Brand New TG6 Screen Foggy After 15 Min. Use (dry)

I loved the TG4 for beach/water use and was willing to spring for resealing a couple of times to eliminate fog on view finder and back screen and this year decided to upgrade to the TG6. I used it twice last week, in and out of the water, for a total of 30 minutes  with no problems - very happy! - and yesterday took it to the beach - dry and sunny day, no use in the water - and within 15 minutes the back screen was 75% fogged and streaked. - very sad! - I am hoping this was a fluke and have requested a replacement from B&H. I'm very disappointed, to say the least. It's a crying a shame because it's such a good little camera - a small part of my extensive arsenal. Other experiences with this issue so soon out of the box?  In the event that the replacement has issues, what are some recommendations for a good substitute?

embie wrote:

Hi,

If replacement is canceled, which I hope it's not, then I would :

Contact Olympus and ask for a replacement there.

If that's also denied than...

Check the screen for cracks or possible openings on the sides.

Open all camera doors and remove battery and sd card, put the camera in a box with a water absorbent, eg. silica gel kernels or other materials...even dry rice, for the latter...wrap the camera in a dry cloth, put in on a layer of rice and cover it completely with rice, close the box and keep it for 1 week.

When reopened, inspect all rubber gaskets inside the two camera openings for damaged.

If no damage is noticed, replace the battery ans sd card and...try it out.

PS : are you sure you closed the door(s) tied AND locked the safetylock ?

Success,

eMBie

Thanks for commenting. B&H  will replace. Yes, everything was closed and locked. Hopefully this was a fluke and the replacement will work fine. I don't know what I was thinking. I didn't have great luck with the TG4. Seems for the amount I used it, it needed servicing two years in a row. I had the seals replaced last summer (2019), barely used the thing, and right off the bat this summer, the lens and rear screen fogged when using in the water. I was hoping - and had read - that the TG6 would be an improvement. It's a shame because it really is a nice little camera for simple carry-around. Maybe it's me, but I've been around cameras for around 50 years now and I thought I knew what I was doing.

SaraPia wrote:

embie wrote:

Hi,

If replacement is canceled, which I hope it's not, then I would :

Contact Olympus and ask for a replacement there.

If that's also denied than...

Check the screen for cracks or possible openings on the sides.

Open all camera doors and remove battery and sd card, put the camera in a box with a water absorbent, eg. silica gel kernels or other materials...even dry rice, for the latter...wrap the camera in a dry cloth, put in on a layer of rice and cover it completely with rice, close the box and keep it for 1 week.

When reopened, inspect all rubber gaskets inside the two camera openings for damaged.

If no damage is noticed, replace the battery ans sd card and...try it out.

PS : are you sure you closed the door(s) tied AND locked the safetylock ?

Success,

eMBie

Thanks for commenting. B&H will replace. Yes, everything was closed and locked. Hopefully this was a fluke and the replacement will work fine. I don't know what I was thinking. I didn't have great luck with the TG4. Seems for the amount I used it, it needed servicing two years in a row. I had the seals replaced last summer (2019), barely used the thing, and right off the bat this summer, the lens and rear screen fogged when using in the water.

If the lens was internally fogged, it probably wasn't related to the seals. More likely it involved humid air trapped inside the camera. It's a common problem with all underwater cameras. You open the camera in hot humid conditions, close the doors then take it into cooler water. If the water temperature is below the dew point of the trapped air, condensation will form on the interior surfaces as they cool off. This has nothing to do with camera design, it's just basic science.

As eMBie mentioned, you must prep the camera with dry air. I use rechargeable desiccant canisters. I open the camera's doors and seal the camera and a canister in ziploc bag. It doesn't take too long for the desiccant to do its job. In 30 minutes a freshly charged canister will dramatically decrease moisture content of the air. I normally prep the camera the night before and leave the camera in the bag overnight. I close the doors before opening the bag. Dew point can be under 10° F, which means it's immune to fogging in water. I've done this for years with my TG-3 and the lens has never fogged. I've only replaced the seals once, but it probably wasn't necessary. It's been on over 200 ocean dives and has never leaked a drop. I do methodology clean and inspect the camera after each dive.

Now, a fogged LCD is a different matter. It's impossible for the exterior of the LCD to fog underwater. So either the view through the LCD didn't appear clear due to the fogged lens or the LCD is internally fogged. If it's the latter, it's damaged or faulty. This was a issue with the TG-5, but I don't remember reports of the TG-4 doing this.

I was hoping - and had read - that the TG6 would be an improvement.

Again, fogging is a well documented issue with sealed cameras. Most underwater photography sites describe the problem and usually provide multiple solutions. The camera does require some special care to avoid this problem.

smithaa02 wrote:

Is there a specific rechargeable desiccant that you recommend?

Some of mine came with a safe and others I bought online. They are fairly generic. Unlike the typical bag of silica gel, these can reactivated in a conventional oven. I have one reserved for when I go diving and keep it double sealed in ziploc bags. These are similar to mine.

https://www.amazon.com/Dry-Packs-Indicating-Aluminum-Dehumidifying-Canister/dp/B0025OO8DO

vegasdood wrote:

I swear by bags of WHITE rice for my cell phone and cameras.

