Reminder to all DSLR users!

[//dean]

Just a quick reminder that your DSLR's aren't waterproof!

I used the D3 all day on Monday, in the torrential rain shooting a feature for a magazine, it worked perfectly; as it always has done. I got the camera out earlier today to test a lens at Jessops. I mounted the lens, tried to focus....nothing. Tried another lens...nothing. Try lenses on another body and they work fine

FECK.

The CPU's for the focusing are buggered, if I wipe them with a cloth they'll communcate to the lens for focus but it misses the focus point, returns and then dies..until you give it another wipe and it'll do the same.

What can you do though when you have 4 hrs of light to take enough photos for a feature and cover....bugger all! I can't tell the client to do it another time as they only have the car for limited period. I'm absolutely gutted but it is all my fault, the camera was getting drenched









They better like the photos, this shoot is going to cost me a fortune

[d1d215]

ouch !

[hornetrider]

House insurance not cover it?

[Ed_P]

I always keep a chamois leather and a microfibre cloth in my camera bag. Cloth for wiping off light rain. Chamois leather wrung out and "moulded" around the camera for the heavy stuff. Seems to work well ...

[Simpo Two]

Clutching at straws but how about opening it up as much as possible and leaving it in the airing cupboard for a few days?

[fra-zzr]

weather sealed K7 FTW . sorry

[fra-zzr]

just read the d3 is sealed too!

[Andy M]

Sorry to hear you're having problems Dean, but I'd be hugely surprised if your D3 is beyond economical repair. I've heard of many cameras stop working after a soaking, but many seem to come back to life after a good airing (or time spent in an airing cupboard).

For future reference it may be worth investing in: http://www.speedgraphic.co.uk/prod.asp?i=17510&amp...

Also, the pictures look fantastic!

[LMC]

Condolences.... my 40D died yesterday. I thought I would try and get some action photos of the horrendous weather and got drenched by 2 20 foot waves. Sea water not good I hear

First of all I couldn't access the menu or use the joypad, then the red eye light just continuously flickered. I took the lens off, battery and CF card out and left all to dry, as t'internet tells.

All well this morning when I put it all together, menu accessible, joypad working, red eye light off. Great thinks I, then when I went to take a photo, the dreaded error 99 message and no pictures

[trackdemon]

Bugger. Not first time I've had to shoot in rain all day - not much fun!! I use the same trick as Ed_P, wrapping a chamios round the body - has been OK so far. Sure the D3 will recover itself once its thooughly dried out....

BTW, where can we see the Ghost shoot!!?? Thats some motor to be shooting!

[Andy M]

Definitely worth getting a quote from: http://www.fixationuk.com/

[TooLateForAName]

I thought the D3 was waterproof? Was the lens not?


I saw a pic on the flickr of the guy I bought my e-1 from showing it at Le Mans in what looked like a waterfall. Thats with a weather sealed lens as well though.

[Pixel-Snapper]

i'll point you in the direction of my recent question dean....

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Condoms.

[01101001]

Le Mans 2007 my camera got very wet but i put it in the airing cupboard for a couple of days and it was ok after that.

[jon-]

The D3 is the one camera that SHOULD be waterproof. You can't have been using a sealed lens if you have water ingress to the AF contacts

[Simpo Two]

But define waterproof. Does it mean you can take it in the shower? The bath? Under Niagara Falls?

I think ultimately you have to use common sense. Three-grandsworth of delicate electronics round your neck... why take chances?

[EmmaP]

I don't think any camera, unless it's designed for underwater use, is fully waterproof. If it really is torrential rain I put a plastic bag around the camera and as much of the lens as possible.

I am sure a spell in the airing cupboard will help. Worth a try.

[jon-]

Simpo Two said:

But define waterproof. Does it mean you can take it in the shower? The bath? Under Niagara Falls?

I think ultimately you have to use common sense. Three-grandsworth of delicate electronics round your neck... why take chances?

The guy at Canon field reviews (who just defected to nikon ) used to do a lot of shooting in the article circle, and would often drop his cameras in the snow, sea etc with no major issues to the "pro bodies" (the 5d's didn't do as well)

[mrmr96]

jon- said:

used to do a lot of shooting in the article circle

Is that like the Magic Circle, but for journalists?

[Simpo Two]

EmmaP said:

If it really is torrential rain I put a plastic bag around the camera...

If it really is torrential rain I stay indoors!