I dropped my X-pro1 into the ocean...

[Ryan1938]

No, really... I did. I got the 14mm and was really excited to give it a run. I never take my cameras to the beach, but just had to this time. And guess what? Bloop.

I got it home and dried it out and she still works fine. I'm kind of amazed. The camera was underwater for no more than 1 second, but still - it should be a goner, right? I went to great extremes to get her dry and so far, so good.

More shots from the ocean drop day here:

http://ryancochran.me/2013/07/beach-play/

 

[Chris101]

That looks pretty good - especially for a water logged camera! I'm glad it dried out well. Did you wash it with distilled water to remove the corrosive salt residue?

 

[GaryLH]

Yikes !!!

All u need is a little salt moisture to get inside the camera.. Best to have it checked out and cleaned properly. I had a similar incident when I was in high school.. Wasn't even a dunk.. It was a splash from a wave.. Salt moisture got in. The camera and lens worked fine for about 2-3 months then everything started going bad slowly.

Gary

 

[Sid836]

Phew! If it didn't work then the mighty God of photography should scorch your hands for letting that gem fall! 🙂

Glad it works! I wish I was as lucky as you with electronic equipment. Whatever I had dropped (accidentally) in water never came out of it alive.
Btw, this is why whenever I take out my camera, I always hang it on my neck. There is always a neck strap on my cameras.

 

[Matus]

Have the camera cleaned ASAP, otherwise it will most probably stop working rather soon. As it is not sealed at least some water must have got inside. Even if it dries the salt will remain and slowly cause corrosion and most probably will stop working at some point.

Just my guess.

 

[Bill58]

The fabled 5 second rule (for dropping food on the floor) doesn't apply to cameras dunked in the ocean--get it to a tech person ASAP.

 

[HuubL]

The fabled 5 second rule (for dropping food on the floor) doesn't apply to cameras dunked in the ocean--get it to a tech person ASAP.

...and even that "rule" is BS. I agree with the others, don't assume that if it works now it will do so two weeks from now. Get it cleaned asap!

It's a great shot though!

 

[Richard G]

In 1946 at Los Alomos Louis Slotin's screw driver slipped and a fission reaction was thereby triggered. He quickly lifted the upper half of the Beryllium hemisphere that had fallen too close to the Plutonium core, dropped the hemishpere to the floor, and so averted a catastrophe. He had a hot feeling in the hand that held the Beryllium hemisphere, and a sour taste in his mouth. He walked out of the building, but vomited soon after. He died nine days later. Even a very quick reaction may be as nothing with regard to what has been set in train.

Do what you can for your camera, but its fate may already be sealed. It will not be slow and painful as with Slotin.

 

[thegman]

The fabled 5 second rule (for dropping food on the floor) doesn't apply to cameras dunked in the ocean--get it to a tech person ASAP.

Also does not apply in public toilets.

If the camera really does survive long term after that, that's very impressive indeed. I've always liked the Pentax gear for their weatherproof qualities.

 

[L Collins]

...and even that "rule" is BS!

5 second rule has been proven scientifically, according to my brother.

 

[rbsinto]

Salt water and electronics don't play well together.
Years ago I accidentally dropped a cell phone into the ocean on a beach. it was underwater for only a second or two before I pulled it out.
I quickly took it apart and dried the card and battery, and it seemed to be fine except that the on-off function ceased to work. The phone lived for another few days until the battery ran down and then became a paperweight.
Get that camera to a repair person ASAP, to determine if it is dying a slow, corrosive death.

 

[zsas]

Anything to get the shot🙂

It sure looks worthwhile!

 

[splitimageview]

best of luck on this...

 

[oftheherd]

That truely sucks. I know you are probably thinking you don't want the expense of getting it cleaned. But everyone above is correct, it will be money well spent as it will almost surely die without that. Sadly, maybe even with that. I feel your pain but that is the reality. Get the CLA done ASAP.

 

[Harry Caul]

Agree with others. Power it down immediately and remove the battery. Don't turn it on again until after a tech has cleaned and inspected it.

 

[Ryan1938]

One step ahead of you folks... It goes in for a CLA next week.

 

[robert blu]

you already had many suggestions, I can only add that...this photo is fabulous!
robert

 

[Godfrey]

No, really... I did. I got the 14mm and was really excited to give it a run. I never take my cameras to the beach, but just had to this time. And guess what? Bloop.

I got it home and dried it out and she still works fine. I'm kind of amazed. The camera was underwater for no more than 1 second, but still - it should be a goner, right? I went to great extremes to get her dry and so far, so good.

More shots from the ocean drop day here:

http://ryancochran.me/2013/07/beach-play/

The photo is fabulous.

The camera is likely toast, unless a tech can clean it before corrosion starts to destroy it.

But who cares? The photo is the important part. The rest is just a camera.

G

 

[JohnTF]

The repair may not be as bad as you think, they often charge a certain amount regardless, I have a feeling you will get your $$ worth.

I ruined a new Nikon with a few drops of water from a swell, and a too short model just handed the Domke by the boat captain-- and I saved another when I was dumped from a canoe, I did keep it above water for several minutes until I could manage to get my head above water, ever try to get up sliding stream on rocks on your side without pulling your hand down?

Could feel the water lapping my wrist.

Got all risk insurance the following week.

As you surmised, the drying thing is good, but the salt has to go.

Fortunately, I had other cameras, as spending a day on a mostly empty island beach with a Czech model was worth recording. I think a Mexican Grandpa may have had a couple of heart attacks though, he seemed to find us several times. The family arrived and managed to find a spot next to us so we had to move a bit. ;-)

Images are more important than equipment, but good luck-- you do have insurance?


Regards, John

 

[raid]

The photo is beautiful.
I had a Retina Ib drop three times in a river, and each time, rust colored liquid would come out of the camera. There were no electronics involved, of course. The camera still works well.
I had a Canon F1n get splashed by seawater, and after a week or so, the frame counter stopped working. Then I took it for a CLA. Twenty years later, the camera still works.