Got caught in the rain (5Dmk3, 5Dmk3, 7D boddies soaked)

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dtmcnamara

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#1
Ok so I got caught in a freak storm over the weekend and all my gear is soaking wet, the list includes:

5DMK3
5DMK2
7D
70-200mm f/2.8 IS II
50mm f/1.2
50mm f/1.4
11-16 f/2.8
3 battery grips for the cameras
2 580EXII Flashes

We were shooting at a festival and had to hike 2 miles to our car in the rain after 20x20ft tents started to get ripped from the ground and thrown around like newspapers in the city streets. All gear was on for 10 minutes in the rain, since we were more worried about a possible tornado. Once we realized that the cameras were still on they were shut down and then were still rained on for another 20 minutes. The 7D looks like it took most damage with water floating in the top LCD screen.

My question is how long should I keep these in the rice to be safe? They have been in rice since 2pm on Saturday. I have shoots starting this thursday and I cannot really afford another camera, especially since I bough the MK3 literally a week ago last Monday.
 
#3
Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. :P

Seriously though, there is no way to tell how long you will need to dry them in rice since you really don't know how much water got in them (if any as some of those devices are weather sealed). Get them to a qualified repair center (if you can find one) or just turn them on and give them a try. Either way, I would be prepared to either reschedule the upcoming shoot or contact your favorite rental store to rent some gear while the other is being repaired.

Good luck.
 
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#7
I'd make sure the speedlites are well and truly dried out before trying to put batteries in and turn them on. If there's enough moisture to short across some of the capacitors when they're at or near full capacity, that's not going to make for fun times.

Find some of those little color changing silica gel thingies, change out the rice if you haven't already. Then call up your local camera rental shop and ask them to put 1 or 2 cameras on rental hold for you just in case. The night before (or at least a few hours before) put the camera/lenses in your normal bag each with a couple of the silica gel packs in each compartment next to the piece of equipment. Check the gel before hand, and if it's turned the bad color, don't use and put back in rice. If it's fine, then power up the equipment, try out various functions and if it works fine use it, otherwise just get the rental(s) and figure on carrying some large plastic bags you can toss over your equipment and/or you for next time.
 
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#8
I twice got this bad situation with my gadgets. First you must remove the battery. Short circuit usually will cost you 50% of new one. Especially with any digital device with modular electronic boards inside.

When there's no warranty left, try to open most of the body then put it on hair dryer. Do not push too hard, you dont know every little screws and knacks inside. And dont over cooked with hair dryer too. When everything safe & dry, you can try it on. If it won't blink then go to repair store, if it back to life then you save around $50 at least.

For device under warranty, you can use rice then repair it in service center. When the hardware would not be covered, but you can save extra for service fee.
 
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#9
The 7D and the flashes need attention. Your 7D likely got water in thru the flash, and that high voltage capacitor is a concern. Do not turn the camera on.
Your 5D's are likely OK. Not having that flash and associated body opening in the top keeps water out.
 
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#12
.
Not much help now, I know. But for the future. A box of these is $3 to $5 depending on where and when. Fold one up and keep it in your bag. If that much water comes along, these seem like a good investment.

IMG8422-M.jpg
 
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#13
This is a proven technique that has been confirmed by many photographers as well as other electronic repair technicians. I have this worked on my iPod which was accidentally dropped in water.

For best results, do this right away. The longer you wait, the chance of water getting into the electronic parts is much higher.

(1) Make sure the camera is turned off. Take the memory card and battery out of the camera and store them in a dry place. If you have images on the memory card, refrain from inserting them into a card reader right away. Instead let it sit in a dry area for a few hours before attempting to transfer the images. Don't bother to take the lens off. Doing this, you take the risk of getting water into the camera mount. Plus you'll want the lens to be included so it can dry together with the camera.

(2) Take a small dry bath towel, and in pressing motion, dab the camera until it's dry or as best as you can dry it. Don't wipe it as the wiping motion may push water into the crevices.

(3) Next you will need to get some white rice. Yes, you heard right. Rice. Long grain, Jasmine, whatever. Take a sturdy dry plastic bag, carefully put your camera in in (if you have more than one camera, use a bag for each camera). Pour enough rice to cover the entire camera. Now close up the plastic bag completely, either by hand tying the open ends or use a twist tie or rubber band. Let the bag with rice and camera sit in a dry place for a good 8 hours, or better yet overnight into the next day. Every once in a while rotate the camera in the bag, making sure most of the rice is covering the camera. You can do this without opening the bag. The rice will soak up all the remaining water and moisture.

(4) When you think the camera has been sitting long enough in the rice, untie the bag and carefully take the camera out. I say "carefully" because you don't want any rice powder to get inside, or under the lcd or crevices. Once the camera is out, use a brush, preferrably a lens or camera cleaning brush and brush off all the remaining rice still sticking to the camera. Use a rocket blower to blow the rest off the camera.

(5) Put the memory card and battery back into the camera. Turn it on. If no error blinking messages come up, you should be good to go. To be safe, now would be a good time to transfer the images onto your hard drive if you haven't done so.

Cross your fingers and wish for luck.
 
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#14
i think the lens that you had on the 7d was either one of the following:
1. 50mm f/1.4
2. 11-16 f/2.8

50mm f/1.2 is not fully protect your camera but it does offer protection around the lens mount. as if 70-200mm was put on your 7d, i would guess there is no problem...

note: after market battery grips might undo the camera seal capability...
 
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#17
rHellfire said:
This is why I use Peli Cases and Gepe Card Safe Bags for all my equipment. I once was very happy about having them in a similar situation as yours. One big Peli Case costs less than 200$ and this is (in first row) the best insurance you can get!

Hope that everything is still working. Water damages are always a big problem...
Click to expand...

I use them... Peace of mind cannot be overstated...
 
Upvote 0
#18
awinphoto said:
rHellfire said:
This is why I use Peli Cases and Gepe Card Safe Bags for all my equipment. I once was very happy about having them in a similar situation as yours. One big Peli Case costs less than 200$ and this is (in first row) the best insurance you can get!

Hope that everything is still working. Water damages are always a big problem...
Click to expand...

I use them... Peace of mind cannot be overstated...
Click to expand...

+1. At home, my gear is stored in Pelican Storm cases (I prefer the Storm latches to the Peli knuckle-busters). Even in the house, leaks can happen. Pipes can burst. I have a toddler. 'Nuff said.
 
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#19
rHellfire said:
This is why I use Peli Cases and Gepe Card Safe Bags for all my equipment. I once was very happy about having them in a similar situation as yours. One big Peli Case costs less than 200$ and this is (in first row) the best insurance you can get!

Hope that everything is still working. Water damages are always a big problem...
Click to expand...
You actually take the cases out with you when hiking for miles? I think a zip lock bag is more practical.
 
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#20
Here is a thought. I use heated corn (whole kernels in a zippered pillow cover made of cloth) to heat my back. I microwave the corn in the cover till hot, no it does not pop. One might be able to get a little extra boost out of the rice if you microwaved it until it was warm and then follow then steps outlined in other posts. The rice can be reused many times if you do this, and then used for a foot warmer etc. Putting the corn or rice in a cover might keep it a little better controlled too.

And no I am not suggesting microwaving the camera.
 
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