Dropped a camera in the drink. Is it ruined?

T

Tom Films

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

Take the tepe out and dry it seperatly? I don't know..
 
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
 
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 said:
Damn you guys need to hop on the slang bandwagon. Ive been studying cockney, for example.
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lol :)

Tom Films said:
What about the tape? Is there any hope of salvaging video from it?
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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.
 
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.
 
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
 
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?
 
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