What to do with a flooded Oly SP350?

[ReefHound]

If things have changed that much in the past month or so then I stand corrected. I got mine for $140 with accessories in April.

Search ebay for "olympus sp-350", there's an auction with 2 hours to go for one in "excellent condition - used for one month" with current bid of $100. Or get the BIN at $185. That's $35 more than the figure I used but doesn't change my point.

Searching completed auctions, an "as new" unit sold for $130 a few days ago, and a non-functional sold for $41 yesterday.

 

[Charlie59]

Or sell it as non-working on Ebay for $50, pick up a refurbished unit for $150, and you've only lost about $100.

You mean people actually pay $50 for a door stop. Wow!

 

[u4ia]

dont lose hope yet!!

I had a partial flood of my sp350 a few weeks ago while in freshwater to 80 feet. I dont know at what point it started but I could see it already when at around 60 feet and heading back to the mooring. once topside, I took out the battery and opened all the flaps. dive boat captain advised me to leave it in the sun to dry it out during the SI. once home, I didnt touch it for about a week, just let it dry out. I think I got lucky, it fired right up and it seems to be fine (unless there is some delayed corrosion that hasnt yet reared its ugly head). I am still not sure why it flooded, maybe a small cat hair on the o-ring? what is the best method of cleaning the seal? (esp with a house full of furry critters, seems nearly impossible to keep the fluff from flying around).

 

[alcina]

what is the best method of cleaning the seal? (esp with a house full of furry critters, seems nearly impossible to keep the fluff from flying around).

I have three cats and a dog...the cats love to sleep on my camera gear

The best way I've found is:
- very good light, you have to be able to see the tiniest, most invisible bits of stuff
- straight out of the shower coz you haven't had a chance to pick up any bits on yourself yet...if you can't do this, wash your hands and choose a towel carefully or shake and air dry
- remember to clean the groove, not just the oring if you take your oring out
- don't use Qtips; I use make up applicator sponge thingies
- don't over lube or over work the oring
- carefully visually inspect again after you have seated the oring and as you close the housing
- if your housing is clear, double check visually again
- go slowly, do it the same way every time
- cross fingers

 

[CheddarChick]

Alcina that just slays me. Why do they only love you when you are trying to read, or eat, or take a shower.........Ah housing prep, I'm sure Cheddarguy thinks I am nuts.....
The camera routine is very rigid....Ohh though I saw a head mounted light for visual inspections of the O-ring at walmar the other day. OK too compulisve

 

[gert7to3]

Alcina, I think the cat might be dissuaded if the lid were closed, upon him/her. Or else a foam lined not-my-dive-gear box/case.

Quick question, how do you handle fogging issues?

 

[alcina]

LOL - if it's closed they simply sleep on it instead! I've closed the lid on him a couple of times and he just hunkers down and waits me out He knows I would never hurt him really and what does he care if it's dark hehehe

I don't have a lot of fogging issues with my dslr set up. On the smaller compact systems I use (Oly 5050 and Canon A series) I sometimes pop in a desiccant pack or two. Works a treat.

CC - that head mounted light isn't over the top at all. One of those bright desk top lamps that you can change the angle on is a good choice, too. Anything to give you the advantage of seeing that little stuff that will get you!

 

[gary-ramey]

I just paid $150 for a "1 year old" camera in good condition however my recent experiences with cameras on Ebay have left me wondering how this will arrive. Two items of note,

I partially flooded my SP-350 in a pool. The LCD and sensor both got wet. I immediately removed the batteries after noticing the water coming in. I immediately took it into the hand dryer inside the mens room and dried it the best I could. I then let it sit in the hot sun for about 2 days. It came back fine and I've been using it ever since. I've also heard of people using the oven and baking it at a low temp of about 150 degrees.
My wife just suffered a video camera flood in a rinse bucket. The problem with rinse bucket water is that it isn't completely fresh after a couple of uses. Her video camera was fried and corroded because we didn't notice for 3 minutes and it suffered a complete flood. It was toast. The hired help on the boat put it in the bucket and she retrieved it after getting her gear off. In any case, I always instruct the help to just sit mine on a surface.

 

[Oscar73]

Insurance is a good thing

Good idea. Here is a question, who insures dive camera's?

Oscar

 

[JahJahwarrior]

I'm just curious, how come several of you have had gear flood in a rinse tub, only minutes after a dive, but had no problems during a 20-50 minute dive to much greater depths?!? Does the ascent cause problems with the case and oring? It just seems unlikely, statistcally speaking, that all of the floods mentioned here came from a few minutes in a rinse tub, as opposed to a much longer time on a dive. Murphy's Law also says that it should leak inthe most salty, acidic or toxic water.