Humidity

[fishtank]

I will be filming in Taiwan next week, the average humidity seems to be around 85%.

The HVX documentation states that the camera will operate up to about 85%, but I am concerned about condensation & potentially damaging the camera.

Has anyone operated their HVX in this type of envoronment, any advice?

Regards,
Fishtank

[MikeDPLD]

Hi, fish.

Yep. I spent two weeks in the Madagascar rain forest last summer. Humidity was
about 365 percent every day!! Constant--I mean every second--rain. The HVX
shut down only ONCE during the whole trip. And it shut down because I was shooting to Mini-DV tape. The tape drive is susceptible to humidity. (NOT P2 cards!)
Anyway, here's what we did to keep the humidity from destroying our shoot:
1.) Kept camera in Pelican 1510 waterproof case EVERY SINGLE MINUTE we weren't shooting. That meant every 10-15 minute break, every bit of down time
and every single sleeping second at night.
2.) That waterproof case contained the secret ingredient: a 40-gram silica gel
dessicant. It's encased in aluminum and is hyrosorbent. The directions on the
case say: when crystals turn pink, you reactivate with 3 hours of baking temperature at 300 Farenheit. (The crystals are blue when they're good and still working.) I think I should have had two or three 40-gram packets instead of just one. Just google " 40 gram" and "silica gel" and you'll get plenty of options.
3.) A good waterproof raincover: We got a Porta-Brace cover that was designed specifically for the HVX200. Think it cost about $200.

I'm sure there are other things people can think of, but that's what we did and it worked out pretty well. After the camera shut down the one time--after about a week of NO PROBLEMS--I put it back into the waterproof Pelican case with the silica gel. About an hour later it worked fine again.

Good luck,

Mike

[Sheppy52]

I was worried about this too but after reading peoples experiences on here I took mine home to Puerto Rico for 3 weeks and it was just fine. It gets very humid here as well.

[TimurCivan]

its amazingly resiliant. especially in p2. as stated. also make sure the tempreture of the camera is the same as the ambient temprature. other wise your camera will become a water dripping mess. i learned this shooting footage in a zoo. we went from exterior shot on a cool day into the rainforrest pavillion. instant condensation. though the camera functioned perfectly........

[fishtank]

OK thanks Mike and everyone., appreciate the advice.

My main concern is condensation, I was not aware of silica gel dessicant, I will get some of this.

If condensation occurs, will it damage the HVX, for instance as I move from air conditioned to outdoors and vice-versa?

I will read the silica gel packs instructions, but I am guessing these simply live in the camera bag, absorbing all moisture around them. So is it a case that at first sign of moisture, I stuff the camera back in the bag with the silica gel ?

Cheers,
fishtank

[Erik Olson]

Most important is temperature change. Do not allow the camera to reside in an air-conditioned environment unless all of your shooting will occur under those conditions.

While the waterproof case is a terrific form of protection (I'm a dealer for Hardigg, so I can't believe I'm saying this), you don't want to keep the camera too far from the point of acclimation. The camera should be allowed to consistently remain at roughly the heat and humidity levels in which you will be shooting.

e

[fishtank]

OK understood, although in reality that might be harder than it sounds.

I am guessing (again) that most places hotel/car etc will be chilled, so unless I somehow leave the camera in outside, it will need to make the transition from cool to warm each day.

Perhaps I can leave it wrapped in the bag, for th first half hour or so outdoors each day to acclimatize.

[Erik Olson]

Yeah, unfortunately in a waterproof case or plastic bag it will still cool the metal camera body and glass elements to the point where you might have a problem.

The good news would be that on an HVX in HD modes, you should be fine for recording. The front glass elements will still fog when you take the cold camera into the warmer, moist air, just like when you have a totally dry glass with icy beverage in it on a humid day.

Best would be to have the accommodations room as close to the same temperature and humidity as the conditions you'll shoot under the next morning outside.

e

[fishtank]

OK, points taken, thanks everyone for all the advise.

Cheers,
fishtank

[DCSensui]

Here's a bizzare suggestion: Store the camera in an ice chest. But instead of adding ice, add a couple of hot water bottles at slightly higher than the temperatures outside.

That will keep the equipment at external ambient temps, even in your air conditioned hotel room.