11 that I would actually like to keep.....or at least insure in case I have another brain cramp.

 

[Nemrod]

There is a very good thread on polishing out the mold lines. This should solve your problem. Do a search, if you cannot find it PM me and I will find it for you. The OEM housing should do OK for you. You will need to use a desiccant in the housing to eliminate condensation. Good luck.

The Ikelite is a good housing, just bulky and does not as easily support optical strobes without home rigging connectors.

N

 

[highdesert]

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/canon-corner/315202-canon-housing-leaks-easy-diy-fix.html

 

[mitsuguy]

Insurance? Is this a rider on your house insurance or a specialty item thru a different company? I already drowned one camera, my own fault because I rushed things, but I have a nice new G11 that I would actually like to keep.....or at least insure in case I have another brain cramp.

Squaretrade... extended warranty on the actual item, then I purchased a no-fault insurance for a few extra bucks... the manufacturers warranty is 1 year, the squaretrade warranty extended that to 3 years for $39.99 and for $27 additional, for a total of $67, I am covered no matter what happens to the camera, short of loss or theft...

I had an Olympus camera that was supposed to be waterproof by itself (1030sw), but it got water in it when I was rinsing it outside of its housing. I had the normal squaretrade warranty for 2 years on it and they paid for the entire cost of the camera new, which is why I got the Canon S90... I basically only paid the difference in the price new between the cameras, and I got a year and a half worth of usage out of the Olympus... I usually don't go for warranties, but I've seen a lot of digital cameras fail, regardless if they are put underwater or not...

I guess I figure $67 for a warranty is much cheaper than $700 for a better housing