So you take rice that's been exposed to open air and you believe that can effectively continue to absorb moisture? Like any hygroscopic material, it has has a limit how much water it can absorb. It might be somewhat effective if it's first dried out. But most people use rice that's been sitting on their shelf. Rice actually does a poor job of absorbing atmospheric moisture.

I placed white rice from a unopened bag and a hygrometer in a Mason jar. Temperature was initially 74° and a relative humidity of 58%. That's a dew point of 58.3°. Six hours later relative humidity had dropped to 47%, dew point 52.5°.

Doing the same thing with a silica gel canister reduced relative humidity from 58% to 5%. (The apparent limit of my hygrometer) That's a dew point of -1.2°.

https://smartphones.gadgethacks.com/how-to/myth-debunked-uncooked-rice-isnt-best-way-save-your-water-damaged-phone-0154799/

https://www.cnet.com/how-to/using-desiccants-to-soak-up-wet-electronics/

vegasdood wrote:

Not sure of all your technical analysis. I put rice in a bag, put the electronics in, seal the bag and come back in 24 hours.

As summarized in the 2 articles I posted, it's a myth white rice is good at absorbing atmospheric moisture. It's been proven by others that it just isn't effective. Do you somehow believe rice has the ability to infinitely absorb moisture?

For cameras such as the TG series, to prevent internal fogging, you want dry air inside the camera. That's not always easy to do when in a hot & humid locations. Silica gel provides a reliable solution. Disposable packs are commonly used in dive housings as is the dry air from dive tanks. You won't find anybody on a dive boat using rice.

I understand about hot and humid, but the day mentioned it was sunny and dry and the camera was not in the water at all. We were on the beach, not swimming, because it was too windy and a little chilly. The screen almost immediately was 75% fogged over.

While the TG6 is in the process of being replaced I am using the TG4, and yes, yesterday in the water the back screen was foggy and mottled, and the lens was partially fogged. I still managed to get some good shots, however. In this shot you can see, top right, where it's a bit foggy.

I stored the camera overnight in a bag of rice, with doors open, will try again today.

I understand these cameras need special care - I just want to know what that means.

Thanks!

Enders Shadow wrote:

SaraPia wrote:

embie wrote:

Hi,

If replacement is canceled, which I hope it's not, then I would :

Contact Olympus and ask for a replacement there.

If that's also denied than...

Check the screen for cracks or possible openings on the sides.

Open all camera doors and remove battery and sd card, put the camera in a box with a water absorbent, eg. silica gel kernels or other materials...even dry rice, for the latter...wrap the camera in a dry cloth, put in on a layer of rice and cover it completely with rice, close the box and keep it for 1 week.

When reopened, inspect all rubber gaskets inside the two camera openings for damaged.

If no damage is noticed, replace the battery ans sd card and...try it out.

PS : are you sure you closed the door(s) tied AND locked the safetylock ?

Success,

eMBie

Thanks for commenting. B&H will replace. Yes, everything was closed and locked. Hopefully this was a fluke and the replacement will work fine. I don't know what I was thinking. I didn't have great luck with the TG4. Seems for the amount I used it, it needed servicing two years in a row. I had the seals replaced last summer (2019), barely used the thing, and right off the bat this summer, the lens and rear screen fogged when using in the water.

If the lens was internally fogged, it probably wasn't related to the seals. More likely it involved humid air trapped inside the camera. It's a common problem with all underwater cameras. You open the camera in hot humid conditions, close the doors then take it into cooler water. If the water temperature is below the dew point of the trapped air, condensation will form on the interior surfaces as they cool off. This has nothing to do with camera design, it's just basic science.

As eMBie mentioned, you must prep the camera with dry air. I use rechargeable desiccant canisters. I open the camera's doors and seal the camera and a canister in ziploc bag. It doesn't take too long for the desiccant to do its job. In 30 minutes a freshly charged canister will dramatically decrease moisture content of the air. I normally prep the camera the night before and leave the camera in the bag overnight. I close the doors before opening the bag. Dew point can be under 10° F, which means it's immune to fogging in water. I've done this for years with my TG-3 and the lens has never fogged. I've only replaced the seals once, but it probably wasn't necessary. It's been on over 200 ocean dives and has never leaked a drop. I do methodology clean and inspect the camera after each dive.

Now, a fogged LCD is a different matter. It's impossible for the exterior of the LCD to fog underwater. So either the view through the LCD didn't appear clear due to the fogged lens or the LCD is internally fogged. If it's the latter, it's damaged or faulty. This was a issue with the TG-5, but I don't remember reports of the TG-4 doing this.

I was hoping - and had read - that the TG6 would be an improvement.

Again, fogging is a well documented issue with sealed cameras. Most underwater photography sites describe the problem and usually provide multiple solutions. The camera does require some special care to avoid this problem.

I ordered the canister, the replacement is on its way, and I am optimistic. I like this camera a lot - specifically for beach and water, I have other cameras for other purposes - and I really want it to work. Thanks for the advice.

