gopro camera fogging condensation solutions - mytest results
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 2:18 pm
Hi,
I was sick of my gopro fogging all the time so to find out the best GoPro Hero camera anti fog / anti condensation options I applied the following six different tests:
1. Use GoPro 2 as normal - nothing added
2. Tissue paper inserted down both sides and on back of camera (warning - this could easily jeopardise the water seal if a small amount of tissue is on the seal)
3. Heat camera housing and camera with a hair drier to warm then close housing.
4. Add 3 GoPro dry silica / desiccant strips inside the housing to absorb any moisture in the air and use camera straight away
5. Hold the camera and housing under an air conditioner outlet for 1 minute then close.
6. Insert GoPro 3 dry silica / desiccant strips inside the housing to absorb any moisture in the air and use camera after 17 hours.
These tests were all carried out in Singapore (tropical - 90 miles from Equator c.80% humidity) by submersing the operating Go Pro Hero2 camera in 4 degree Celsius water then removing and trying to film (extreme test).
The anti fog test results are on “Rahotu 200” youtube channel
Other possible anti fog solutions:
a) Store your charged camera in a zip lock plastic bag with silica desiccant pill packets which you get with most electronics. Just before use place in housing while still in plastic bag. This would also assist with keeping your camera away (protecting it) from moisture when not in use.
b) Make sure the inside of the housing and camera is as dry as possible e.g. dry hands, no sweat
c) Don't leave the camera in the direct sun or near heat (put a towel over it or turn your surf board over to keep the camera under the water)
d) Don't leave the camera on (generating heat) when not needed. One button mode I.e. turn off and on at top of camera. – Remember that all the time the camera’s on it’s warming up (built in battery warmer in the Hero2) and all the time it’s off it’s cooling down,
e) Opening the fogged camera housing and wiping off the fog inside then closing seems to lead to less fog next time. Maybe this is to do with the housing/camera being drier.
f) Disable the LED’s – the new GoPro HD Hero has LED’s on the camera body, I’m not sure if this makes a really big difference to the temperature in the housing but it’s easy to disable some, or all of the LED’s. You can tell if it’s recording by listening for the beeps when you turn it on/off or looking at the LCD display.
g) Compact cameras are more susceptible to fogging.
h) Spray on anti fog treatments only allow fog droplets to “flatten” against the lens and are therefore not optically the best solution– removing the humidity is better see Rahotu200 youtube channel.
I was sick of my gopro fogging all the time so to find out the best GoPro Hero camera anti fog / anti condensation options I applied the following six different tests:
1. Use GoPro 2 as normal - nothing added
2. Tissue paper inserted down both sides and on back of camera (warning - this could easily jeopardise the water seal if a small amount of tissue is on the seal)
3. Heat camera housing and camera with a hair drier to warm then close housing.
4. Add 3 GoPro dry silica / desiccant strips inside the housing to absorb any moisture in the air and use camera straight away
5. Hold the camera and housing under an air conditioner outlet for 1 minute then close.
6. Insert GoPro 3 dry silica / desiccant strips inside the housing to absorb any moisture in the air and use camera after 17 hours.
These tests were all carried out in Singapore (tropical - 90 miles from Equator c.80% humidity) by submersing the operating Go Pro Hero2 camera in 4 degree Celsius water then removing and trying to film (extreme test).
The anti fog test results are on “Rahotu 200” youtube channel
Other possible anti fog solutions:
a) Store your charged camera in a zip lock plastic bag with silica desiccant pill packets which you get with most electronics. Just before use place in housing while still in plastic bag. This would also assist with keeping your camera away (protecting it) from moisture when not in use.
b) Make sure the inside of the housing and camera is as dry as possible e.g. dry hands, no sweat
c) Don't leave the camera in the direct sun or near heat (put a towel over it or turn your surf board over to keep the camera under the water)
d) Don't leave the camera on (generating heat) when not needed. One button mode I.e. turn off and on at top of camera. – Remember that all the time the camera’s on it’s warming up (built in battery warmer in the Hero2) and all the time it’s off it’s cooling down,
e) Opening the fogged camera housing and wiping off the fog inside then closing seems to lead to less fog next time. Maybe this is to do with the housing/camera being drier.
f) Disable the LED’s – the new GoPro HD Hero has LED’s on the camera body, I’m not sure if this makes a really big difference to the temperature in the housing but it’s easy to disable some, or all of the LED’s. You can tell if it’s recording by listening for the beeps when you turn it on/off or looking at the LCD display.
g) Compact cameras are more susceptible to fogging.
h) Spray on anti fog treatments only allow fog droplets to “flatten” against the lens and are therefore not optically the best solution– removing the humidity is better see Rahotu200 youtube channel.
