condensation at sea at DVinfo.net

Gregg Havens · September 20th, 2007, 07:03 PM

I just got back from a cruise and found a problem with condensation. Several times I had a problem with an temporarly non-working camera. Both times I had left the tape in the camera and went from an air-conditioned space into the outdoors. Both times I had to wait about an hour for the camera to allow the tape to be inserted. Hated to miss the sunset I was trying to shoot. And sitting on a wall in the sun the other day was not much fun.

Has anyone found a way to make the transition from conditioned space to a humid environment with little delay?

Eric Weiss · September 20th, 2007, 07:20 PM

Hah! Man, I feel your pain.
I shoot a lot of tropical destinations and resorts.
Condensation was a huge problem for me.

What I do is keep bags of silica gel in all of my cases.
I wake up about an hour earlier than needed and put the
camera in a plastic bag with the gel outside on my balcony/patio..then go back to sleep. obviously, i wouldn't do this at some flea bag motel, but you get the idea. one hour, plastic bag, silica gel while the cam gets used to the temp.

John Miller · September 20th, 2007, 07:55 PM

You will likely achieve the same results without the silica gel since, as you rightly suggest, the key is to let the camera reach thermal equilibrium with the ambient environment. Once that is achieved, water vapor in the atmosphere won't condense onto the camera.

Might save having to hump silica gel around - especially through airport security.

Jim Montgomery · September 21st, 2007, 06:03 AM

Try an electric blanket. Has always worked for me.

Jim

Michael Wisniewski · September 21st, 2007, 11:21 AM

Just had this same problem in the Philippines. I ended up assigning one camera to the air conditioned rooms, and one for outdoor use only. We debated turning off the air conditioner, but summer heat & humidity in the Philippines is brutal.

Gregg Havens · September 21st, 2007, 01:14 PM

I suspected that maintaining or getting the camera into thermal equilibrium would do the trick. I'm glad I learned of the problem on vacation and not "on a job". I suspect that if I had used my Pelican case (lots of insulation) on the trip I would have lessened the problem. Once again thanks to the DVIN readers.

Gregg

Don Palomaki · September 22nd, 2007, 05:54 AM

If the camcorder is colder than the dew point of the air you are in you will get condensation. No way to avoid it other than keeping the camcorder warmer, giving it time to warm up, or perhaps using an underwater case and trusting that the lens opening will not present a problem with condensation on it

September 20th, 2007, 07:03 PM	#1
Gregg Havens Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: caledonia MS Posts: 26	condensation at sea I just got back from a cruise and found a problem with condensation. Several times I had a problem with an temporarly non-working camera. Both times I had left the tape in the camera and went from an air-conditioned space into the outdoors. Both times I had to wait about an hour for the camera to allow the tape to be inserted. Hated to miss the sunset I was trying to shoot. And sitting on a wall in the sun the other day was not much fun. Has anyone found a way to make the transition from conditioned space to a humid environment with little delay? __________________ Gregg Havens DundeeYank Video

September 21st, 2007, 06:03 AM	#4
Jim Montgomery Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Vero Beach Posts: 392	Try an electric blanket. Has always worked for me. Jim __________________ http://www.billfishadventures.com \| http://www.sfgmedia.com \| http://vimeo.com/2015915

September 21st, 2007, 11:21 AM	#5
Michael Wisniewski Wrangler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Makati, Metro Manila Posts: 2,706 Images: 32	Just had this same problem in the Philippines. I ended up assigning one camera to the air conditioned rooms, and one for outdoor use only. We debated turning off the air conditioner, but summer heat & humidity in the Philippines is brutal. __________________ "Ultimately, the most extraordinary thing, in a frame, is a human being." - Martin Scorsese

September 21st, 2007, 01:14 PM	#6
Gregg Havens Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: caledonia MS Posts: 26	Thanks for the ideas I suspected that maintaining or getting the camera into thermal equilibrium would do the trick. I'm glad I learned of the problem on vacation and not "on a job". I suspect that if I had used my Pelican case (lots of insulation) on the trip I would have lessened the problem. Once again thanks to the DVIN readers. Gregg __________________ Gregg Havens DundeeYank Video

September 22nd, 2007, 05:54 AM	#7
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,487	If the camcorder is colder than the dew point of the air you are in you will get condensation. No way to avoid it other than keeping the camcorder warmer, giving it time to warm up, or perhaps using an underwater case and trusting that the lens opening will not present a problem with condensation on it __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

September 20th, 2007, 07:20 PM	#2
Eric Weiss Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Philly,PA Posts: 360	Hah! Man, I feel your pain. I shoot a lot of tropical destinations and resorts. Condensation was a huge problem for me. What I do is keep bags of silica gel in all of my cases. I wake up about an hour earlier than needed and put the camera in a plastic bag with the gel outside on my balcony/patio..then go back to sleep. obviously, i wouldn't do this at some flea bag motel, but you get the idea. one hour, plastic bag, silica gel while the cam gets used to the temp.

September 20th, 2007, 07:55 PM	#3
John Miller Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hillsborough, NC, USA Posts: 968	You will likely achieve the same results without the silica gel since, as you rightly suggest, the key is to let the camera reach thermal equilibrium with the ambient environment. Once that is achieved, water vapor in the atmosphere won't condense onto the camera. Might save having to hump silica gel around - especially through airport security.