Nikon D80 fell into water - DPChallenge Forums

08/30/2007 07:11:46 PM · #1

My Nikon D80 today went into our lake. My mom knocked it off and promptly caught it as it went under water. It was only under for a flash -- but I fear the damage.

I have the 18-135mm lens and the barrel is dripping and spotting inside the lens.

As for my body, I can't see through the view finder and the LCD isn't turning on after letting it air out a while -- though the camera does turn on -- just with an error message.

Questions:

(1) Any advice?
(2) Should I send to Nikon or a Nikon repair location?

I'd love any suggestions, thoughts or experiences.

I doubt there is anything I can do but send it in for repair -- but I thought I'd check to see if anyone knows something important that I may not.

Thanks in advance,
Renee

wavelength

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

08/30/2007 07:21:57 PM · #2

You should have probably let it dry out some more, preferably with Silica gel pack in a small box. You may be needing service, yes. The Silica may work for the lens too. You can find it at gun shops or sporting goods stores, used for gun lockers.

bassbone

Nikon Df

Nikon MF 105mm f/2.5 AIS

08/30/2007 07:25:08 PM · #3

Like others have said - TAKE THE BATTERY OUT

Send it to Nikon Servie. My D70 got wet from a wave at the beach (ocean water) this summer. I cleaned it as best I could, dried it, and sent it to Nikon Service as soon as I could. They were able to repair it (at a hefty price) but it was worth it. They basically had to replace most of the electronics inside.

My recommendations - Take out the battery, Clean and dry it as best you can - take it all apart, take out the battery, card out, take off the lens - let the insides air dry.

Send the body, the lens and anything else that went into the water to Nikon. Make sure to incldue the covers for the body and the lens with it

Check out Nikon service online for the instructions on where and how to send it near you. Write down all the serial number information, your address and phone number and email address.

You may just get lucky and will be able to rescue it. But it will cost you - likely over 300-400 bucks

Message edited by author 2007-08-30 19:38:48.

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

08/30/2007 07:29:23 PM · #4

Take the battery off, let it dry overnight, Send it to Nikon repair with silica packs in the packing. Trying it out was not a good idea at all, though I likely would have done the same. I hope it was a fresh water lake. Good luck with the repairs.
add; Sorry to hear about your misfortune. It really hurts when your gear gets broken. I hope that it didn't have your only lens on it. On the bright side, maybe you will be able to get a new even better one. When my Fuji smoked, I bought a second one while it was away to be repaired.
edit, oops, wrong brand, not Canon

Message edited by author 2007-08-30 19:37:07.

thegrandwazoo

Nikon D750

08/30/2007 07:29:28 PM · #5

Take the battery out leave it off and do as Steve suggested and get some desiccant. Don't turn it back on for at least 24 hours.

Too late...

Message edited by author 2007-08-30 19:29:51.

sherpet

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

08/30/2007 07:43:59 PM · #6

Do you have insurance as it may be covered.
I fell with my camera, and damaged my camera, and it was covered by insurance. I only had to have for the cost to send it to get a quote for repairs, and the excess fee, less the cost of the cost of the postage to the repairers.

bassbone

Nikon Df

Nikon MF 105mm f/2.5 AIS

08/30/2007 07:47:40 PM · #7

Shez makes a good point, you may want to talk to your insurance agent about it. While falling or dropping the camera andwater leaks from plumbing damage are usually covered, water damage from falling into the ocean or a lake is usually not. I should know!!!

Originally posted by sherpet:

wavelength

Nikon D300

Canon EF 135mm f/2.0L USM

08/30/2007 07:56:23 PM · #8

For the US folks, you can get some at Cabela's online store. I'm kind of thinking about getting the small one to throw in the backpack when it gets humid out.

Cabela's

lovethelight

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

08/30/2007 09:26:16 PM · #9

AAAHHHH i am so sorry. this happened to me a while back but it was a river and even though it was just in the water for literally a second or two it was toast...i had to buy a new body, i lens was fine but sounds like yours isn't. you can refer to the thread i created when that happened to mine and see if you like any of the advice there:
forum thread about camera in water

best of luck for your camera

RulerZigzag

Nikon D750

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR

08/30/2007 09:32:50 PM · #10

I hope you took the battery out. I would keep it in a ventilated dry place for a few days before turning it back on. It should work, im not sure about your lens, I dropped my lens on the floor and it didnt break, (same lens) but if you said that its water logged, I would try to see if you can get the lens replaced. Your cam should be fine, it was under water for a little while. Let it dry.

_eug

Nikon D50

08/30/2007 09:35:41 PM · #11

That sucks.

You shouldn't have turned in back on though. Next time, hopefully there isn't one, immediately pull the battery and open it up, take off the lens, etc. and let it dry out 48 hours. Then use the silica packs to complete the drying.

Only recourse you have is sending it in for repair. :(

Sigma 18-250 f/3.5 - 6.3 DC OS HSM

09/02/2007 02:52:40 PM · #12

Thanks for all the feedback.

I let the camera dry for 24 hours and it appeared totally dry inside and out so I turned it back on. The display worked thought it was flashing clock and error. I was hopeful but the shutter didn't release (even though I saw no water got into it), and the LCD wouldn't turn on -- though I could see it get light and power. It didn't display.

