camera fell in salt water at DVinfo.net

Michael Bendixen · July 8th, 2004, 02:28 PM

I don't know where this topic fits but I think I'm still in the land of photographers. I have a non-digital canon rebel that fell in the salt water. I took it to the camera shop and they said it was not possible to be fixed, which I expected. Is there anything that I can use it for now at all, maybe sell some part that is not damaged or get some use out of it, or should I just throw it away?

Jim Sofranko · July 8th, 2004, 03:28 PM

What not rinse it thouroughly in fresh water and blow it dry with air as a last resort before throwing it out? Dissasemble it as muchor as little as needed to be able to do the job.

That is, unless someone has a more experienced solution.

Michael Bendixen · July 8th, 2004, 06:10 PM

how much should I take it apart you think. It just seems like there are a lot of internal systems that I will damage if I put it in water again, salt water or not.

Thanks for the help though

Christopher C. Murphy · July 8th, 2004, 06:15 PM

Hey, I'd sell it anyway on Ebay even though it's broken. People buy stuff for parts - but, you MUST tell the truth of course. I bet someone would pay a couple of bucks to try and fix it.

Murph

Jim Sofranko · July 8th, 2004, 06:43 PM

I remember hearing of motion picture film cameras being dropped in salt water and being flushed out with fresh water and dried out. I think the damage may be more from the salt than from water.

It must be done soon afterward before the salt corrodes, as I recall, and any mechanical parts lubed with the proper oil or grease.

You could sell it but personally I would find it more interesting to try to salvage it myself. Maybe call Canon for advice. If it works you have a great miracle story! If not maybe you can bastardize the focus system as a switch for something else...

Jeff Donald · July 8th, 2004, 07:02 PM

Salt water is very corrosive. But worse is that most newer cameras are very electronic. The water (salt or fresh) fry the electronics. If it somehow survives shorting out, the corrosion will kill it 6 months later. I wouldn't waste any time or effort on it.

Dan Uneken · July 9th, 2004, 03:46 AM

My mobile phone survived a 30 C. wash, rinse and spin! (Nokia)

Bill Pryor · July 9th, 2004, 11:15 AM

A friend of mine washed his cell phone in a Maytag, took it out, used a hair dryer, and it still works. I dropped mine in the toilet (after it was flushed, thankfully), and it died. It sort of worked, but it would dial wrong numbers.

I had a Nikonos underwater 35mm camera that got flooded due to a bad O-ring when I hit a depth of about 90 feet. It was dead. In theory, it PERHAPS could have been saved by soaking it in fresh water and then drying it out thoroughly, but that would have had to have been done almost immediately.

I think you're screwed, but you might give it a try. Dunk it good in the bathtub, open it up and use a hair dryer for awhile (don't get it too hot), then let it set for a couple of days and see what happens. If it works you may be eligible for the Guiness book of world records.

Michael Bendixen · July 9th, 2004, 11:19 AM

Bill, I think you're right. It should have been done immediately, but I was deep in mexico and didn't know that was the best remedy at the time. I just cried instead.

Maybe I'll just take it apart to at least enhance my knowledge of the inner workings of a camera

John Garcia · July 9th, 2004, 03:45 PM

^ heh...you did what i wouldve done.

CRIED! :-(

sorry for your loss...

Dylan Couper · July 9th, 2004, 08:05 PM

My Canon S100 2mp Digital Elph survived a minor dunk in both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. I took the battery out, card out, opened it up, let it air out for two days, betteried it up and it worked fine. They were pretty minor dunks though.

Sorry for your loss.

Greg Boston · July 11th, 2004, 08:05 PM

Another thing you should do with a freshly dunked electronic object is to use good old isopropol alcohol commonly referred to as rubbing alcohol. Why? Because alcohol displaces water and will not conduct electricity. One it evaporates, there is no residue. Note though that it is also a de-greaser and so you will have to relubricate any parts that require it.

Salt water will almost immediately start to corrode the internal metal parts. Alcohol will also help remove the corrosion. Use a toothbrush lightly on the circuit boards with generous amounts of alcohol.

This may save your camera, at least it's worth a try if you are going to take it apart anyway.

regards,

Nick Medrano · July 29th, 2004, 08:14 PM

I bet you someone would still buy it. If you look in the Private Classifieds of this forum, you'll see that someone is looking to buy a dead XL1.

One man's junk is another man's treasure.

Jeff Donald · July 29th, 2004, 09:10 PM

Read the first post again, he has a film Canon Rebel, not a XL1.

Nick Medrano · July 29th, 2004, 09:19 PM

I know that, but what I am saying is that someone is looking to buy dead equipment...in this case an XL1.

July 8th, 2004, 02:28 PM	#1
Michael Bendixen Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Corvallis, OR Posts: 109	camera fell in salt water I don't know where this topic fits but I think I'm still in the land of photographers. I have a non-digital canon rebel that fell in the salt water. I took it to the camera shop and they said it was not possible to be fixed, which I expected. Is there anything that I can use it for now at all, maybe sell some part that is not damaged or get some use out of it, or should I just throw it away?

