Dropped EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS in a stream.

<p><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1392/4611902421_acd0e0a2de_o.jpg" alt="" width="510" height="800" /></p>

<p>Sent it to H Lehmanns in Stoke, they sent it back in the exact same condition unopened, still wet as the above pic with the response "Uneconomical to repair". However it seems they have not even dried it out to see if this was the case, don't get me wrong not assuming I know better, but I do know that before testing can start they atleast need to dry it out?<br>

Confused.</p>

<p>Emmett</p>

<p>http://www.robertemmett.co.uk</p>

<p>I would probably either send it to cannon, or start taking it apart myself. Will your insurance cover it? </p>

<p>Heartbreaking, must have been an awful sight.</p>

<p>Sorry for your mishap, but is there any reason why you decided to take that very expensive lens anywhere near water ?</p>

<p>Harry, what a strange and unsympathetic question! "Anywhere near water..."?!</p>

<p>Everyone makes photographs of water, and almost no one avoid making photographs in situations in which an <em>accident</em> might cause damage to equipment. If we only took photographs in situation in which our gear was 100% safe from accidents... well, we'd make very few photographs. In fact, we might all stop being photographers and instead become like those strange characters who take more pleasure in handling (but very carefully!) their precious equipment than in using it to make photographs.</p>

<p>(As I write this I'm thinking of an incident last summer when a well-known and highly-regarded photographer I know dropped a very expensive medium format lens while on location in the Sierra Nevada backcountry. I can just imagine you trying to explain to him how one must never, ever take photographic equipment "anywhere near water.")</p>

<p>Emmett, I'm sorry to hear about this. I hope that you had insurance on the lens, and good luck sorting this out.</p>

<p>Dan</p>

<p>Emmett,</p>

<p>Get a ziplock bag or tupperware tub and fill it with rice, put the lens in there with the rice for a week or so, the rice will draw the moisture out.</p>

<p>After that time inspect it to see if there is still moisture, if so redo the rice bit, if not give the lens a really good clean and then just give it a go. If it works and there are moisture marks internally then it needs to go to a shop for a stripdown and clean, but just ask them to do that, not warranty it or anything, just clean the internal elements.</p>

<p>The reason people won't fix water damage is because any work can't be guaranteed, problems that can't be foreseen, like contact corrosion etc make it too risky to charge for and impossible to guarantee. I worked on a dive boat for years and have seen many many flooded cameras.</p>

<p>Hope this helps, Scott.</p>

<p>Wow, that's terrible! I'd try your luck with Canon before declaring it "uneconomical." Don't feel too bad, Emmett, it could happen to any of us. I find in these situations it's not the economic cost that hurts the most, it's the self criticism. I really hope that this story has a somewhat happy ending. </p>

<p>Your lens is probably toast. It's almost certainly beyond repair if you dropped it in salt water. A small repair shop might be able to rescue the lens if it was fresh water, but they'll have to completely disassemble and reassemble, perhaps replace some electronics, and completely remove/replace all grease. From an economic perspective, I'd suggest the following:</p>

<p>Homeowner's insurance sometimes covers these mishaps.</p>

<p>Sometimes your credit card company (same card as you used to buy the lens) will extend certain buyer protections or warranty extensions to you (including theft, loss, damage) during the first year of ownership. Just call them and ask.</p>

<p>Sell the damaged lens for parts on Ebay. You very well may get nearly the new price for it. (I'm serious.) If you are a highly ethical sort of person, you should put into the listing that a camera repair facility told you it is uneconomical to repair. You might get less money, but your conscience will be clean.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<blockquote>

<p><em>Sorry for your mishap, but is there any reason why you decided to take that very expensive lens anywhere near water ?</em></p>

</blockquote>

<p>As usual, total cluelessness there in the "reply". As if a shooter shouldn't be taking nice glass to locations.</p>

<p>You may be hosed Emmett since there are so many electronics in that sophisticated lens. Accidents happen and hope for the best!</p>

"As usual, total cluelessness there in the "reply". As if a shooter shouldn't be taking nice glass to locations."

 

 

 

 

 

Ah Ken Papapi, "The Master of Sarcasm at Photo net". Ken there is nothing wrong with taking scenic shots by the water I do it all time, but if I'm going to do white water rafting, fishing, water boat skiing, diving, Beach photos on windy humid days, trying to cross raging rivers by skipping from trock to rock, or anything of that nature I leave my bread-and-butter equipment at home.

 

For those occasions I use my beloved Nikon FM2 and don't have to worry since I can pick another one up on ebay for less than $200. I'm not blaming Emmett, I once dropped my Canon 30D, 2 weeks after I purchased it, because I forgot to zip my camera bag shut and the camera fell on hard cement while I was running for a shot.

 

Luckily the camera nor the lens was damaged, but if it was, what do you think the folks at Canon would say. "Sir although your camera is under warranty we cannot repair it due to Careless behavior". This is written on the back of the Canon manual.