The lens was was tight when I tried to move it and foggy from the lake water smearing.

I packaged it up and sent it to Nikon. I am holding my breath.

What is a reasonable amount to put into it? I figured 1/3 to 1/2 the original value. What are your thoughts?

If it is finished, any recommendations on my next purchase? Should I stick with the D80 -- or are there are considerations in that price range I should look at?

You guys have always been so helpful!

Many thanks,
Renee

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

09/02/2007 03:17:33 PM · #13

If the lens was still damp inside, then the camera is too. I honestly don't believe it will be 100% though, unless you send it to Nikon repair, even if it does begin working again without sending it out.
I would ship it to Nikon repair asap. Once it dries completely inside, there will be some mineral residue from the lake water bonded to the tronix. If they get it while it is still damp, and before corrosion starts, they may be able to clean it and get all that out of it. The tronix may have already been destroyed by turning it on while it was wet.
If the lens is one that you like and use a lot, I would think that the 1/2 new value would be a good deal if they recondition it and warrant the repair.
Read your last post again. It seems that you sent both camera and lens off, so it's now wait and see.
Wishing you good luck with this disaster.

Message edited by author 2007-09-02 15:22:48.

fotomann_forever

09/02/2007 03:23:26 PM · #14

Since the D80 is a relatively new camera and not likely to be replaced by Nikon anytime soon, I wouldn't hesitate to spend half its value or more on the repairs.

becky-lee

Canon PowerShot S5 IS

09/03/2007 02:34:57 AM · #15

Quite a few electronics will be fine after getting wet IF they are off or immediately turned off and LEFT OFF until they are BONE dry (many keyboard can be washed in the dishwasher!). that sucks soooo bad :(

Bud

Canon EOS-550D Rebel T2i

09/03/2007 04:17:13 AM · #16

I do not have experience with my camera falling in the water (except my Pentax Optio, which is water proof).

HOWEVER, when I have had other electronics fall in the water, they never worked like before... mainly my Palm Pilot and my friend dropped his FujiFilm S7000 in a creek.

Water is so invasive, it is just difficult to get things to work properly after something like that. And all water will leave some type of residue on most electronic parts.

So, basically wait for word from Nikon and see how it plays out... sorry that it had to happen to you. I would not spend more than 50% of the value on repairs and probably not even that, depending on the type of warranty that comes with the service.

09/11/2007 04:23:05 PM · #17

Just thought I'd share with people my experience.

I sent my camera to Nikon on Sept 1. They received it Sept. 3rd. I was originally told on the phone, they would log it in and look at it no later than Sept. 5th.

I have been calling for an entire week now -- and they just logged in my camera this afternoon (Sept 11th) -- but I am told they won't give me any estimates for another 24 hours -- Sept 12.

I did not expect my camera would have a good week plus extra to sit on a shelf and corrode. I am frustrated with Nikon to say the least.

If this happens to anyone else -- consider sending your camera elsewhere --- OR AT MINIMUM call a few times and ask how far they are behind in opening packages! Had I known this, I would have sent it to an authorized repair place within 60 miles of here.

_eug

Nikon D50

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

09/11/2007 05:24:47 PM · #18

This isn't surprising really. It's like this with any manufacturer.

Deep breath. It'll all be ok. :)

paigekparsons

09/11/2007 06:36:35 PM · #19

Hi,

Don't get your hopes up; I took my new D80 camera out on a very humid boat trip a few weeks ago and had the exact same symptoms you report - flashing clock/battery indicator, LCD not working - and I didn't even get it wet. I sent it into Nikon on the 30th of September and got it back today, Sept 11th. They indicated water damage - too extensive to repair. - and not covered under warranty. I was annoyed because nothing showed up in Nikon's service status - I had to wait till the unit was physically back with me to find out it had not been repaired.

Apple iPhone 5

09/11/2007 06:49:10 PM · #20

Originally posted by paigekparsons:

I sent it into Nikon on the 30th of September and got it back today, Sept 11th.

Now that's impressive service...

Photologist

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

09/11/2007 07:00:31 PM · #21

Originally posted by paigekparsons:

I sent it into Nikon on the 30th of September and got it back today, Sept 11th.

So it took about a year (346 days) to repair it? It's good to know I have a Canon, in case it decides to go for a swim. ;-)

Neil

Fujifilm X-T30

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

09/11/2007 07:28:38 PM · #22

Originally posted by paigekparsons:

I'm curious how long you were on the boat, and whether you were on the ocean? It seems pretty odd for a camera that didn't get dipped to be "completely unrepairable" for taking it on a boat trip (I'm guessing this was like a week on a boat?) Anyway, I'm curious now....

bassbone

Nikon Df

Nikon MF 105mm f/2.5 AIS

09/11/2007 07:46:51 PM · #23

My D70 took a swim in the pacific ocean - actually a wave came up and drenched it. I immediately took out the battery, card, and removed the lens. I dried it and when I got back home (about 1 week later) I sent it for repairs. The errors were the same as the OP had and my camera was repairable. The key was getting the battery out and getting the water out as soon as possible.

Nikon had to replace almost all the electronics inside - but it works really well now (2 months and counting)