Underwater photography is challenging as well as great fun not doubt about it. But, the fact is that if you take your camera in water very often, then it will be affected by water. Sooner or later water will land up on the wrong side of the O-ring. Hence, similar to any other electronic device proper care as well as maintenance is required so that the perfect operation as well as the integrity of the camera is preserved.
Consider the following maintenance tips to ensure the proper working of your camera.
- To prevent fogging up of your camera never leave the underwater housing in sun, and if possible keep 1 or 2 dessicants in the waterproof housing.
- Put your cameras and strobes in fresh water immediately after shooting underwater. This will displace the salt water from the camera.
- While cleaning the camera with fresh water, do not pour the water directly on the camera from a water tap or a faucet. Instead clean the camera by taking water in some bucket and then immerse the camera in it.
- Try and avoid over lubrication of o-ring. Just a little is enough. One should make sure to use the o-ring grease which is supplied by the manufacturer of the camera itself.
- A new housing should always be subjected to testing in ocean or in a pool. This implies that one should make sure that the hosing is leakproof.
- One should not leave the camera for prolonged period with temperatures over 40° C or below -10° C. If one fails to do so then the waterproofing mechanisms of the camera will get degraded.
- Similarly, if one uses the camera underwater for long time, then the appearance of the camera will get affected as well as the waterproofing mechanisms of the camera will get degraded.
Camera flooding can occur if bubbles stream from the back of the camera, if strobe doesn’t fire and if difficulty occurs in advancing film. Hence, if one observes these circumstances then immediate appropriate action should be taken.