Drowned M8- Help requested

[jaapv]

I think it will survive. Electronics boards and chips are subject to much harsher chemicals and temperatures than exposure to lake or river water when they manufactured and assembled. The rest of it just needs drying out (ASAP).

Electrolytic corrosion....This is the inside of an M8 that suffered internal condensation. The repair bill was 2350 Euro iirc.

There is a Dunked M8 Club, with Tina Manley as president and it seems that most cameras will survive a short immersion. However, you must send it in to Leica, even if it works. A small corrosion that does not impair function now, may spread to cause a short circuit that can cause a very expensive repair.

 

[newsgrunt]

I'd still send it in for a total strip down. It may work now but my guess is that something is gonna give down the road once corrosion has done it's job.

 

[Frank Petronio]

Mmmmh those $1600 M8s listed....

 

[jke]

If I paid several thousand dollars for a computerized electrical device that is complicated enough some of them even come from the manufacturer with flaws that are difficult to correct, I would definitely take it apart myself and see what I could "do". That failing, I would try to take it to a guy I heard somewhere on the Internet once took one completely apart on his own. 🙄

 

[jaapv]

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/21331-anatomy-leica-m8.html

 

[_mark__]

I've heard of putting it in a sealed container with some uncooked rice to draw out the moisture, never tried it myself though.

x2
Works miracles, if it does not work after two days leave it a week, alternative to rice, silica gel.

 

[newsgrunt]

This is also a good trick to keep sugar from blocking up into a solid chunk.

re:cameras that have been dunked ? I wouldn't rely on it to get everything out properly, maybe I'd use it with an old beater but not anything worth a couple of weeks or a month's wage. The camera needs to be examined for corrosion and depending on the funkiness of the water, possible fungal growth.

Having said that, I've totally immersed an FM2 and 80-200 in semi stagnant river water and the camera works fine except for the film counter. I really don't want to know what it looks like inside however. The lens is now a paperweight.

 

[NIKON KIU]

Having said that, I've totally immersed an FM2 and 80-200 in semi stagnant river water and the camera works fine except for the film counter. I really don't want to know what it looks like inside however. The lens is now a paperweight.

But that's a Nikon...

Kiu

 

[newsgrunt]

indeed, their film cameras are something else. other than operator error, my F and F2 have never been sidelined

 

[Roger Hicks]

indeed, their film cameras are something else. other than operator error, my F and F2 have never been sidelined

Oh, I dunno. I've seen an F that was written off by an unfortunate incident in Vietnam, involving a round from an AK47 (as far as the owner could tell). The owner wasn't hurt on that occasion. A later incident with a US GPMG or LMG, or possibly even HMG, wasn't as good but he was still alive and well last time I heard (I've not seen him for a few years).

Cheers,

R.

 

[Ronald M]

Leica will charge more than it is worth to repair based on previous posts. They need to warrantee the repair and moisture may start damaging corrosion that is not apparent at time of repair. All electronic are like this.

Basically it is toast.

The lens can be cleaned if you don`t wait for fungus to set in.

 

[_goodtimez]

Many thanks to all I appreciate your feedback. The camera still works but my sister is going to send it to me for a disassembly. It is true that a repair/check would cost about the price of a second hand M8 (I asked Leica). So lets try the cheap option at first.

 

[menos]

Well, this comes to late, but when on a trip (even a short one), I always pack a few big dry packs and thick kitchen zip lock bags for the potential rain shooting or water accident.

So far, I needed it only once with two DSLR bodies and lenses. In that case it was only a standard after drying, as the bodies and lenses are quite rugged.

Traveling with a digital M though makes me think twice about forgetting the dry packs ;-) Good luck with your re animated camera.

 

[ZeissFan]

I also would send it to Leica. Diagnosing and testing a digital camera is no simple task and not for the amateur.

And as others have said: It might be fine, or it might be ruined.

By the way, that's not meant as a criticism of anyone's skills. I just meant to say that digital cameras are electronic devices, and most of us lack expertise in diagnosing electronic circuits.

 

[aniMal]

I would have sent it in, provided the repair bill being significantly less than buying another one second hand. It makes no sense to spend that kind of money on it, even though it gets repaired on warranty, it might still break down in some years!

I would have opened it myself, then cleaning out everything as thoroughly as possible. Then buy another one used, and use this as a backup...

Lets hear about how you do on disassembling it! I suppose getting the covers off is the main thing - then perhaps pulling out some of the contacts for a cleaning. When you look at the pictures of the other water-damaged M8, you see that the corrosion sets in between components that carry voltage. The problem with residues from the water, is that they sometimes make a bridge for small currents, and then more corrosion builds, higher voltage passes, and so on until it short circuits... A really thorough cleaning of all the contacts and printboards would stop this, at least in theory!

Good luck!

 

[kbg32]

I wouldn't strip the camera myself. Send it to Leica and have it cleaned there.

Breaking news:

She left it to dry near a warm source and a fan. There are water stains inside the veiwfinder but no more humidity. She powered it and it works, apart from the rear control wheel which is for the time being plugged with mud.
Thanks to all of you for your help. I will come back to this thread to feedback more information when I receive it.
I advised my sister to ship it to me so I can partially strip it, we'll see.

 

[_goodtimez]

Hi all,

As I planned to do I did pop the camera open. Everything inside is pretty clean and no traces of corrosion can be found. However I have noticed some arcing traces on the DSP board plug. This is a flat harness plug and I cleaned it with a pencil eraser and some isopropil alcool. This is most certainly the reason why the clock does not incerment anymore and it must have happenend after the bathing session.
The internal 3 V backup battery was chekced good for its voltage and visual inspection is passed.
I have performed a cleanup of the inside of the VF windows and everything I could.
All photographs of the operation are posted on my Flickr page.
The camera works again after reassembly, apart from that clock problem. I guess I'm just going to send it back to the US where my sister lives.
Thanks to all for your help on the topic and special thanks to Mark Norton for his great and prompt feedback.
Let's keep shooting.

 

[uhligfd]

I would submerse it in a gallon of dry gin in a big vase, seal the top and you have preserved an M8 for posterity. But, please do not use formaldehyde here; that would lack class.

 

[_goodtimez]

The clock being frosen, that makes sense 🙂

 

[Jason808]

Contact your insurance company?

No insurance? Then have someone beat you in the head repeatedly with said camera.

(all in jest - I'd be crushed if that happened)