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Adding a Water Repellent Film to Reduce Water Drops on a GoPro Lens

Ugly water drops on the GoPro lens can really ruin the shot. The XClear Hydrophobic Lens Protectors are designed to solve this problem. Here's my take on how well they work.

GoPro Water Droplets

By David Coleman | @havecamerawilltraveldc
Last updated about 5 months ago // Categories: Accessories
Tags: GoPro HERO (2018), GoPro HERO3 Silver, GoPro HERO3+ Black, GoPro HERO4 Black, GoPro HERO4 Silver, GoPro HERO5 Black, GoPro HERO5 Session, GoPro HERO6 Black, GoPro HERO7 Black, GoPro HERO7 Silver, GoPro HERO7 White, GoPro HERO8 Black, GoPro HERO9 Black

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I’ve had more than a few photos and videos ruined by large water drops on the front of the lens. Many were when using GoPros. It’s certainly not something that’s unique to GoPros, but because there’s a good chance you’re using it in the wet and because of the extremely close focusing of the lens, the problem can be especially pronounced.

When I was looking for an example to illustrate the point for this post I realized that I didn’t have many for the simple reason that the drops usually ruined the photo, so I delete them. In other words, they’re instantly rejects. But here’s a quick example of what I mean from a recent trip kayaking in the Arctic. The camera was mounted on the front of the kayak, so most of the time it was out of the water, but there was no way to avoid it getting splashed pretty regularly.

Example of water droplet on GoPro lens

Here’s another that was taken with a different camera but illustrates the same problem:

Water Droplet on Lens Example

There are several different strategies to tackling this problem–more on that below. But I’ve recently been trying out XClear’s hydrophobic lens protectors.

They’re not really filters, as such. They’re much more like the kind of plastic film you might have used for a smartphone’s screen protector. But these do have one extra key feature: they’re treated to have water repellent properties so that the water beads easily and doesn’t pool in large drops on the lens.

There are different bundles available. Some are cut for the HERO5 models; others are for the HERO4/3+/3 models. I’ve been using one on a HERO5 Black from the “Complete” kit, which includes a couple of filters for the front lens port as well as ones for the small LCD screen on the front and another for the large LCD screen on the back.

In terms of hydrophobic performance, I was most concerned with the lens port on the front and much less so about the camera’s screens. But I did fit them and found that they didn’t negatively impact the touch screen on the back–it still works as normal.

Attaching the Water Repellent Film

Putting it on is relatively straightforward but still a bit finicky. After making sure that the lens glass is clean, you need to peel away the light film over the adhesive side and put it on the lens. It’s not easy to tell which side is the adhesive side, so it might take a bit of trial and error.

Once you’ve attached it to the lens, you peel off the other side’s protective film.

I did find it a bit tricky to avoid air bubbles, and the filter itself is pretty easy to scratch. But if you’re careful you shouldn’t have too much trouble getting it on cleanly.

Real-World Results

To test how well it works, I used two HERO5 blacks side-by-side. One had the XClear film installed; the other didn’t. I tried three different ways of putting water on the lens, each of which might be the type of thing you’d encounter when shooting with a GoPro. The first was a dunking the camera and pulling it out of the water and then shooting, as you might if you were swimming or surfing or snorkeling. The second was a much heavier dousing with water of the kind of thing you might get from waves splashing. The third was a misty spray that you might get from light rain or wave spray.

Of course, even side-by-side examples like this aren’t perfect because there’s always going to be some natural variation with what water drops form where. But it became very clear very quickly that the film does have an effect. The catch is that depending on the type of wet, that’s not always a good thing.

Dunking / Dousing

First, the dunking. This is where I found the water repellent film to work best. Without it, the water tends to pool on the GoPro’s lens in large, uneven patches that can really ruin the shot. The lens with the film fitted wasn’t always perfectly clear and even sometimes seems to encourage some scattered water drops to linger, but it was generally an improvement on the one without the film because the water ran off the lens more quickly.

Second, with the solid dousing, I also found it to work well. The results were pretty much the same as dunking. Here’s a side-by-side example. First, here’s the footage from the camera without the XClear lens protector.

[youtube=https://youtu.be/Ga6qUyIzLbo&w=678&rel=0]

And here’s the footage from the camera with the film.

