withdrawls

[chrisk]

my camera is currently at nikon service for a sensor clean and a check up on a concerning bit of corrosion i noticed around the Fn button. it has now been away for 2 full days and i feel severe withdrawl symptoms. for just a sensor clean i'd be out for around 5 days. with this corrosion thing...i think i may be missing the camera for a couple of weeks. as a side note..that corrosion, (white powdery crap), is a bit worrying cos its all plastic around there so the corrosion must be coming from deeper inside the camera which could signal some serious issues... but i digreess...

even though i dont shoot everday, i like to know its there. i like to be able to have a play around with it when i feel like it, try something wacky with a flash that i just thought of or was inspired by something i saw...the moment i think..."yeah i gotta try that !" i realise i can't and i cry.

am i sick ?

[biggerry]

that corrosion, (white powdery crap)

exfoliation corrosion - thats if its flakey, however if it is just powder it could be surface corrosion due to salt water conatct that has not been cleared off. But that would be strange for a camera that is weather sealed.

The problem with corrosion is it's like cancer, once its has started.....

I hope the nikon service get it sorted - good luck and fingers crossed.

am i sick ?

yep

[aim54x]

White powdery crap.....definitely not salt on the exterior?

fingers crossed for you mate

[Glen]

(white powdery crap)

The last of a cocaine importing plan?

Hope it turns out to be ok

[gstark]

am i sick ?

You are tempting fate, asking a question like that.

[chrisk]

well, nikon called me today and the news is not good. corrosion is extensive throughout the internal components of the camera. being splashed with water is obviously a very, very bad thing. despite the fact that i was quite festidious about cleaning the body, the basic comment steve had was that if you are unlucky enuf to have a few drops go into the camera thru the shutterbutton or the cable release area, (both of which are the weakest points of WS), then thats all it takes for a bit of that saltwater to start a spec of corrosion and then whooshka...you;re up shit creek.

the camera of course still works but it could die tomorrow or next week or next year ! just depends on how fast the corrosion spreads across the functioning circuits. the first thing to go was the Ai lever, which explains why the ZF25 ceased working...it was not the lens after all !!

insurance will be paying for the camera obviously so i'm not too concerned about the total cost, although i will have to pay an excess. that puts a dent in my 24/1.4 fund.

ps: nikon are now 3 for 3 for exceptional service. polite, professional to the point and fast. they are also waiving the inspection/ evaulation fee.

[aim54x]

ps: nikon are now 3 for 3 for exceptional service. polite, professional to the point and fast. they are also waiving the inspection/ evaulation fee.

Sorry to hear about the poor camera. GREAT to hear that you have had a good experience with Nikon Service

[gstark]

ps: nikon are now 3 for 3 for exceptional service. polite, professional to the point and fast. they are also waiving the inspection/ evaulation fee.

Sorry to hear about the poor camera. GREAT to hear that you have had a good experience with Nikon Service

[Alpha_7]

Out of interest, how much does a Nikon sensor clean set you back ? Back when I had the D70 did cleaned it myself, but now with the D700 and my D200 is pretty dirty as well, I thought of getting it professionally done.

[biggerry]

to start a spec of corrosion and then whooshka...you;re up shit creek

yeah I hear ya - one good reason to stay away from aluminium alloy (and magnesium) structures that are 1) old 2) near salt water. ie old planes

now 3 for 3 for exceptional service. polite, professional to the point and fast.

thats great to hear

they are also waiving the inspection/ evaulation fee

nioce

Sorry to hear about the poor camera

[chrisk]

well, the question now is what to replace the d700 with.
a) another d700
b) d3s
c) dump the lot and head over to canon

[aim54x]

well, the question now is what to replace the d700 with.
a) another d700
b) d3s
c) dump the lot and head over to canon

hmmm that is a question that only you can answer...what do you really want?

I would go another D700 though

[chrisk]

i really want a d3x. that doesnt help cam.

