Digital Camera drowning

[atomichaggis]

Very recently the plastic bag type housing We have been using failed for some reason and My Mrs's beloved Ixus is pretty dead and wouldn't respond to attempts to revive it.

Is it usual in instances like this that a digi cam can be repaired or is it pointless asking in a shop? anyone got any experience? very reluctant to toss it in the rubbish.

[jenfu]

I'm sorry, Mate. If it was salt water, the camera is most likely done. If it was fresh water, there may be a chance. Some people suggest putting it in a air-tight bag with some desicant, those drying packets you can buy for your gear or find in packaging for dried food. The idea is to try to soak up the last bit of moisture in the camera. I flooded a point-and-shoot in a case just a little bit in the ocean. It was dead but when it dried out, it turned on. It was back from the dead not never quite the same, kinda like a zombie. I flooded a Nikon digital SLR in a housing, sent it to Nikon for repair, and they kinda laughed at me.
Sorry to hear about your loss but I hope you and your wife are back to shooting photos soon!
Cheers,
-JenFu

[atomichaggis]

Hi Jenfu,

Thats a blow, it was in the bag full of sea water for 5 mins or so. Even the battery wouldn't work, couldnt take a charge so We tried it with another Ixus battery that definately works but no response unfortunately the only dessicant We had was the silica pack that was inside the bag... now soaked.

Oh well, thanks for sharing Your experiences.

[sunfish]

I'm sure I read somewhere, maybe Terry Maas, to soak in distilled water, drain, soak in pure alcohol, [to remove water], then dry. Probably too late now though.

[atomichaggis]

Hey sunfish,

Its been a couple of days or so now, I had considered rinsing in fresh water but wasn't sure if it would make any difference. Don't really have any pure alcohol either... not sure if Herradura anejo would work as well

[Adrian]

For old mechanical cameras with no electrical parts one would dip it in alcohol as it would dry out the camera. with the modern ones, I heard that one should wait until it's totally dried out before turning it on again to avoid any possible short circuits. Good luck on yours!

[atomichaggis]

Hi Adrian,
My Mrs tried switching it on straight away... I told her not to of course, not that She listens. Since the battery is fried I'm guessing any number of bits are fried now.

Nice photos btw!

[nostres]

there was a chance right afted flooding but first, it would have to be taken completely apart, soaked and dried. If it was turned on wet - it's gone.
My digital camera spent all night on hevy rain after was droped by the car door, I found it next morning sitting in water all the way. I didn't even dissasembled it, just removed batteries and card and dried it for good couple hours with hair dryer set to low. It worked fine after that. Water itself won't damage digital camera or other electronics, it's turn-on shortcut destorying sensitive components.

[atomichaggis]

I'm starting to believe its totally gone now... such a kick in the nuts tho.
I could do with new fins but I guess a camera is gonna be top priority now.

[fogish]

I have to agree with everyone else on this, my dad learned the hard way with a cell phone: The first time he dropped one in a lake fishing/angling he tried to turn it on immediately to see if it would still work and it never ever worked again. The second one he dropped (no idea why he kept taking a phone with him) and set it out to dry in the sun and then left it on the counter for 24 hours to dry out completely, turned the power on and it was fine.

Lesson: water and electricity work TOO well together.