5DIII moisture damage after light drizzle

[BenjaminY]

I bought my 5Diii about 6 months ago, it's a terrific camera. But during a trip to Mexico, it broke down after getting wet during a light drizzle.

I got Error 20 and the shutter couldn't stop firing. So I removed the battery and next morning everything was back to normal.

When I got back from the trip, I sent it to Canon to check the damage. The tech says that the problem was "corrosion caused by moisture". Since water damage is not under warranty, it would take me $400 to fix the problem.

The tech sent me some pictures, and from the look of it, the damages aren't that bad. Should I spend $400 to fix it or just take it back?

Also, I have friends that have used 5Diii under heavy rains, and their cameras didn't suffer any damages from it. Does it mean that my camera has a manufacturing defect? If so, will Canon replace it?

Thanks!

 

[Marsu42]

The tech sent me some pictures, and from the look of it, the damages aren't that bad. Should I spend $400 to fix it or just take it back?

If you're not a mission-critical photog I'd take it back, the corrosion is done. Since the $400 tag might be used to replace a whole pcb peace - there's no loss doing it later on, probably after another shooting in the rain ... and if you get real lucky another piece breaks under warranty in the same region and they'll replace the whole inside for free.

Also, I have friends that have used 5Diii under heavy rains, and their cameras didn't suffer any damages from it. Does it mean that my camera has a manufacturing defect? If so, will Canon replace it?

Definitely not, just because the 5d3 is very expensive doesn't mean Canon gives *any* warranty on sealing, if you look closely they are very careful to use this as a marketing instrument w/o relaying any real information, and there's no way to rate a sealing level other than 6d < 5d < 1d < underwater camera.

Bottom line is, look at zillions of other threads: If you don't want to play the lottery shooting in the rain with a non-1d (and probably even than), use a plastic bag, it doesn't show up on the pictures. Moisture damage might not show up immediately, the camera just stopping to shoot might be no problem at all once you put it in a rice bag while slow corrosion might kill it even after a proud "yo! me and my 5d3 in the rain! I feel like a jungle war reporter!" posting

 

[sb in ak]

Do you have any sort of insurance for camera equipment?

Either way, I'd strongly consider just having them replace the parts. Peace of mind for later on, and it's already there. And use a bag next time.