July 8th, 2004, 06:15 PM	#4
Christopher C. Murphy Trustee Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,707	Hey, I'd sell it anyway on Ebay even though it's broken. People buy stuff for parts - but, you MUST tell the truth of course. I bet someone would pay a couple of bucks to try and fix it. Murph __________________ Christopher C. Murphy Director, Producer, Writer

July 8th, 2004, 07:02 PM	#6
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Salt water is very corrosive. But worse is that most newer cameras are very electronic. The water (salt or fresh) fry the electronics. If it somehow survives shorting out, the corrosion will kill it 6 months later. I wouldn't waste any time or effort on it. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

July 9th, 2004, 03:46 AM	#7
Dan Uneken Major Player Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Andalucia, Spain Posts: 301	My mobile phone survived a 30 C. wash, rinse and spin! (Nokia) __________________ Film & TV locations & production Spain http://www.fotofilmvideo.com/

July 9th, 2004, 03:45 PM	#10
John Garcia Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: Honolulu, Hawaii Posts: 199	^ heh...you did what i wouldve done. CRIED! :-( sorry for your loss... __________________ John Garcia

July 8th, 2004, 03:28 PM	#2
Jim Sofranko Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: West Shokan, NY Posts: 217	What not rinse it thouroughly in fresh water and blow it dry with air as a last resort before throwing it out? Dissasemble it as muchor as little as needed to be able to do the job. That is, unless someone has a more experienced solution.

July 8th, 2004, 06:10 PM	#3
Michael Bendixen Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Corvallis, OR Posts: 109	how much should I take it apart you think. It just seems like there are a lot of internal systems that I will damage if I put it in water again, salt water or not. Thanks for the help though

July 8th, 2004, 06:43 PM	#5
Jim Sofranko Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: West Shokan, NY Posts: 217	I remember hearing of motion picture film cameras being dropped in salt water and being flushed out with fresh water and dried out. I think the damage may be more from the salt than from water. It must be done soon afterward before the salt corrodes, as I recall, and any mechanical parts lubed with the proper oil or grease. You could sell it but personally I would find it more interesting to try to salvage it myself. Maybe call Canon for advice. If it works you have a great miracle story! If not maybe you can bastardize the focus system as a switch for something else...

July 9th, 2004, 11:15 AM	#8
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	A friend of mine washed his cell phone in a Maytag, took it out, used a hair dryer, and it still works. I dropped mine in the toilet (after it was flushed, thankfully), and it died. It sort of worked, but it would dial wrong numbers. I had a Nikonos underwater 35mm camera that got flooded due to a bad O-ring when I hit a depth of about 90 feet. It was dead. In theory, it PERHAPS could have been saved by soaking it in fresh water and then drying it out thoroughly, but that would have had to have been done almost immediately. I think you're screwed, but you might give it a try. Dunk it good in the bathtub, open it up and use a hair dryer for awhile (don't get it too hot), then let it set for a couple of days and see what happens. If it works you may be eligible for the Guiness book of world records.

July 9th, 2004, 11:19 AM	#9
Michael Bendixen Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Corvallis, OR Posts: 109	Bill, I think you're right. It should have been done immediately, but I was deep in mexico and didn't know that was the best remedy at the time. I just cried instead. Maybe I'll just take it apart to at least enhance my knowledge of the inner workings of a camera

July 9th, 2004, 08:05 PM	#11
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	My Canon S100 2mp Digital Elph survived a minor dunk in both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. I took the battery out, card out, opened it up, let it air out for two days, betteried it up and it worked fine. They were pretty minor dunks though. Sorry for your loss. __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

July 11th, 2004, 08:05 PM	#12
Greg Boston Wrangler Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: DFW area, TX Posts: 6,117 Images: 1	Another thing you should do with a freshly dunked electronic object is to use good old isopropol alcohol commonly referred to as rubbing alcohol. Why? Because alcohol displaces water and will not conduct electricity. One it evaporates, there is no residue. Note though that it is also a de-greaser and so you will have to relubricate any parts that require it. Salt water will almost immediately start to corrode the internal metal parts. Alcohol will also help remove the corrosion. Use a toothbrush lightly on the circuit boards with generous amounts of alcohol. This may save your camera, at least it's worth a try if you are going to take it apart anyway. regards,

July 29th, 2004, 08:14 PM	#13
Nick Medrano Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 331	I bet you someone would still buy it. If you look in the Private Classifieds of this forum, you'll see that someone is looking to buy a dead XL1. One man's junk is another man's treasure.

July 29th, 2004, 09:10 PM	#14
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Read the first post again, he has a film Canon Rebel, not a XL1. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

July 29th, 2004, 09:19 PM	#15
Nick Medrano Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 331	I know that, but what I am saying is that someone is looking to buy dead equipment...in this case an XL1.