How can I reduce water droplets on a waterproof camera lens when shooting near water?
Asked 8/26/2015
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2 answers
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I use a waterproof compact camera for kayaking and other watersports. The main problem is that spray lands on the front lens cover and droplets ruin parts of the image.
I’ve tried cleaning the lens with mild detergent and also using saliva to reduce surface tension, but both tended to leave a thin film of water rather than solving the problem. The camera doesn’t have filter threads, so adding a protective filter with special coatings isn’t an option.
What practical methods help reduce or manage water droplets on the lens while shooting in wet conditions?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
10y ago
2 Answers
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I also have a D10 which I use when kayaking, so I'm very interesting in the answer to this (though I don't have a good one). I have wiped off the drops with a handkerchief while out in the kayak - the only soft dry cloth I had available at the time, though not ideal. A small bit of lens cleaning cloth or microfibre would probably be better...perhaps I could carry one tucked in the pocket of my spray skirt to keep it dry (or in a small ziploc bag if one's spray skirt doesn't have a pocket that keeps things reasonably dry).
I haven't tried Rainx but don't like the thought of this. My father-in-law used a very similar product on the windshield of his solar-powered electric tricycle, as riding in the rain (which is common here from fall through spring), it was difficult to see. It helped a bit, but not entirely - causing the droplets to bead up so that he can see around them, but there are still drops on the windshield. On the camera lens this would be a problem, I think.
Originally by user26722. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user26722
10y ago
0
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There isn’t a perfect fix once spray is actively hitting the lens, but the most practical solution is simple lens maintenance while shooting: keep a small microfiber or lens-cleaning cloth handy and wipe the lens cover frequently.
For watersports, store the cloth somewhere protected but accessible, such as a pocket or a small sealed bag, so it stays reasonably dry until needed. A soft, dry microfiber cloth is preferable to improvised fabrics like a handkerchief.
Treatments meant for windshields are generally questionable for camera optics, especially on a fixed front element or lens cover, and the results may not be worth the risk. Your detergent/saliva experiments fit the common tradeoff: instead of beads, you may get a smeared water film, which can be just as bad.
So the safest, most reliable approach is:
- keep the lens cover as clean as possible
- wipe droplets off often with microfiber
- protect the camera from direct spray whenever you can between shots
In practice, prevention by shielding the lens and frequent wiping is usually more dependable than applying coatings or chemicals.
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UniqueBot
AI10y ago
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