Camera glass

A

Adam Cross

Suspended / Banned
Messages
19
Name
Adam
Edit My Images
No
I am building a housing for my SLR, so I can put it outside in all weathers and I am looking to make the front of the box obviously see through and watertight.

To maintain image quality and water tightness, would I be best installing a specified lens filter as the front cover of the box or would glass or perspex be just as good?
 
Sounds odd, but definitely don't compromise on the quality of glass in front of the lens.
 
If its going outside in all weathers i would suggest a hama underwater cover. Unless the camera is one you are prepared to scrap after use. Condensation would be a killer also, so a few silica gel satchets would be usefull.
 
Its basically a glorified bird box, silicon sealed everywhere, with yes plenty of silica sachets going inside. My main issue was the hole at the front, though which the lens peers through, and how best to cover the hole to be waterproof and yet not minimize optics that much.

It really isnt in my budget to get an underwater camera house, I have a few SLR's going out into the field and this bird box can at least be locked.

Any further suggestions?

Thanks.
 
Adam Cross said:
.... and I am looking to make the front of the box obviously see through...........
Click to expand...

That will help! :thumbs:

How long are you planning on leaving it there for? How protected will it be? I.e. a birdbox open to the elements, or a birdbox with some elements of cover?
 
Ok here is a thought, are you using L glass, if so then why not make the hole just big enough to stick the lens out of pushed up againt a rubber sealing ring, that way the glass of the lens is outside of the box so no issues with other glass being in the way, the box will be sealed with the lens "stuck" in the hole and you get to have great shots.

Only real problem I would see is the condensation forming on whatever method of viewing hole you use on damp mornings or evenings. Just my thoughts

spike
 
Im probably not going to be using L glass, most likely 18-55 standard kit lens. I do hope though to install some form of hood over the front hole to reduce both glare and rain etc.

The box though will be left very much open to the elements, it will be mounted on a fence post by the coast. It has been silicon sealed, wood treated with rubber seals on all openings, e.g. door.

If I installed a piece of perspex over the front hole, do you think this would reduce quality dramatically? I'm just thinking perspex for money reasons and also ease in installing.
 
Could you not use a filter on the lens and then silicone putty the filter into the housing?
 
Have you considered a waterproof compact? I can't see a kit lens behind perspex offering more. What sort of shots are you after?
 
The camera is set up for time-lapse photography using a remote control release. The photos are being taken of wildlife for research purposes and need to be analysed digitally, so need to be of high resolution.

If perspex wont cut it for maintaining resolution then perhaps installing a lens filter over the front hole will be best.
 
Why dont you just but the biggest uv filter you can buy and fit it into the box and then have the lens look through that. This way the box would be weather sealed and you would still be able to take the camera out.

Joe
 
what do you think will be the angle of camera? be a whole lot easy to protect if higher than subject and angling down.. you could make a sort of lens hood/barn door type thing for the box that would stop rain hitting the front aswell as blocking out sun..???
 
Maybe a square filter inset in the front of the box gives a bit more flexibility if changing lenses ever happens. It might be too expensive, something like this?

http://www.formatt.co.uk/glass-filters/clear-and-uv-absorbing/glass-filters.aspx


It might not be a bad idea using perspex, as unlike other uses of high quality filters - this will be collecting all sort of crude no doubt. Therefore anything upfront will soon be compromising image quality. I'd maybe start with a piece of perspex and see how it goes:thinking:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top