OOPS the underwater housing wasn't latched...flooded camera..what to do!!

[chetflyer]

I just returned from a dive weekend with friends...shot some video and then...when all was going well..one of the latches was not engaged properly and I flooded my camcorder! I used an Ikelite housing and a canon vixia HFS100 camcorder. The camcorder was completely submerged! One of the divers said to put it in a ziplock bag full of water and keep it submerged so that it would not start to corrode. He also suggested that I dump the water out of the camera when I returned home and then submerged it in rubbing alcohol...then dump that out...and disassemble the camera as best possible and let it dry out. This was only a suggestion. I'm open for suggestions as to what...IF ANYTHING...can be done to resolve the problem....or just grin and bear it and purchase a new camcorder? Oh just a note...the camcorder was NOT turned on when this happened...and I also removed the battery right away..............ANY SUGGESTIONS??? Only reply if you have experienced this kind of situation and have found a way to fix it...Thanks

 

[SnorkelLA]

Drop the battery in some rice to help keep it from corroding. Have you tried to turn it back on yet?

Try B&H Photography and see if they can repair it for less than the cost of a new one


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[emoreira]

Some one posted here a similar experience but with point and shot camera. He submerged the camera in isopropilic alcohol and let it dry. The camera survived.

 

[diversteve]

Salt Water? Did the battery fuse to the camera? If so, it likely shorted out the electronics when that happened - so probably it's toast.

After you're thru with the alcohol, submerge the whole thing in a bowl of dry rice and leave it there for a couple of days. The rice will wick up any of the residual moisture. It worked for my nephew's cell phone.

Pull any CF cards before you try to start it again also.

You might contact Canon, they replaced my buddy's p/s camera for basically the cost of shipping and a service fee a few years ago.

ProTech in Chicago also has a good reputation. They'll charge you a service fee but will tell you if it's a write-off before you pay for expensive repairs if you send it to them. http://www.protechcam.com/

I've never submerged one but used to shoot video for a university so have some experience gettting them repaired.

 

[flareside]

Check the label when you buy the alcohol. It can often be upwards of 45% water and water is not your friend here.

 

[Aaron_Grey]

Alcohol is definately your best bet. Rinse the entire camera in 100% alcohol (methylated spirits) and then dry it as much as possible.

Doing this will minimize the corrosion (but won't necessarily guarantee that it will survive).

Best of luck.

 

[CarrieanneCook]

Take it apart and put it in a bowl of rice for 24hours, the same happened to me and it worked.

 

[Angry Turtle]

DO NOT TRY TO TURN IT ON UNTIL FULLY DRY.

The process you described worked for me for an iphone, twice. However, did not work for my canon G-11.

So, it is worth a try. When you put it in rice, try placing it in a warm area, I used a heating pad set on low (always under supervision though).

 

[electrix]

You can also dry it out in a box or container of some sort with a 25 watt light bulb for a few days. Something with room not a shoebox.

 

[chetflyer]

The camera was submerged in fresh water which is a plus...I removed the battery right away and the camera was never turned on. I kept it submerged in fresh water until I got home. I just removed it from the fresh water and drained it as much as possible and I've now submerged it in the 99% pure Isopropyl alcohol. I'm going to remove it later and start taking as much of the camcorder apart as I can. Then I'm going to put it in a sealed container with rice?..or damp rid?... ......the next part I'm not 100% sure of. One person said that I could try drying it out in an oven with very low heat (I mean VERY low heat)...another suggested drying it out with the rice for a few days on a warm heating pad, or a box with a low wattage light bulb,another suggested putting it in a sealed container with Damp Rid (same stuff used to regenerate moisture munchers....I use it and it works) Damp rid removes moisture even better than rice! So...I'm just not sure what the best NEXT step would be. I've already purchased another HFS100 on Ebay as I feel that reviving this camcorder is probably a long shot....but heck...what have I got to lose and this will be a great experiment that may help others in the future!!!.....so....what do you guys think?