Waterproof cameras

Yea pmmpete I would love a couple more details on how you got that setup

Ok so they are not fish porn shots or anything but my first test was just a couple pics around the yard with the new camera. Very impressed with the microscope feature, though not sure that is the proper term, just the symbol on dial I put it on to focus up close on the flowers. Ill post up my favorite fishing pics here after GSX

 







Anyone want to buy some flower pics, help pay for new toy? 

Nice Macro shots.

I use an Olympus Tough TG-4 when whitewater kayaking, kayak fishing, and snorkeling, and really like it.  An advantage of that camera is that you can easily make a water-resistant lens cap for the camera using a scope cover attached to the add-on screw mount for exterior lenses.  This lens cap will also protect the lens from scratches and thumbprints.

What size or model # is that Butler Creek scope cap? I looked & there are quite a few. Thanks.

Yea pmmpete I would love a couple more details on how you got that setup

I made the lens cover for my Olympus Tough TG-4 from a Butler flip-up scope cover with a 47 mm inside diameter.  I don't know the model number. This scope cover has two little ears sticking out from the cover which you use to flip the cover open.  The scope covers which have a button or lever which you push to flip open the cover would not be appropriate for use in making a camera lens cover, because when you bumped the button accidentally the cover would open, exposing the camera lens. The manual flip-up scope covers which have a clear cover would probably work fine, but you don't need the clear cover.

The first thing you need to do is to buy the threaded ring which goes into the front of the TG-4, and is used to mount external lenses. This is called the "CLA-T01 Conversion Lens Adapter," and costs about $20.  Put this ring on the front of your camera, bring the camera to a gun store, and find a scope cover which fits snugly over the threaded ring, which should have a 47 mm inside diameter (about 1 7/8 inch).

The portion of the scope cover which fits over the barrel of a scope will be 25 mm high (one inch). If you stick the scope cover on the TG-4's threaded ring, it will stick out so much that it will intrude into the corners of the field of view of the lens, and will take up an unnecessary amount of room.  So you need to shorten the ring of the scope cover down to about 7 mm (5/16 inch).

Then decide where you want to locate the hinge of the lens cover.  I located the hinge opposite the finger grip on the face of the camera.  Mark this location on the scope cover and the threaded ring so you'll know how to position them when you glue them  together.

Every time you open the scope cover, it will put stress on the connection between the threaded ring and the cut down scope cover. It is difficult to find a glue which will reliably adhere to both the plastic threaded ring and the rubber scope cover.  So I have relied on a primarily mechanical connection between the two.  I took the threaded ring off the camera and drilled a series of holes about 2 mm in diameter around the circumference of the scope cover and the threaded ring. I used scotch tape or electrical tape to temporarily seal up the inside of the holes in the threaded ring, and the outside of the holes in the scope cover.  Then I mixed up some epoxy, took the scope cover off the threaded ring, smeared epoxy on the inside of the scope cover and the outside of the threaded ring, rubbing the epoxy thoroughly into the holes, put the scope cover over the threaded ring, and cleaned up the excess epoxy.  Don't glue them together when the threaded ring is mounted on the camera,  because you'll get epoxy on the camera.  When the epoxy has cured, remove the tape which you used to seal up the holes.  The epoxy created a ring and a series of pins which attach the scope cover to the threaded ring.  This connection has withstood years of use and abuse on both my current TG-4 and my previous camera, which was a TG-1. 

The threaded ring fits in a bayonet mount in the front of the TG-4, but doesn't securely lock in place in the bayonet mount.  To prevent the threaded ring from twisting and coming off the camera, connect the lens cover to the front of the camera with a small piece of duct tape.

When you open the lens cover, the corner of the hinge will hit the face of the camera and leave the lens cover sticking forward somewhat.  If you carve off the corner of the hinge, the lens cover will lie more nearly flat against the front of the camera.

Here again are the pictures of the lens cover which I posted earlier in this thread.





(Sorry about the delay in responding - I was out of town for a week).

Way to go above and beyond with the instructions pmmmpete, with that writeup you did I should be able to get it all figured out and not have too many questions, if any!!! Thanks again

Pmmpete thanks for the detailed write up!  Your posts are excellent and very helpful.  The lens cap is sure to help with issues like rainbowing  and scratches which of the death of many waterproof cameras. I've decided I'm going to buy the Olympus too and have it waiting for me when I get home from GSX. The Ricoh I wanted went up $50 over a day or two and no longer looked like such a sweet deal.
                 -Amos

I just impulse bought an Olympus TG-860 because it was a floor model on sale at Best Buy. $188 out the door. They also have a waterproof Nikon that is majorly marked down (floor model). This is in Santa Rosa.

I just impulse bought an Olympus TG-860 because it was a floor model on sale at Best Buy. $188 out the door. The also have a waterproof Nikon that is majorly marked down (floor model). This is in Santa Rosa.

Thanks Dustin for the heads up. I already dropped three bills on the TG4 which should be coming ups tomorrow. I would've seriously consider heading over there if I hadnt just spent all my money.

I just impulse bought an Olympus TG-860 because it was a floor model on sale at Best Buy. $188 out the door. The also have a waterproof Nikon that is majorly marked down (floor model). This is in Santa Rosa.

on your way to OPS no doubt