And PS - I live on Martha's Vineyard Island where it gets very humid in the summer so it makes sense that the camera would have humid air trapped inside it. I had to create a climate-controlled room for my multitude of musical instruments - dehumidify in summer, humidify in winter - so now I will create a climate controlled environment for my camera. Thanks for your help and I hope to report back with good news.

SaraPia wrote:

I understand about hot and humid, but the day mentioned it was sunny and dry and the camera was not in the water at all. We were on the beach, not swimming, because it was too windy and a little chilly. The screen almost immediately was 75% fogged over.

You need to be more specific. If the exterior of the LCD was fogged over and it can be wiped off, that's not a problem with the camera. If the condensation can't be wiped off and the blurry display isn't due to lens fogging, you definitely have a faulty LCD. This became a problem with the TG-5. But I don't I don't remember reports of other models having this issue. It could happen if the LCD was damaged.

While the TG6 is in the process of being replaced I am using the TG4, and yes, yesterday in the water the back screen was foggy and mottled, and the lens was partially fogged. I still managed to get some good shots, however. In this shot you cfan see, top right, where it's a bit foggy.

Again, if the lens was fogged on the outside, that's normal and not a camera problem. If the lens is fogged internally, it simply means you have moist air sealed inside the camera.

I stored the camera overnight in a bag of rice, with doors open, will try again today.

Rice is pretty much useless. You take rice that's been sitting around in 70% humidity and seal it and your camera in a bag. Somehow it's supposed to continue absorbing moisture. Doesn't work that way. Rice only works to some degree if there's liquid water preset that will increase humidity above the level the rice has been exposed to. You want the air inside the camera to have a dew point low enough that internal fogging can't happen. Rice from your pantry won't do that.

Enders Shadow wrote:

SaraPia wrote:

I understand about hot and humid, but the day mentioned it was sunny and dry and the camera was not in the water at all. We were on the beach, not swimming, because it was too windy and a little chilly. The screen almost immediately was 75% fogged over.

You need to be more specific. If the exterior of the LCD was fogged over and it can be wiped off, that's not a problem with the camera. If the condensation can't be wiped off and the blurry display isn't due to lens fogging, you definitely have a faulty LCD. This became a problem with the TG-5. But I don't I don't remember reports of other models having this issue. It could happen if the LCD was damaged.

The rear screen was fogged on the inside.

While the TG6 is in the process of being replaced I am using the TG4, and yes, yesterday in the water the back screen was foggy and mottled, and the lens was partially fogged. I still managed to get some good shots, however. In this shot you cfan see, top right, where it's a bit foggy.

Again, if the lens was fogged on the outside, that's normal and not a camera problem. If the lens is fogged internally, it simply means you have moist air sealed inside the camera.

I stored the camera overnight in a bag of rice, with doors open, will try again today.

Rice is pretty much useless. You take rice that's been sitting around in 70% humidity and seal it and your camera in a bag. Somehow it's supposed to continue absorbing moisture. Doesn't work that way. Rice only works to some degree if there's liquid water preset that will increase humidity above the level the rice has been exposed to. You want the air inside the camera to have a dew point low enough that internal fogging can't happen. Rice from your pantry won't do that.

Got it. Until my desiccant block arrives I will keep the camera in my previously described music room=50% will be better than the rice, I guess.

SaraPia wrote:

The rear screen was fogged on the inside.

That's a problem with the LCD. Water has leaked between its laminated layers. It won't impact the images but will make it difficult to see the screen. How long does it take to clear? Desiccant won't help much with this.

Enders Shadow wrote:

SaraPia wrote:

The rear screen was fogged on the inside.

That's a problem with the LCD. Water has leaked between its laminated layers. It won't impact the images but will make it difficult to see the screen. How long does it take to clear? Desiccant won't help much with this.

So, to clarify, this camera , brand new TG6, was used 3x, for 15 min. each, the first two times in the water, then several days later, maybe a week, we took it to the beach on a dry but sunny day, a bit on the chilly side so we didn't go in the water. Within only a few minutes of taking it out of my bag the screen was fogged and streaky, precluding being able to see what we were shooting. I immediately contacted B&H and initiated a Return authorization, which is where it is now, to be replaced.

In the meantime, I've gone back to the TG4 and am trying to deal with foggy lens and screen that occurs within minutes of using it in the water, a problem I've had with it every summer for three summers. I love these cameras and want them to work.

Two separate cameras, sorry for the confusion.

I have friends in Florida with both the TG-4 and TG-6. They take them snorkeling several times a week and more frequently while out fishing or in their pool with their dogs. Neither has a fogging problem.

Fogging on the inside of the lens is easy to prevent. A bad LCD needs to be replaced.

Good news! I kept my TG4 in my climate controlled music room overnight (50%RH) and it worked flawlesslesly today, even in the water. No fog on lens, no fog on screen. Remember, I live on Martha's Vineyard Island where the RH is 90% during the summer. I also ordered a dessicant pack,  which should ensure even better results going forward with both the Tg4 and the tg6. Thanks, everyone, for your assistance. Problem solved!