Dropped a camera in the drink. Is it ruined?

[Tom Films]

So I accidentally dropped an older B roll cam in the drink. Was in completely for about 5 seconds. Wasn't on and hasn't been turned on since. I'm wondering if I have any hope that it will work again? What about the tape? Is it ruined?

Right now I'm letting it sit in front of a fan for 5 days then I'm going to try it. Is there anything more I should be to improve my odds that it'll work again?

[Ki-Ki]

Never visit a pub in you're life.. ever..?

Take the tepe out and dry it seperatly? I don't know..

[Tom Films]

Huh what? Pub? I'm lost

Can't get the tape out without firing up the camera as far as I can tell.

[David Jimerson]

If it was salt water, don't even bother with it. It's done.

[Tom Marshall]

What do you mean by "drink"?

[Jeff Anderson]

drink = body of water

[mrWr0ng]

take it all the way apart, then let the fan run. if the water's had any kind of stuff put in it (salt, alcohol, etc) then clean it w/ alcohol and then dry it. take the tape out by taking the door off and just wait

it's probably gone, though. you might have a chance if you can get all the water out before any circuits make any connections, but don't keep up hope

[Tom Films]

It was in a fresh water river. No salt

[Tom Marshall]

You might be OK. You should definitely send it out for a good cleaning if it starts to work again. :)

[pheboglobi]

I've seen the DVX get so soaked that it has water dripping out of the front of the lens... still worked. You'll definitely want to get it professionally cleaned tho, there's lots of gunk suspended in freshwater that can mess with your camera over a long period of time.

Don't wait to get it repaired tho, get it cleaned as quickly as possible.

[Knoxworth]

Damn you guys need to hop on the slang bandwagon. Ive been studying cockney, for example.

[Tom Films]

What about the tape? Is there any hope of salvaging video from it?

[Tom Marshall]

Damn you guys need to hop on the slang bandwagon. Ive been studying cockney, for example.

lol :)


What about the tape? Is there any hope of salvaging video from it?

It will probably be fine. The only thing that would really screw up a video tape would be a strong magnetic field. Just let it dry really well... you might have to fast forward it and rewind a few times to get back the proper tension on the tape though.

[jwhmca]

Hey Tom, have you tried to turn it on yet...? If not don't until you have talked to me!!!

[JY_Blue]

i am no expert, but i've read (i am pretty sure the thread is on this board) that the thing to do is submerge it in a tank of distilled water. The problem is not the water (as long as you leave it off until it dries, but any residual stuff (ie salt, minerals) left behind after the evaporation that will destroy your circuitry.

[Tom Films]

Still havent tried it, but was planning on turning it on today. JWHMCA, I PM'd you.

[jwhmca]

Pm'd?

[ryan brown]

Pm'd?

PM = "Private Message"

look at the top right corner of your page.

[jwhmca]

Blue you are right kinda... That is a great thing to do if you can get it done within lets say 30 min... any more than that and you run a big risk of rusting etc. The real issue with this kind of problem is not the water... at least not directly... the water acts as a carrier for, like you said, salt and other cunductants. What typicaly happens is this

1. The water froms a sludge as it evaporates (water, minerals, etc.) That sludge then eats the Solder, copper traces... it does oxodize other things, but this is where the problems lies.

2. It causes point A to cunduct to point B where there should be no cunducting... The chance of actually Blowing a chip is small, cause there aint enough "juice"...

It will proably come on and work fine, if you try it... but NOT WORTH IT!!!
I highly recommend getting it a PRO CLEAN JOB $300-500. they will have to completly diassemble it and clean every where.

If this is not an option, and right before you throw it away do this.

1. Soak in hot distilled water 10 min...
2. Oven dry (lowest temp possible) 150-200 degrees F. 30-60 min
( I have never done a dvx so not sure on exact time) The oven will drive off all the water... Hope that helps

[Tom Films]

It's done. Let it dry for a week. Tried it and nothing. No sign of life what so ever. Anything more I can try?

Anyone know how to manually open the tape tray on a sony camera? Still like to salvage the tape, but how do you get the damn thing open with no power?

[jwhmca]

That sucks man... Do you feel it's worth spending the money to try and fix it? If not I would be willing to pay you for it... and pull your tape out... send it to you... and give you first dibbs after (if we can) fix it...

My guess is the sitting for 4-5 days... ate all the traces out... or at least the ones that count..

[staygettin]

Sorry to hear about that I can't imagine losing my dvx like that. Good Luck.