Ugh, sorry about that. I just got home from Hawaii, and due to ADHD and how many threads I read, I sometimes get lost like that (memory). Thanks for your patience.
I just noticed that you said this was the first V4 it happened to, and I didn’t recall anyone else saying it happened to a V4 yet, so I didn’t remind myself of the previous convo in the thread since I didn’t recall seeing this for V4’s before now.
I do agree that Wyze seems to need to use a better seal because this does happen way too often to too many people. Thanks for adding that you saw this with a V4 now too, and it is the same as the others. I think whatever seal they are using can do ok in the sun or in the rain, but maybe when it gets wet and then hot in the sun soon after, it suffers from thermal cracks or something. I had a different product do something similar recently.
I know they use the same supplier for the V3, V3Pro, V4, and I think the Pan V3, so I’m not surprised those all use the same lens sealant, but I am kind of surprised the same thing happens with the OG since it is through a different supplier. Still, having ALL of these models do the same thing for you isn’t possibly a coincidence. If I were Wyze, I would try a sealant on some camera and ship you a free camera with it on there and ask you to test it in the same conditions as the ones that keep leaking until they can find one that is more effective without killing the camera price.
The fact they know about the lens moisture issue and have done Nothing since the V3 and carried it to subsequent models was the biggest reason I quit buying thier junk cams.
Really How much of the bottom line profit would be affected by a better built lens that the glue doesn’t break down and leak?
Wyze, you get what you pay for …
A hobbyist’s Toy Camera
@carverofchoice So here is my story.
Bought my first v2 in 2018. When the v3 was announced I preordered two (Oct. 2020). Was so impressed with their low light sensitivity that I started using them regularly for weather cams. Being able to see the stars art night with these cameras was impressive. Within a year I started to have the lens moisture problem. Submitted my first of many tickets with Wyze in Nov. 2021. Initially I got replacements but that eventually stopped as they were all just outside the one year warranty.
Several things I can say with certainty:
Every camera from Wyze since the v3 that I have out in the sun and rain and pointed skyward develops this problem.
Every camera from Wyze since the v3 that is under cover and not directly exposed to sun and rain have survived years without issue.
I have never had moisture in the camera case/body, ever.
I have replaced the lens of every camera (with an aftermarket lens of all metal construction for $7-8) and has performed fine for years afterward in the same location/conditions.
My theory as to the failure is exposure to sun deteriorates/cracks the plastic/synthetic “surrounds” on the front element of the lens allowing moisture to enter the lens. Here in the PNW (Seattle) we tend to have long dry summers with wet falls. Usually all it takes is the first rain to reveal the failure. Some cameras were purchased in the spring and survive through till the following fall (18 months.) but most only make it 12 months.
All the Wyze cameras that I have (v3, v3 pro, pan v3, OG, v4, floodlight, floodlight pro, floodlight v2, battery cam pro) appear to use a lens of the same construction. The exception is the v2 and WCO. They both had a lens with metal barrel. Wyze stopped using this kind of lens starting with the v3 and every camera since I believe. I have even used v2 lenses as replacements without issue.
Sorry if you have heard all this before. I think I have commented on at least three other threads about this problem.
Story over.
Thanks for your patience.