[aim54x]

i really want a d3x. that doesnt help cam.

well then....Can I suggest a Sony A850/A900? *ducks to avoid multiple flying objects*

D700 remains my recommendation...or you could hold the money and wait to see what we get this year...D700x?

[MATT]

I'd go D3s...or just get another D700..

Out of curiosity how many time has you D700 been exposed to water in an amount that may have entered??

I have shot with mine mine in light mist and wiped it often, but have never been dunked..

MATT

[chrisk]

Out of interest, how much does a Nikon sensor clean set you back ? Back when I had the D70 did cleaned it myself, but now with the D700 and my D200 is pretty dirty as well, I thought of getting it professionally done.

i think its about $160 from memory. didnt do it this time for obvious reasons.

[chrisk]

I'd go D3s...or just get another D700..

Out of curiosity how many time has you D700 been exposed to water in an amount that may have entered??

I have shot with mine mine in light mist and wiped it often, but have never been dunked..

MATT

matt, i dont think water is the issue per se. my d300 and d700 have been regulalry exposed to water as in rain. the issue i had here is that recently i did alot of beach seascapes and due to my inexperience and carelessness i got splashed quite a few times cos i was waist deep in water. that salt is what does all the damage.

[biggerry]

that salt is what does all the damage.

agreed,

after beach stuff always give everthing a good wipe down - don't forget that tripod too, i have come back from the beach with only the legs (6-12inches) immersed in salt water to find traces of surface corrosion on the aluminium cast items up near the head a few days later..

the salt spray from the beach is a killer 'cause it just coats everything...so its not just water immersion that you need to watch for...

or you could hold the money and wait to see what we get this year...D700x?

hopefully your current D700 can hold out for 6 months or so?

[chrisk]

im pretty festidious with cleaning so i dont think that was it. i simply think that one, (or all), of the waves that splashed me found its way into the camera body. most likely point of invasion is apparently the shutter release. this is the weakest point of any cameras weatherproofing apparently.

anyway...with the progress of the gh1 type of camera i think i'm gonna go for a d3s and then wait for gen2 of the EVIL cameras and pick one of them up as a smaller, light body. perhaps even something like a used d5k camera.

a new d700 is not gonna give me everything i need anyway. it wont have great video, (even if it is 1080p), dslr isnt ready to implement video in a proper sense yet, maybe anotehr 2 or 3 generations before its there. i checked my hand written notes about the 5dII when i was using it and nothing has changed since then so the canon option is out aswell really. i couldnt live with it despite the resolution advantage.

[chrisk]

decided to follow all the sensible advice here and i'll keep the d700 until it dies. by that time there may be something out there that ticks more of the boxes.

as another side note; cant say enuf about AAMI insurance. they have been exceptional in dealing with this. i was called within 24hrs of making the claim. i never felt investigated or harassed. i even shocked the crap out of the assessor when i said "everything still works fine at the moment so i dont need any replacements." i could just about hear her falling out of her chair ! lol we both agreed that i would send her all the paperwork anyway, (nikon service documents, proof of ownership etc), and the claim would remain open so no one can tell me at a later date that i should have reported the damage way back when it happened. customer service...HUGE tick.

the only black mark against AAMI was that when i originally got the insurance, i sent them, (at their request), a spreadsheet of all the items insured, date of purchase, price, even photos of the items and boxes etc. this spreadsheet was not mentioned anywhere in my policy and was not in my file so it was lost in the ether somewhere. NOTE TO SELF: keep a copy of any of these sort of emails FOREVER as proof you sent them.

who woulda thought that nikon service and an insurance company woulda come up smelling like roses ?

[Geoff]

Good outcome with AAMI Chris despite them misplacing your spreadsheet.
I also have extremely positive things to say regarding AAMI car insurance. When we've been crashed into (three times in the last 4 years) they have been INCREDIBLE. The last crash (the worst) late last year our car was declared a write-off and we had the funds in our bank in LESS than a week, to purchase a new vehicle...great customer service.