Digital camera got wet

[Moira]

Hi

Hope this is an OK question for this particular forum ..... I now have a useless digital camera thanks to falling in a river and the camera being in my bag which spent around 20 seconds immersed in water.

What I'm wondering is, whether the memory card which hold some photos I would love to save, is worth either putting in someone else's camera (if I can find anyone using the same make) or taking to a camera shop to see if the pictures can be retrieved, since they were of my daughter's 21st birthday meal and were rather special.

Anyone knowledgeable about digital cameras here? My phone which also got wet, seems to be damaged beyond repair. I have recharged the battery on the camera and although it displays the green light and makes a few noises, I cannot view what is stored.

Thanks

Moira

[Sinizterguy]

Its definitely worth trying to use the memory card.

If you have a card reader in your PC, use that. The other option would be to find a camera of the same manufacturer (doesnt really have to be the same model) and try it in that.

Or you could take it into a studio.

[Moira]

Cheers, thanks I won't throw it out then! Might try it in my Dad's camera if it'll fit, otherwise a photo processing shop should be able to help.

[jsterling]

all the Jessops stores have pc with multi-card readers, so they should be able to help. And afaik they'll stick the stuff on cd as well.

[Laurence G]

Ok, Make sure the batteries are off both the camera and the phone.

You can either go for the slow and steady apporach (free) or the more costly and slighy faster on which involves void warrenties! :D

Slow - Put phone and camera in airing cubboard or other warm place, leave for up to 7 days. Try again with new batteries.

Fast - Buy some torx screw drivers and take em to bits, let the pcbs dry and re asemble.. see if they work.

If you really want I could take I look at the stuff for you (pm me), phones I have found are dead easy to repair. (not that I ever dropped my phone in the sea :rolleyes: )

Good Luck!

[Clarksy]

I would try Laurence G's first step. I'd also leave the battery compartment and memory card comparment doors open so that any moisture inside stands a chance of escaping.

Your card should be ok unless your very unlucky - pop into boots or any picture processing place and slot your card into one of the self service machines and see if you pictures appear.

Also, for future reference, if you do drop anything electrical into water remove the battery and don't turn it on until its dried out (a couple of days in a warm place). Its tempting to just turn it on and see if it still works, but this will increase the chances of knackering the equipment since you run the risk of electrical shorts when its switched on.


EDIT: Just noticed the date of the problem so i guess you know if it works or not by now. Hopefully your got your piccies back!

[Moira]

Thanks for the advice. My husband took the phone apart, but no luck with that. However, my son gets frequent upgrades with his contract, so I'm just using a reasonably good phone he's passed on. Fortunately the Sim card was OK.

Regarding the camera, I've been less fortunate in this respect, but I have managed to save the photos as the compact flash memory card is OK. I'll remember the next time I drop it in a river not to immediately try turning it on to see if it's still working :)

Thanks Lawrence for the offer of trying to repair it, however a few days ago I decided it was a lost cause and threw it out.

Cheers

Moira