Great video, one thing that far too many don't seem to know, and make huge mistakes around is what grease to use for their o'rings. Many UW camera brands for strobes and housing use silicone O'ring, and using the wrong grease will cause them to swell and you will get leaks. The problem is made worse by the fact that everyone says "silicone grease" in a generic manner. The cheap grease you can get at the local dive shop is almost always the wrong grease to use on silicone O'rings and will cause this problem. For the average user that doesn't want to learn far more than they ever expected about o'rings and greases, just pay to buy the branded grease that matches your camera/strobe to keep it easy. If you find yourself without grease and in a spot, most dive shops will have the wrong silicone, but they are also likely to have Tribo Lube or Cristolube for servicing Nitrox/Oxygen regs/tanks and that will work no problem on silicone O'rings and any type you will find on camera/strobes without causing swelling. It will cost you about twice as much as buying the branded grease for your camera gear but the safe bet where you won't ruin your orings and your camera and strobe when they flood a few months down the road from using the wrong grease.
Josh, excellent video on housing maintenance . I generally use Dupont liquid silicon and put on(in) all the control buttons and knob shafts. Do this after you have air(blown)dried (as well as possible) the controls.
I’m adding this to Rachel’s watch list! ***Pro tip: don’t use the same dust blower to blow buttons as to clean a body or lens. On the rare occasion it sucks up a little water you don’t want to blow it into your camera. Ask us how we know hahaha ***
This video was super helpful! Do you advise against keeping the housing on for repeated dives over several days? Doing a liveaboard soon and I purchased the USB/charger port so that I don’t have to de-assemble in between diving days. Wondering if the vacuum seal is enough to keep all of the water out of the housing.
Usually, the batteries last a long time. If you don't need to change the camera battery, leave it! I've left mine on for multiple days at a time. But I do always travel with spare batteries just in case! But for sure the vacuum seal is enough!
Great video, one thing that far too many don't seem to know, and make huge mistakes around is what grease to use for their o'rings. Many UW camera brands for strobes and housing use silicone O'ring, and using the wrong grease will cause them to swell and you will get leaks. The problem is made worse by the fact that everyone says "silicone grease" in a generic manner. The cheap grease you can get at the local dive shop is almost always the wrong grease to use on silicone O'rings and will cause this problem.
For the average user that doesn't want to learn far more than they ever expected about o'rings and greases, just pay to buy the branded grease that matches your camera/strobe to keep it easy. If you find yourself without grease and in a spot, most dive shops will have the wrong silicone, but they are also likely to have Tribo Lube or Cristolube for servicing Nitrox/Oxygen regs/tanks and that will work no problem on silicone O'rings and any type you will find on camera/strobes without causing swelling. It will cost you about twice as much as buying the branded grease for your camera gear but the safe bet where you won't ruin your orings and your camera and strobe when they flood a few months down the road from using the wrong grease.
YES! Great adivce Chris!
Definitely made some mistakes on maintenance. Thanks!
Great information every underwater photographer should know.
🙌🙌
Josh, excellent video on housing maintenance . I generally use Dupont liquid silicon and put on(in) all the control buttons and knob shafts. Do this after you have air(blown)dried (as well as possible) the controls.
Amazing! I will have to check that stuff out!
thanks bro!
Of course!
Very helpful, thank you Josh. Are you using the Sony 16-35 2.8 GM l ?
Yeah! 16-35 has always been my go to lens underwater as well!
I’m adding this to Rachel’s watch list! ***Pro tip: don’t use the same dust blower to blow buttons as to clean a body or lens. On the rare occasion it sucks up a little water you don’t want to blow it into your camera. Ask us how we know hahaha ***
😅😅😅
Dang never heard of that happening!!!
This video was super helpful! Do you advise against keeping the housing on for repeated dives over several days? Doing a liveaboard soon and I purchased the USB/charger port so that I don’t have to de-assemble in between diving days. Wondering if the vacuum seal is enough to keep all of the water out of the housing.
Usually, the batteries last a long time. If you don't need to change the camera battery, leave it! I've left mine on for multiple days at a time. But I do always travel with spare batteries just in case!
But for sure the vacuum seal is enough!