digital camera condensation problem

December 15, 2007 11:01 AM

What to do about digital camera condensation problem?

So very early this a.m I boiled some water for tea in my electric kettle. It boiled over a bit, enough to wet the towel it sits on. Being an idiot, I had set my camera on said towel, though a few feet from the kettle.
Over the past several hours the water (perhaps a cup) soaked into the towel and the temp in the room has risen 15 degrees (F), from 50 to 65.
I just picked the camera up (10 hours later) and noted condensation in the 'eye' viewer/view finder, everything else seems fine, as far as I can see.
I haven't used the camera and I did call tech support but (Fuji) appears to be closed for the weekend.
It is humidity, the camera was not wet at the time of the spill. Just the towel beneath it was damp.
This is a Fujifilm Finepix s6000fd, so it's all one unit.
Is there anything I should, or can, do at this point?

posted by dawson to Technology (9 answers total)

Best answer: Don't worry too much, this little bit of condensation likely won't cause a big problem. Modern electronics aren't particularly vulnerable to a bit of water, esecially if they aren't operating when then get wet. Put the camera in a closed box with something that will absorb ambient moisture - salt, baking powder, silica, etc. Leave it a day or two - when the visible condensation is gone, you'll be good to go.

Opening up any battery enclosures or other "entrances" into the camera might speed along the process.
posted by chudmonkey at 11:27 AM on December 15, 2007

Put it in a plastic bag overnight with a little pouch of silica gel (dessicant)--the kind that comes with electronics, etc.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 11:31 AM on December 15, 2007

Response by poster: thanks, I've just now done as suggested, (in a box & in a bag), w/ baking soda, I had some silica pouches but just tossed them last week.
posted by dawson at 11:39 AM on December 15, 2007

Pull the battery(ies) out, sometimes the contacts can rust or corrode when wet. You can wipe ithem off with a paper towel if they feel damp (although they probably won't) and then store them someplace dry while you let your camera rest. Wiping the inside of the battery enclosure with the paper towel would be a bonus and should only take a second or two.
posted by anaelith at 12:10 PM on December 15, 2007

Best answer: if condensation can get in, then condensation can get out too.

Let the camera dry for a day - take out the battery, the memory card, leave the doors open and the lens extended (this means that you will turn on the camera then take out the battery when the lens is extended, leaving it extended - don't allow it to retract)

place your camera in an airy spot, away from dust and drafts. then let the magic of time happen. within a day your camera will be ready to use again.

gosh, I go camping with my cameras, and after a day of shooting I take my camera kit inside my one-person or two-person tent. In the mornings the lenses of my cameras are sometimes lightly condensated. I bring the cameras out of the tent, let them air out for a bit (without going through the battery, etc affair) and they are ready to use by the time breakfast is over. This is normal. Glass does that.

There was moisture in the towel, and your camera had the misfortune of sitting in the kitchen on the towel after the kettle had boiled. You did nothing fatal. It will all be fine tomorrow.
posted by seawallrunner at 1:07 PM on December 15, 2007

Response by poster: THANKS very much ALL who responded, I have done as everyone suggested and am sure everything will be fine re the camera.

anaelith, thanks, I had totally forgotten the batteries.

Vida, thanks, I'd forgotten the memory card, and that's very reassuring news from a superb photographer.

cheers to all, I plan on using the camera in 24 hours or so....

*deep breaths, dark beer*
posted by dawson at 3:03 PM on December 15, 2007

If that doesn't work, I've had luck taking it to an approved repair place. The fix is usually around US$150. I left mine on top of my tortoise cage & next to an outside & very cold wall, both made it go fuzzy. Keep us posted on how this fix works!
posted by susanbeeswax at 12:04 PM on December 16, 2007

how is your camera dawson? did it dry out?
posted by seawallrunner at 7:37 AM on December 17, 2007

Response by poster: damn, sorry! I was a newbie? anyway, it (the camera) turned out fine. I did not have the silica gel, so I used baking soda and enclosed it in a bag for 3 days. There was no difference when I took the camera out. However, within a few weeks it was back to 'normal' and the photo taking was not hampered at any time.
Thanks again, y'all!
posted by dawson at 6:21 PM on March 11, 2008