[youtube=https://youtu.be/K4CK9e5C88M&w=678&rel=0]

Fine Spray

The surprise came with the light, misty spray. There was a more marked difference in the results, but it wasn’t necessarily a clear improvement. The issue is that the film encourages beading, and with fine spray that creates many more smaller droplets rather than a few larger ones. Overall, I’d probably consider it an improvement, but it’s by no means a slam dunk.

Here’s the version from the camera without the protective film.

[youtube=https://youtu.be/EXqM8maUqmY&w=678&rel=0]

And here’s the version with the film.

[youtube=https://youtu.be/rTibnidVxy0&w=678&rel=0]

And, turning things around, here’s an example of what I mean. The camera on the right has the XClear film attached; the one on the left doesn’t.

2017083018475915 678x453 - Adding a Water Repellent Film to Reduce Water Drops on a GoPro Lens

Other Alternatives

There are other ways to help prevent water from beading

  • Licking the lens. An old trick of SCUBA divers, snorkelers, and swimmers, saliva naturally prevents fogging and water droplets. But for all its attractiveness as a free and flexible option, there are downsides: it doesn’t last long, so you’ll have to do it often, and it only works if you have easy access to the camera and not so well if the camera is mounted, say, on the front of a kayak or on a helmet.
  • Rain-X Spray. This is the stuff you might have put on your car’s windscreen. It’s a proprietary blend of chemicals that discourages water to disperse. There are other brands that work similarly, like Aquapel, but Rain-X is probably the most readily available. There’s also a variation available as wipes. It has to be reapplied fairly regularly. (And obviously don’t combine with the licking option.)

Does it Work?

So what’s the verdict? Are the XClear Hydrophobic Lens Protectors worth using?

I’ve found them to be a bit of a mixed bag. They do make a difference, but in some circumstances they just have a different result that may or may not be an improvement, depending on what you’re going for and your personal preferences.

But overall, I’ve concluded that yes, they are an improvement most of the time. With the smaller beading the films promote, I’m more likely to end up with more salvageable photos and videos. So I’ve now installed them the GoPros I use most often.

I didn’t find any noticeable effect when using it dry or completely submerged, so I didn’t find any way that it might interfere with standard filming in those conditions, meaning it’s safe to leave on all the time. The manufacturer says that they remain effective for 6 months. I haven’t had them on long enough yet to vouch for that. But they are easy to remove and don’t leave any residue behind.

So they’re not magic. They don’t completely eliminate the problem of water drops on the front of the lens. But in my experience, I have found them to be an improvement that made them worth using.

UPDATE: I’ve since stopped using them and no longer routinely install them on all my GoPros. I found that the lens protectors ended up cracking too easily, that they were too fragile for the way I use my GoPros. If you’re more careful than I am, you might get more mileage.

Things Worth Knowing

Whether this goes directly on the camera’s lens port or on a housing’s port depends on which camera and what setup you’re using. Cameras since the HERO5 have been waterproof without the need for a waterproof housing. In that case, you’d use it directly on the camera. But you can still use those cameras inside a dive housing, in which case you’d use the film on the housing portal. Same with the older models that required a waterproof housing (there’d obviously be no point putting it on the lens port of a camera that wasn’t waterproof.)

More GoPro Tips & Tricks:

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By David Coleman
Instagram: @havecamerawilltraveldc

Last updated on October 5, 2020

Categories: Accessories
Tags: GoPro HERO (2018), GoPro HERO3 Silver, GoPro HERO3+ Black, GoPro HERO4 Black, GoPro HERO4 Silver, GoPro HERO5 Black, GoPro HERO5 Session, GoPro HERO6 Black, GoPro HERO7 Black, GoPro HERO7 Silver, GoPro HERO7 White, GoPro HERO8 Black, GoPro HERO9 Black

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GoPro News & Deals

New Smart Remote GoPro will be announcing the new Smart Remote for the HERO9 Black on December 17, 2020. The HERO9 Black isn’t compatible with the previous version of the Smart Remote.

HERO8 Black firmware v2.0 now available. Enables webcam mode; enables Display Mod compatibility; expands HyperSmooth 2.0 High and Boost availability to more video settings; general bug fixes. Update through the mobile app or manually.

GoPro Launches New Live Streaming Service for GoPro PLUS. GoPro has launched their own live-streaming platform for PLUS subscribers. It’s a pretty bare-bones offering for now, with livestreams shared with a dedicated URL. This is alongside their efforts to make the HERO8 Black useful as a webcam when connected to a computer (via USB plug-in-play, not requiring the Media Mod accessory with HDMI out). New firmware adds that functionality for Mac users, and the Windows version is in Beta.

