Initial dropwise condensation of moist air on a hydrophobic self-assembled monolayer（SAM）surface was investigated with a high speed camera and a microscope.The transient initial droplet size distribution and the growth of micro-droplets by direct condensation on the surface without coalescence were analyzed from the concept of molecular clustering.Based on the general characteristics of nucleation of dropwise condensation，a molecular clustering physical model was proposed to describe the state of steam molecules in the bulk steam phase before condensing on the cooled surface.