I've drowned my new camera - can I avoid having to buy a new one?

Essgeebee

This is a really cheeky question but on the premise of don't ask, don't get, here goes.

I took my brand new Canon compact camera out to the beach today. You can probably see where this is going already...

It's in a well padded case on my belt. I'm scrambling over rocks and the case falls off my belt into a rock pool. :mad: Despite grabbing it quickly, it's clear that some water must have got into it and it no longer works. I'm gutted. It cost over £300 from Amazon and I paid by credit card.:(

I feel sure my only options are to stump up and buy another one or claim on my home contents insurance (£125 excess and probably a premium hike) but has anyone got any other money-saving ideas? I've yet to tell the missus!

Thanks

d123

salt water and electronics are the worst possible combination, have you thought of buying a second hand replacement?

Browntoa

bag of rice, place camera inside, leave for a few days (remove battery if its removable)

if REALLY lucky it will suck all the moisture out

iceblue24

many years ago, i dropped my phone in the sea in exactly the same circumstances. Despite my best efforts it was dead. Took it to a nokia dealership where the technician opened it up and all the copper contacts on the pcb were corroded from the salt. it turned into light green colour. your best bet is to get a 2nd hand replacement and hope the missus doesnt find out

shaun_from_Africa

It's probably too late now (but still worth a try if the camera is totally dead).

Remove the battery and any memory card, then put the camera in a big bowl or bucket of clean water and swish it about a lot, then leave it in there for about 10 minutes to disolve any salt.

Take it out and let it drain, then put it somewhere warm (not too hot) and leave it for a couple of days.

Even if you managed to get all of the sea water out by simply drying the camera, it is the salt that would be left that will corrode the electronics in a matter of days.

Zandoni

Does your credit card cover you for accidental damage, some do.

*Scarlett

If you can't fix the camera, a £300 claim on your home insurance might not raise your premium as much as you think if this is the only claim in the last 3 - 5 years. After all this is what you are paying your insurance for. Try a few fake online quotes with and without the claim details.

You will be able to see if it's worth your while claiming, taking into account the excess and price increase.

Before you approach your insurance company make sure you are covered and are definitely sure that you want to go ahead with the claim as this would normally be recorded as a loss/accident/claim even if you later decide not to proceed or are not covered.

Some bank accounts (usually the ones that you pay a monthly fee for) include cover for this type of thing and, as said above, it's definitely worth checking with your credit card comapny as well.

Hope you get it sorted.

eamon

Since you fear the worst already. Remove the battery's, take the camera apart and rinse the parts out in clean tap water. Follow the tips above for drying the component parts, reassemble the camera, insert the battery's power up and see if it works. You never know.

vikingaero

Some Canon cameras also have a small button battery for time/date backup so be sure to remove that too.

paddyrg

Any idea why this is in consumer rights as opposed to techie forum? You may get more suggestions there, although it is as many here say, probably dead already

Lirin

I would say it is likely dead completely. Work on that basis.

However- Canon's are hardy things. As has been mentioned above, the worst thing is actually the salt, not the water. I have rinsed cameras off before in water- I'm all Canon- and as long as they've been well dried before turning back on, they have survived reasonably.

One question- did you try turning the camera on at all after it got soaked? If you did, there's a high enough chance you've fried the circuits...

I would work on the basis that you have nothing to lose. Take batteries out, rinse carefully under water- try and avoid the sensor, they are very sensitive to water damage. Set in a zip-loc bag with rice or silica packets for a week or so. Near a heat source, low level, do not set on top of a heater. The heat will damage several components, so set on a shelf above a heater.

If you're lucky enough and the camera survives, I would have doubts over the longevity of the lens- unfortunately while Canon compacts have nice sturdy barrels, the mount is a weak point. Problems zooming, lens sticking, etc. That's IF it survives.

Calling Canon may be worth a try. I've done it before, and had accidents repaired free, on the tearful promise that I and all my descendants will buy Canon products and keep the company alive.... Has worked on a couple of occasions, the tech's are fairly decent people.

The warranty won't cover it, unfortunately, and a repair would be not worth it- it will easily cost the original price of the camera. Canon do sometimes have a nice heart though, and have occasionally given another camera in situations they don't have to out of goodwill.

As Vikingaero has said, there's sometimes a small date/time cell battery. Without knowing the model you have, if there is a cell battery it will be on the underside of the camera, or occasionally on some models at the base of the battery housing.

Final pointer- if you do do the xiploc bag thing, after you take the camera out of the bag after a week, let it acclimatise in the room for an hour before you switch it on. Will stave off other problems, mainly related to the lens and back sensor.