left my 40D out in the rain

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Rob Bixby on May 31, 2009 at 7:54am

I would leave the battery out and keep it in a dry location for a couple of days preferable with the lens off, but cover the opening with a lint free cloth to allow any moisture to escape without putting dust inside. Water doesn't often hurt electronics unless they are live. If you're really worried after that, take it to a camera shop and see if they can take a look inside for any problems. Chances are good that if you have opened all of the various access points and found no moisture, you got very lucky.

Permalink Reply by Jesse Plummer on May 31, 2009 at 8:35am

In my experience with electronics, getting them wet in and of itself does not cause it harm. Powering it up while it's wet does. Do not use a hair dryer or anything that will blow air, static is as deadly as water. I would even consider contacting Canon CS and see if they will give you information on opening the case and allowing it to dry. But I do have one question, what led to leaving it out in the rain? Easy to do where I live as we get about 5 rain days a year...

Permalink Reply by Kelly Jennings on May 31, 2009 at 9:14am

As I gently tell my husband... it was becuase we had a dinner party and I was runnign around all night in a million directions. He instead was enjoying our company... as I shoudl have been. Didn't knwo it was going to rain honestly.

Great advice so far, I'll get back to teh discussion in a few days. I might stretch it out a week!

Permalink Reply by Andrew Ronaldson on May 31, 2009 at 3:32pm

Kelly,
I'm sure if you leave it for a couple of days in a warm place it will dry out the ouside as well as the inside, how do I know ???...I was an Electronics engineer and I knw the camera body is sealed enough for rain but not dropped in water....it will be fine I'm sure.

Andy

Permalink Reply by Diane Schafer on June 1, 2009 at 5:00pm

If misery loves company..,. then I'm it.

I slipped on some steps leading into the water and dropped my canon 5D and 20-700L lens in the Atlantic Ocean yesterday at the end of a full day of model shooting. I'm sure its' toast.. but I'm taking it to the repair tech tomorrow. It was my worst nightmare come to life. The good news is my flash card was fine and all my images were all there.

Good luck on your gear drying out... .your should be fine.

Permalink Reply by Rob Bixby on June 1, 2009 at 5:06pm

wow, have you stopped crying yet? This is the one thing I always have nightmares about whenever I'm near water. I hope they can fix it.

Permalink Reply by Diane Schafer on June 1, 2009 at 5:09pm

Thanks Rob.... I sure hope so... and I'm hoping my equipment insurance might cover the loss if not.

Permalink Reply by Kelly Jennings on June 7, 2009 at 5:48pm

For any of you that are curious what happened. After 4 days, I flipped it over for another 3 days. So after a week of not touching the camera, it worked just fine. Hopefully the photos will look ok since the body of the camera seems to be working ok.

Permalink Reply by CameraClicker on June 8, 2009 at 8:26am

They are supposed to be sealed well enough to withstand some rain. The photo magazines claim you will get tired of being rained on before the camera does, if you are out shooting and it starts to rain.

Going for a swim is a different matter. Ouch!

Permalink Reply by Linda Peters on June 18, 2009 at 8:36am

if it makes you feel any better, i almost went under shooting pictures of surfers in florida about a month ago. luckily, my friend was close by to hand my camera over to when i walked into a hole, as i was trying to get a little closer to the subject. also, i went down on an airboat about a year ago, but the camera was somewhat protected in a walmart bag at the time we flipped completely, after hitting a hidden fence post. i wasn't using an SLR at the time either, so not a big loss, although the camera still works. i know i'm no help here, just trying to make you feel better about what happened, and i know there's really no way i can do that. i have learned that i take too many chances with water, and that i should think about what i'm doing in the future. many times i have walked in slippery mud, wearing flip-flops, taking a chance on ruining my camera. i hope you can afford to get a new camera. i hope you don't let this experience keep you from buying a new camera.