Shooting in heated pool environment

match14 wrote in post #14794713
They must be either heating the water way up or the building has poor ventilation/low ceiling. My local pool while humid doesn't have the walls dripping with moisture.

It's also a question of temperature inside compared to outside. If you live in a warm climate the walls will get less condensation than if it is cold outside so there is a bigger temperature gradient in the walls.

lensfreak wrote in post #14793918
Hi just picked up a job where the client runs a indoor swimming lesson class in a heated pool. I went yesterday to assess the location and meet and greet. Since the pool is heated its very humid in the pool room. We aren't going to photograph inside the pool but more so from the sides and I am worried about the humidity. Can anyone share any tips on how I should approach shooting in this environment without the moisture and humidity creating an issue for my gear?

Bodies I have are the 5dmk2 and 60D


Den

You can find covers to to protect/bag your equipment. But you should try to find some info about your camera about weather & humidity it can take. Maybe on your Manual or just look it up on google. Theres lots of yes & no's on google from many users but try to find out what canon has to say. Many people has different situations...

But I still suggest to protect it with a bag cover & shoot for about 10 mins or 15...(since how you say it's crazy humid) I rather be safe then sorry! After shooting for 10-15mins..Go outside for about 10 mins (turn off) then come back and continue..etc..etc..

Found this for ya!
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …kers/ci/3313/N/​4137411777


And..Good point from:

Calicajun wrote in post #14794602
The humidity is not the only problem you may need to worry about, there is also Chlorine in the air too. Humidity can can cause rust and Chlorine will eat at anything metal. I would keep a couple of dry rags handy and wipe down the camera when moisture starts to build up. Also, I would not change lenses in the pool area, as it hard to wipe down the inside of a camera.

archer1960 wrote in post #14794373
As long as you give the camera time to equalize its temperature (so it doesn't get condensation on it), you shouldn't see any ill effects unless you leave it there for days on end. I'd suggest something similar to what you do when bringing it inside after using it outside: put it in a plastic bag to prevent condensation until it comes up to temperature. Then take it out and start shooting.

THis.. A Ziploc bag works great. Just come a bit early, keep your equipment in the bag for 10~20 minutes depending on the difference of temp from outside to inside to let all the equipment come to the same temperature as the ambient air. Then shoot away. Humidity alone will not harm the camera. Condensation will. As long and the equipment is warmer than the dew point, condensation won't happen.

There are some really good posts here hitting on the key point; make sure your camera is assimilated to a temperature equivalent or preferably higher than the temperature in the pool room. Otherwise you will cross dew point and condensation will occur. Condensation will be quickly apparent on the lens glass or filter if you have one mounted.

When you are done and are out of the humid environment be sure to remove any plastic covers so any moisture can readily dissipate.

EmyB wrote in post #14794232
Moppie have you been in these heated infant pool rooms? Water literally drips off walls, eyeglasses, ceilings - it's just that humid.

You should see my hair afterwards.

I shot one for a customer last year, seriously not a big deal.

I've also worked in the rain, heavy mist and low cloud, an slr is not the delicate little flower people seem to think they are.

Moppie wrote in post #14796208
I shot one for a customer last year, seriously not a big deal.

I've also worked in the rain, heavy mist and low cloud, an slr is not the delicate little flower people seem to think they are.

^^^^This.

Moppie wrote in post #14796208
I shot one for a customer last year, seriously not a big deal.

I've also worked in the rain, heavy mist and low cloud, an slr is not the delicate little flower people seem to think they are.

You have addressed what people like me and many other probably think. That our slrs are delicate devices. Thanks for the reply.

Will keep a mop up rag with me as I shoot and see how we go.


Cheers,

Den

match14 wrote in post #14794713
They must be either heating the water way up or the building has poor ventilation/low ceiling. My local pool while humid doesn't have the walls dripping with moisture.

This was my thought. I've spent hours around heated pools, summer and winter. I worked for several years with scuba diving students and the pool area was never dripping with condensation.

match14 wrote in post #14794713
They must be either heating the water way up or the building has poor ventilation/low ceiling. My local pool while humid doesn't have the walls dripping with moisture.

Well the baby pool is in a small room, heated to about 31-33 degrees, and the winter temps here are about 10-15 degrees outside. They tend to open the windows to keep ventilation going so definitely big temperature difference.

Moppie even though you're probably right about DSLR's being tougher than expected I am going to continue to treat my DSLR like a delicate flower because I don't have the spare thousand bucks lying around to replace it. Not worth the risk in my book.

Great advice in this thread, thanks guys. Now to read up on taking indoor pool photos!

For what its worth, I live in Florida where humidity is really bad. I can walk out onto my backyard and get condensation immediately. Same thing happens at the zoo or any outdoor location when I take my camera out of the bag. I don't have the patience for the plastic bag trick

I just keep a microfiber cloth to immediately wipe the lens/filter when this occurs, and then shoot as normal.

I've had no issues with the camera (Rebel XTi) and i have had it since 2006 or 2007, can't remember but it was pretty new back then.

Also had my film Rebel (Rebel 2000) in Hawaii with mist, rain, the works. I even fell in mud, camera in hand, while hiking down a steep path towards a black sand beach on the big island. Wiped off lens and was good to go, got some great shots. Funny enough I still have my old film Rebel, although it's no longer in use, and to this day it has mud that I couldn't get out of some of the really small areas - call it battle scars!

The best suggestion I agree with in this thread is not to change lenses in such conditions. If the mirror condenses, you might clean it but you also risk getting dirt and debris on it which will end up in your photos.

I suppose if you want to go all out, you can get an underwater case for the camera (if available), although unless you are planning to SCUBA dive with it, this would most certainly be overkill.