0
katzurki

Camera. Water. Bad.

Recommended Posts

Yesterday was great fun and cost a lot of bucks. I butt-swooped my brand new freefly suit through a puddle of mud, and then accidentally dunked my PC 109 camera in said puddle. I took it out. I very stupidly turned it on a bit later that day thinking it maybe was ok. It worked for about 30 seconds, then said: Dirty cleaning head, reinsert cassette. I did. It stopped working altogether. Doesn't turn on at all now. Anything I can do to salvage it right now? Sony repair facility is not an option at where I am, unfortunately.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Get a gallon of distilled water ,dunk your camera in it wash it real good with that ,this should wash all the sediments from it, then immediately wash it the same way with isopropyl alcohol this will disperse the moisture from it .I'd let it dry for a few days then see how that works . But you need to do this asap because the sediments will corrode the inside of it .I have seen a few go in the drink at bridge day every year..
:)


A friend will bail you out of jail , a REAL friend will be sitting next to you in the cell slapping your hand saying "DUDE THAT WAS AWSUM " ................

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

Get a gallon of distilled water ,dunk your camera in it wash it real good with that ,this should wash all the sediments from it, then immediately wash it the same way with isopropyl alcohol this will disperse the moisture from it .I'd let it dry for a few days then see how that works . But you need to do this asap because the sediments will corrode the inside of it .I have seen a few go in the drink at bridge day every year..
:)



Did I get that right? Actually rinse the camera in water? Then in alcohol?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
yes distilled water 1st then the alcohol walmart has all this stuff.
Let me know how it works ? Hope it helps save it , ive seen it done before..


A friend will bail you out of jail , a REAL friend will be sitting next to you in the cell slapping your hand saying "DUDE THAT WAS AWSUM " ................

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
I would do the same. Better than not trying. I have actually done this with my $100 calculator when I spilled red wine (more like dumped whole glass over it) on the face of it. The wine dried and got sticky. I used the same method and dried the calculator on a radiator for a day. Amazingly it worked. But use isopropanol/isopropyl alcohol at 99%. The rubbing alcohol is 30% water and 70% isopropanol.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Ahh thanks Lonnie & Shogo!
(Your Safire is still flying great by the way;))

Can't the water/alcohol get through the lens and moisten it from inside, thereby ruining it?

The idea feels totally alien, but I will try anyway of course, since there is little to lose.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Here, we are using the isopropanol as a carrier solvent to vaporize the water with the alcohol. If you use enough isopropanol, you may end up not having much water left at all before drying, so it will dry quicker. I am not sure if it works with a camcorder, but it did work with my sophisticated graphing calculator. Like I said, better than not trying. Acetone (nail polish remover, etc) will dissolve plastic, so do not use that. Though it even dries quicker.
I hope some DZ's are letting you do intentional cutaway with the Safire.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Obviously you need to make sure you remove the battery before you try this. I got my Pc-120 wet shortly after I got it, all i did was let it dry for a couple of weeks and it is still working so far. That was 3 years ago.
If you never fall down you aren't trying hard enough.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Disassembled the camera, skipped the distilled water bath, poured a litre of isopropyl over it, swirled and sloshed it around, let it dry, put it together back again. So far appears fine except that there is a big blotch on LCD screen.

Thanks for all the advice!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
The “blotch” is trapped liquid in the glass that covers the LCD element. It’s like a sandwich with very little tolerance between surfaces. Remove the cover on the back of the LCD screen with the battery removed (there are two screws … see attached) rinse the screen assembly again with 90% isopropyl. It has to be H2O trapped because alcohol would have evaporated by now. But do it soon so you don't get a hard water stain.

If you’re up to it you can remove the screws that hold down the LCD assembly, but make sure you don’t touch the circuit board unless you are well grounded (ie no static electricity) (see attached as well)

Most pond swooper’s cameras that I fix end with the same issue as well as some trapped grit.

If the LCD is hosed, the LCD assembly for the 109 is pretty cheap …. And easy to replace ...

If you get wet again ……. Only rinse a camera in water immediately after immersed in salt water and with the battery removed … otherwise always use 90% isopropyl and have a beer and cross your fingers while it dries

Cheers,

Jim

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

If the LCD is hosed, the LCD assembly for the 109 is pretty cheap …. And easy to replace ...



Another great reason to buy the insurance when purchasing the camera in the first place. I've already used mine, sending it in for cleaning. They'll replace it if I drop it as well (even from 12,500 feet). :)
ltdiver

Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Thanks Lori ..... good advice....... most of the jumpers I fix cameras for can only afford beer! …… great point camera fliers …… pay the extra beans for insurance……course if you have coverage ….it will never break … lol

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

0