Water Damage

tM1 · Dec 13, 2011

Bought a new Nikon D300s, Tamron 18-270 Piezo Drive lens.. Two weeks of having it, 6:30am setting up my tripod on the beach to cature the bright red sunrise. When suddenly a Freak' wave knocks my tripod over, my $3000's worth of gear is totally submurged in salt water.. She's still working.. For now..

MLeeK · Dec 13, 2011

Did you stick it in Silica or rice for a while just to make sure everything is completely dried? The d300s is pretty well weather sealed, but you can never be too careful in getting the moisture out of it! I'd leave it there at least a week.
Make sure it's insured well!

Big Mike · Dec 13, 2011

The camera yes, but likely not the lens...and if the lens doesn't have a seal at the lens mount...then the camera body's protection is compromised.
You may get lucky...but I'd have a hard time trusting a camera that had been soaked in salt water. I'd suggest sending it into Nikon for inspection, service and cleaning.

I had a 20D get completely soaked while in the rain forests of Costa Rica. The LCD screen was fogged up, on the inside, for almost a week. But the camera kept working that day and still works fine to this day...more than 5 years later. Obviously not salt water though.

shootermcgavin · Dec 13, 2011

A freak wave? Maybe I'm overly anal but I don't know that I'd set up near the ocean and walk away from the tripod. In the US homeowners insurance should cover the equipment being ruined though, not sure how it is in Australia. Personally if it were me I'd do the insurance regardless if it's working or not, better safe than sorry.

spacefuzz · Dec 13, 2011

Sink your tripod legs into the sand, prevents it from being toppled. You can also get a rider on your homeowners / renters insurance for all your equipment.

My D7000 and D90 survived several seawater dousings. Its not hardcore until your wet!

SCraig · Dec 13, 2011

Salt water is significantly different from fresh water. I would have been tempted to wash it off in fresh water to get rid of the salt. Tempted, yes, but then I'm not sure I would have had the nerve to actually do it.

TheBiles · Dec 13, 2011

Do you have a video to post to YouTube like the guy who had the same thing happen to his 5DMk2? B&H replaced it for free!

--
Sent from my Droid Bionic.

tM1 · Dec 14, 2011

Around the bottoms there is 'white crust' from the salt and is still working fine.
The lens is the worry, it has sand behind the lens but still takes a good photo. I think also the auto-focus is playing up.

Lucky i have a rich step father who is willing to put it under his home and contents insurance.

I hope i get the new one before my Ken Duncan expedition!!

tM1 · Dec 14, 2011

Buttons**

tM1 · Dec 14, 2011

shootermcgavin said:
A freak wave? Maybe I'm overly anal but I don't know that I'd set up near the ocean and walk away from the tripod. In the US homeowners insurance should cover the equipment being ruined though, not sure how it is in Australia. Personally if it were me I'd do the insurance regardless if it's working or not, better safe than sorry.

I was aware of how far the tide was out. It was pitch dark and i had turned around for a split second and yeah haha a freak wave came out of no where and the tripod fell. Ive got insurance coverd