<p>I wasn't white water rafting, fishing or diving. I was taking photos next to a small stream barely 1ft deep, I will continue to take photos near small streams or large ones in future, albeit more careful. I never let the environment dictate when and where I can photograph, I'll keep finding solutions to shoot from atypical vantage points.<br>

An image from that day...<br>

<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3323/4623552147_ab4b32c979.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /><br>

Stream is on her right. </p>

<p>I stripped it down, and already much of the moisture is escaping it.<br>

I've decided to buy a damaged one on eBay, and use the large optics chamber and any electronics as a means of repair.<br>

Just find it incredible that a reputable repair centre sent it back still wet, drying it out and giving me a explanation of what's <br>

at fault woud've been a lot more professional.</p>

<p>Avoid H Lehmanns, be more careful around streams!<br>

Take it on the chin, and hope it can be resolved with care and patience.</p>

 

<p>*sigh*</p>

<p>Harry, I'm with Ken. Your initial response was the sarcastic, cynical, and demeaning one - and you continue your angry and bizarre tone in your reply to Ken.</p>

<p>The bulk of your original one-line reply was:</p>

<blockquote>

<p><em>"... is there any reason why you decided to take that very expensive lens anywhere near water ?"</em></p>

</blockquote>

<p>"Anywhere near water?" Are you serious?! A simple apology for what you wrote the first time would be more appropriate than your tirade towards Ken... and, by extension, the rest of us who find your initial post insensitive and foolish, and your follow-up even more off the wall.</p>

<p>Dan</p>

"Harry, I'm with Ken. Your initial response was the sarcastic, cynical, and demeaning one - and you continue your angry and bizarre tone in your reply to Ken."

 

 

I'm not apologizing in any way and Mr (1 year subscriber) Mitchel I am not your son, so you don't talk down to me. If Emett is upset by what I said then let Emett speak for himself. There are plenty of people on this site that say and do meaner things than what I said, sometimes subtle sometimes not so subtle. I usually brush it off, because we are online and written words can always be miscrontrued.

<p>All is not lost! As someone mentioned above you have a good chance of recovery. I have had success in the past and just a few weeks ago I fully saved my wife’s iPhone after she dropped it in a full bathtub of water! <br>

First make sure you don’t apply any power to the lens.<br>

Next you should towel off whatever water you can – rotate it is every direction you can to get the water out<br>

Next use a hairdryer and get the whole thing warmed up – as warm as you can without melting anything, go over all the surfaces. <br>

You will see fogging on the lens but that will slowly go away - be patient.<br>

Next do exact as already recommend – fully immerse the lens in a big container of rice. Stir up the rice and lens around twice a day or so. Leave it in there for at least 48 hours<br>

Take the lens out and give it the hairdryer treatment again then back into a fresh bowl of rice for another 48 hours - you may notice more fogging - that's okay.<br>

Then take the lens out and leave it in a dry place for about a week. Keeps an eye on any fogging inside – it should slowly disappate (it my not look like it will, but it will)<br>

Finally, when you feel it has all dried out then stick it on the camera and see how it goes.<br>

Since it is not salt water you have a very good change that this will work. Patience is the key. It depends a little on how dirty the water was but you will be surprised how the water stains will come out over time<br>

Good luck!</p>

 

<p>Why didn't you try the rice trick? You should have. It was very good advice. </p>

<p>The only problem with the rice method that I can imagine is that you might see more grain in your photos afterwards.</p>

<p>Sorry. But probably not sorry enough. :-)</p>

<p>Dan</p>

<p>Dear Harry: It is <a href="../photodb/user?user_id=861998">seven years</a> (more at the link). Name is spelled "Mitchell." Enjoy.</p>

<p>I have my 50D, 300 mm f4, 70-200 mm f4, 17-14mm f4, 50 mm f1.4 all on a personal items policy with my State Farm Agent. I pay $54/year for this coverage for virtually any type of loss. It allows me to to worry more about getting the picture than losing equipent. So far I haven't filed a claim, but accidents can always happen.<br>

I take my equipment sailing, canoeing, hiking, biking, whatever. I worry more about leaving it in a hotel room than loosing it in water.<br>

I hope your 70-200 f2.8 IS recovers from its accident. I suggest you get a personal items policy for future coverage. Just keep taking pictures. </p>

<p>Accidents happens, I'm sorry for your 70-200 f/2.8L IS. I hope you have some sort of insurance to cover the lost.<br>

I know a person who dropped his 5D and 70-200 f/2.8L IS in one of the streams in Yosemite, Canon USA in Irvine fixed the camera but did not fix the lens.</p>

