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Hello,

My DSLR Camera got dunked in saltwater when I fell over. Anyway I dunked the camera and lens into distilled water for 30 seconds then again in fresh distilled water. Probably left it too late and corrosion probably already started. The screws on the bottom outside of the camera body are white now! :S

I used hair drier briefly on camera body, wrapped in paper towels and place inside zip lock bag with rice to absorb moisture.

I did the same (only didn't use the hair drier) on the lens and placed in a seperate zip lock bag. I have now noticed what looks like mould on the inside of the lens glass.

What should I do to atleast try and save the lens!??

Should I rinse the lens really well in distilled water again and dry it better and as fast as possible with hair drier, then zip lock bag with silica packs and put into fridge?

Would really appreciate some help so I can get the job done and get the worry off my chest (even if it dosen't work) atleast I've done something!

Thanks Heaps!

What lens and DSLR?

I have now noticed what looks like mould on the inside of the lens glass.

if the gear is worth a substantial amount of money, sending it to a professional repairer would be the preferable option.

can you describe what you are seeing in the lens? or a picture? how long has elapsed between teh 'mould' and the 'dunking?

biggerry wrote:What lens and DSLR?

I have now noticed what looks like mould on the inside of the lens glass.

if the gear is worth a substantial amount of money, sending it to a professional repairer would be the preferable option.

can you describe what you are seeing in the lens? or a picture? how long has elapsed between teh 'mould' and the 'dunking?

It almost looks like the lens is fogged up only it is definetly not that. I will try and get a photo later.

I dunked the lens this weekend - Saturday 30th October late at night and it is now Wednesday 3rd November mid-day.
The lens has been wrapped in papper napkins and placed in zip lock bag full of rice to absorb the water. It was stored in the dark (which is bad news or good news for mould)

Thanks for the reply

probably a bit soon for fungus/mould? direct sunlight can help with mould since UV light is a mould killer.

One of the guys here (aim54x, aka Cameron) works at foto riesel (www.fotoriesel.com.au) in teh city where they do clean lens from memory, might be worth a visit.

biggerry wrote:probably a bit soon for fungus/mould? direct sunlight can help with mould since UV light is a mould killer.

One of the guys here (aim54x, aka Cameron) works at foto riesel (http://www.fotoriesel.com.au) in teh city where they do clean lens from memory, might be worth a visit.

Well if it isn't mould it must be some sort of impurities in the water either from the distilled water or the distilled water has washed some salt inside.

Thanks for the reply and the link. I will try the sunlight when the clouds blow over! Unfortunately I am away at present so not in NSW, but will keep in mind for later.

Sounds like salt crystallisation on the lens element after all the moisture has gone. I guess the only way to cure it is to have a professional repairer take the lens apart and wash the elements to get rid of the salt. I wouldn't leave it like this too long as the next step is metal parts corrosion.

Regards

Alex

Alex wrote:Sounds like salt crystallisation on the lens element after all the moisture has gone. I guess the only way to cure it is to have a professional repairer take the lens apart and wash the elements to get rid of the salt. I wouldn't leave it like this too long as the next step is metal parts corrosion.

Regards

Alex

hmmm... I wish I hadn't dunked the lens in distilled water. I should have just wiped it over with cloth, because there was no visible moisture inside the lens and certainly no moisture fog or salt residue on the lens glass until after I rinsed!