17-55mm.... NOT waterproof

specialman

specialman

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Pat MacInnes
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Bit of a face-palm moment today;

Wading out to set up a shot, I was fiddling with an off-camera flash that was situated in a few feet of water with the camera round my neck when I realised the camera was lens-down in the water!!!! Don't know how long the end of the lens was submerged - I was away with the fairies working out flash powers in my head - but it was well soaked.

No visible water in the lens but as I zoomed the barrel out, I could see moisture coming from inside the lens so feared the worst. Thanks to it being boiling hot today the condensation quickly built up and the lens, although focussing, just won't lock focus now and intermittently, reads '0' as the f-stop value.

Gutted because it's my 'do-everything' lens and I'll miss it while Nikon take a look to see if its salvageable. Thankfully, I'm in-between insurances (the boss is trying to find a cheaper deal) but the works credit card will take the strain.

Broken microphone, then this.... I'm waiting for number three :lol:

Anyway, thank to my 14mm Sigma 'flare master' ;) I got the shot, although it needs some touching up :lol:

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I feel your pain.

My 18-105 lens is away at Nikon gtting the broken attachment replaced. They told me on the phone it could take longer than normal becuase of the Olympics.
 
Put the lens on this morning and it worked like a charm, although as the day progressed more of a haze appeared..... the remnants of the moisture inside the lens.

Boxed up and sent off to Nikon for repair :(

Think I may have to rent something like a 16-35mm f/4 in the interim as a test :)
 
For a future fix, try putting the lens in a big plastic bag with a couple pounds of dry rice. Put it on the radiator or other heater and let it sit a while. The rice will draw the moisture out. I don't know how well it will work with a lens, but my wife dropped her Iphone in the toilet the other week. It was out of commission, water in the camera port, screen wouldn't shut off and was showing 'fuzz' like static on a TV, etc. Overnight in the bag got it most of the way there. Another day in the bag with fresh rice cleared the rest.

If you haven't sent it off then it might be worth a try.

Thanks
Rick
 
casts_by_fly said:
For a future fix, try putting the lens in a big plastic bag with a couple pounds of dry rice. Put it on the radiator or other heater and let it sit a while. The rice will draw the moisture out. I don't know how well it will work with a lens, but my wife dropped her Iphone in the toilet the other week. It was out of commission, water in the camera port, screen wouldn't shut off and was showing 'fuzz' like static on a TV, etc. Overnight in the bag got it most of the way there. Another day in the bag with fresh rice cleared the rest.

If you haven't sent it off then it might be worth a try.

Thanks
Rick
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Lens has been posted but I'll remember it for future - I'm sure something else will happen as long as I'm doing this job :lol:
 
I had a similar problem last year.
Though I'd got away with it but the dreaded moisture fogged everything up.

Sent the lens to Canon who took it apart, checked it, and said it was fine!
To be on the safe side they cleaned the glass, reassembled and recalibrated.
Cost me £70 plus postage, but I was really happy as it was a £1700 lens!

If the same thing happened again I think I'd send it straight off.
At least if the lens is dismantled then if there is water inside, not just dampness, they can sort it out before the water permanently damages the electrics.
 
So, a month on its finally winging its way back from Nikon. Took its time, probably due to the Olympics, bit repair is done and paid for. £458 was the cost due to needing a new AF motor and cleaning mould build up after the submersion.
 
specialman said:
So, a month on its finally winging its way back from Nikon. Took its time, probably due to the Olympics, bit repair is done and paid for. £458 was the cost due to needing a new AF motor and cleaning mould build up after the submersion.
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wow thats insanely expensive considering you can get them second have for around £500. Repair costs of lenses is crazy
 
I would have done the rice treatment myself
24 hours submerged in a bag of tescos finest rice
 
I'd be claiming that on my insurance Pat. Is that the sort of thing you pros are covered for?
 
probably not much good to you now but if you need to dry out a lens and don't have any of those silica bags, bung it in a big bag of dried rice for a couple of days.

sorry to hear about your lens, what a nightmare to look down and see that!
x
 
markmullen said:
Has anyone suggested a bag of rice yet? ;)
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basmati or pilau? :lol:

total facepalm moment, hope it all works out ok

if you want, we have bucketloads of silica gel packs at work and I could get some to you if you think it would help? drop me a pm if you want some :)
 
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markmullen said:
Has anyone suggested a bag of rice yet? ;)
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Maybe rice will magically make an AF motor work ;)

Anyway, it's done now. I have a feeling that Nikon was the most expensive route (Fixation might have been cheaper) but anyway, hopefully it'll work like a dream when I get it back. I really have missed this lens, although it's meant the 14mm and 35mm primes have had a workout.
 
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dinners said:
Nice Carp by the way.
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Thanks. It made the cover, albeit with a few bit of Photoshoppery. Suppose it's a bit of a bonus after what happened on the day :)

paulcamcas said:
I'd have done the same. I wouldn't take a chance with kit I really depended on.
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HopefulM said:
...what a nightmare to look down and see that!
x
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It happens, just glad I could complete the job on the day. Editors are only sympathetic for about 30-seconds then they're shouting "where are my offing pics???" :lol:


Yeah, I was kind of thinking that.

Anyway, the lens is bag in my kit bag, it went out with me again (into the lake with me in waders again) and it performed beautifully. I've missed it a lot. Mind you, I kept going for the 14mm or 35mm because I was so used to not having it with me - had to remind myself it was there to be used :lol:
 
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