New GoPro Zeus Mini Video Light. GoPro has released released a new video LED light designed to complement their GoPro cameras. It’s tiny, waterproof, and has a built-in magnetic swiveling clip. It’s waterproof down to 33 feet (10 meters), has four levels of brightness, and includes a diffuser to cool the color temperature to 5000K. GoPro claims that the built-in battery lasts up to 6 hours (presumably at the lowest brightness setting, although they don’t specify). It’s available now and priced at $69.99.

DJI Osmo Action firmware update adds live streaming. DJI has released a firmware update for the Osmo Action (v. 01.08.00.10) that adds live streaming support, so you can upload directly to platforms like Facebook and YouTube (it goes through the DJI Mimo mobile app). They’ve also improved the in-camera video stabilization. You can find the new firmware here.

New Underwater Housing for GoPro HERO8 Black from Isotta. Isotta, an Italian brand specializing in underwater housings, has announced a new high-quality underwater housing for the HERO8 Black. It’s an aluminum housing depth-rated to 650 feet (200 meters), has a one-handed open/close switch, double o-rings, and can be used with filters. There’s also a dual-handled tray to go along with it. And like all their housings, it’s in their distinctive red. Priced at $450, it’s only for those who need a highly specialized piece of underwater kit. It’s available for preorder from underwater specialists Backscatter.

Light Mod Now Shipping The Light Mod, one of the three new GoPro accessories, is now shipping. It’s a standalone light that is waterproof, rechargeable and compatible with all GoPro mounts. It was originally announced along with the HERO8 Black, but it hasn’t been available until now. It’s priced at $49.99, and you can find them at GoPro.com.

GoPro MAX Now Shipping. The new 360° camera, the MAX, is now shipping.

GoPro HERO8 Black and Max Unveiled. The new GoPro cameras and accessories have been unveiled. I have a rundown of the highlights of the HERO8 Black here.

DJI Osmo Action vs GoPro HERO7 Black. I’ve posted my detailed hands-on comparison of the Osmo Action and the HERO7 Black. There’s a lot similar between the models, but once you start digging down into the details there are differences that can help in choosing between them. And each has strengths the other doesn’t have. You can find my review here.

GoPro HyperSmooth vs DJI RockSteady. The new DJI Osmo Action also has built-in electronic stabilization to smooth out video. They’re calling it RockSteady (GoPro has HyperSmooth). I’ve been out testing them side-by-side. You can see the results here.

GoPro Deals page. I’ve put together a dedicated page on GoPro deals. So if you’re looking for cheap GoPro deals, check it out.

DJI Osmo action 4K Camera. Best known for their camera drones, DJI has released a new 4K action cam that’s taking direct aim at the GoPro HERO7 Black. It shoots up to 4K60 video and 12MP stills, includes electronic stabilization, has high-dynamic range video at 4K30, voice commands, a touchscreen on the back and another smaller live view screen on the front, and is waterproof down to 36 feet (11 meters). It’s priced at $349, and they’re now available at B&H Photo.

Comments

  1. Mary says

    March 5, 2018 at 8:38 am

    Have you tried Go Spot? https://goworx.com/products/gopro-lens-water-repellent-gospot

    Reply
    • David says

      March 5, 2018 at 10:15 am

      Not yet, but I’ve ordered some and will try it out and post the results.

      Reply
  2. Ray T says

    December 1, 2017 at 6:10 pm

    Before when I used my Sony HDR AS50 with the large flat lens cover of the water proof housing, I would apply a drop of Rain-X and buff it dry lightly with a microfiber cloth, and I ended up with good results in and out of the water (much less droplets clinging on without affecting the video quality). I did have to keep reapplying it once inawhile to keep it effective. Didn’t seem to have any bad effects on the plastic screen either after a year of use. I’ll likely be using the same method for my new Gopro 6.

    Reply
    • David says

      December 3, 2017 at 9:00 pm

      I’ve had good results with Rain-X on dome ports too.

      Reply

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About Me

I’m a professional travel & location photographer based in Washington DC and traveling all over. Seven continents. Dozens of countries. Up mountains. Under water. And a bunch of places in between.

I’ve owned and used every GoPro since the HD HERO and particularly like finding new and different ways to use them to capture photos, video, and time-lapse.

You can find my main site at havecamerawilltravel.com.

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