Servicing Oly Housings

[Urchin']

Helloa,

We really need to service our olympus housings before we get back in to the long (far too cold just now!) summer dives!

Both housings have been used for 4yrs + and really need serviced for us to trust them! Both have had a mishap in the past too! (at least my camera wasnt in mine at the time!) But Bubblemakers camera was :-( he thinks the button jammed down and all the water went in to make friends with the electrics!

Any idea for where to buy o rings in the correct sizes? Japanese sizes as far as i know. Olympus will not supply them (not user replacable according to them as you would have to take a circlip off to get the button o-rings out!).

Anyone serviced an olympus housing thereselves? Or sent it to a camera/olympus servicing place?

Cheers!

[regthing]

I don't know where to get them but there is a good site here (http://www.roymech.co.uk/Useful_Tables/Seals/O_Rings.html) explaining how to spec them.

You may be able to figure it out yourself.

I think Japan would be using metric sizes.

[dive granny]

This is one of the best things about Conger. When someone has a problem, someone else always has a like to a solution. It Is great.

[olddog]

http://www.camerasunderwater.co.uk/

Cameras Underwater would be a good start.

regards Olddog

[IanStevenson]

http://www.camerasunderwater.co.uk/

Cameras Underwater would be a good start.

regards Olddog

Unfortunately they are unlikely to be much help. These "cheap" olycarb manufacturers housings are designed to be non-serviceable. Main O-Rings are usually available and should be replaced every year, but all bulkhead fittings including buttons and connectors are non-serviceable officially. If you have the right tools and parts you can do it,but you will invalidate your insurance as it will almost certainly stipulate that housings "must be serviced in accordance with manufacturers recommendation". i.e. Not.

Had same problem myself!

My solution is to notice that cameras/housings get better and cheaper each year and have a great second hand value on eBay. My advice? Buy a new camera every couple of years. You will be able to sell it for almost as much as it cost at the end of 2 years, and get a better new one. Certainly easier than attempting to service and avoids insurance complexities.

Ian

[PeterM]

Having drowned one camera (due to rushing and not fitting the o ring properly) I avoid future insurance issues by buying up old cameras on ebay. I now have 2 and a half. If I lose one, no real problem.

However, it is certainly true that they hold their prices - how stupid is the average ebay buyer! Luckily I get to buy all the times my camera comes up without battery or charger or the like, as I do not need the full kit.