<p>The only question is, Brown or White ?</p>

<p>Ouch! I'm with you on this one.<br /> <br /> Since this is not a 'do it yourself' repair, you need special tools like lens collimators. You would also need to be able to carefully remove and replace lens adhesives.<br /><br />The cost with respect to labour is high because the lens needs to be stripped down to ensure that no moisture remains trapped inside. Some of the materials used in the lens construction tend to absorb water and will either need to be replaced (or removed) and dessicated before being replaced.<br /> <br /> If all moisture is not removed then you can expect fogging and mould growth resulting in damage to the lens coatings. There will also be corrosion of the electronic parts.<br /> <br /> A portion of the lens was originally assembled robotically. I would imagine it will be more difficult to dismantle and correctly reassemble a lens by hand which. Some parts may have already seen some wear and tear.<br /><br />So, be prepared for a DIY spoiled repair rendering the lens useless and worthless. I am sure you will consider the cost to repair and the cost to replace. Good luck.</p>

<p>Have a look at this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpkAWZTwqI4. You can click on the side images to view the remainder of the Canon lens production series.</p>

<p>Ouch... If you do have to buy a junk mule lens to salvage internal electronics and mechanical components from, in order to rebuild your wet lens (which you might have to do, since it went so long before you took steps to dry it out) , make sure to order new o-rings and all the other environmental seals from a Canon parts center before you do the final assembly. Also order the factory recommend assembly lube for those items, if called for. It appears that the stream is very shallow, and barring some kind of momentary impact distortion that allowed some water past a seal when it dropped, I suspect that one of the seals was cut/pinched/misaligned/missing all along.</p>

<p>I have never exposed my lens to water deeper than it's length, as that pressure would kill it in seconds, but over the past 6 years or so, it has been dunked more than half a dozen times, and soaked with rain and surf spray countless times without ill effect. Something wasn't right on your lens. You should find out where the failure was while you nurse it back to health....</p>

<p>Harry has a point about risking an expensive lens to water, but to be honest, Harry, the reason I bought several of my L lenses is exactly because they are sealed well enough to get the job done, and without suffering damage (and without resorting to extreme, bulky, dive gear solutions). I take lots of pictures where everything gets wet, and the 70-200 f/2.8 IS L has been a real trooper for me. You make choices, and live by them.</p>

<p>Canon would never endorse the foolish behavior I engage in with the lens, but this is how I keep pool chlorine residue, or salt crystals from compromising the moving seals on my lens after a day at the beach. I just give it a thorough fresh water shower before removing the plastic bag used to keep the camera dry. It has never had a hint of moisture show up inside to date, even after going outside on the coldest of days. A quick splash-dunk should not have killed your lens......</p>

<p><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3309/4597221143_037e011ff2.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="375" /></p>

<p> </p>

<p>Nothing wrong with shooting with nice gear in wet conditions. Spent the better part of today with my 1Ds III and 17-40 shooting in hip waders in the Columbia River Gorge. Hiked over a mile while in a stream the entire time. Shot on a tripod in waist deep, fast moving water. It rained on me, waterfall sprayed on me, camera was wet several times over. Wiped it off and kept on shooting.</p>

<p>Shot a wedding in the rain with a 1Ds II and 70-200L. Hours in the rain and was just fine.</p>

<p>If I stayed away from water, or treated my gear that the fear of anything happening to it was of greater priority than making images, my pictures would be boring indeed.</p>

<p>Canon pro services will give you an estimate on repairing your lens. Try them. I have sent at least three lenses to them for repair with excellent results. And no you don't have to be a pro to use their service.</p>

<p>Emmett, I think it's worth the descicant attempt, rice of silica gel may help. If you know someone at a university lab, freeze drying may be a better option. After that, insurance or repair with Canon look like your best options. I've just been in contact with CPN to get an estimate for repairs to a 24-105, so I don't know what their prices are like.<br>

Why would a photographer take the expensice lenses where they could get wet? Because that's what we do<br>

<a title="Rain by Peter Meade, on Flickr" href=" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3135/2642219235_126c7a70cb.jpg" alt="Rain" width="500" height="333" /></a></p>

<p>Here is a "story" with a comparison that might seem dumb (to most of you): once upon a time I had a PowerShot S2 IS... In a mountain trip.. same disaster happened. I know, there is a big difference between a S2 an a brick like 70-200 IS, but nevertheless: first I have removed the batteries and put the camera on a rock in open air for several hours for "natural" drying, hoping it was not dead. Then I have packed it in a dry cloth during the rest of the trip and after returning home I have put it into a large bag full of small bags of silica gel. I have put this "package" near a heater for several days and... surprise: the moisture dissapeared; a bigger surprise: the camera was still functioning! After a couple of shots at f/8 there were a couple of nasty spots there but still... not a tragedy. Went to the Canon service center and they were able to clean these.<br>

If this comparison will look to "forced" to you, please apologize: I know the huge difference beteween a bridge and a piece of pro equipment. Nevertheless, I will give it a try, knowing from you that it was fresh (and not salt) water. Good luck anyway.</p>