Camera in wet conditions

[JamesV]

Got back three days ago, from a trip to Allegheny National Forest; a 6 day dispersed camping trip with two friends, where my camera spent 5 of those days damp in a open dry bag (for airflow under tarp). Couldn't help it; almost constant wet conditions with rain to threating thunderstorms.

Not a campground, 3 kilometers over rough 'you are getting soaked and dirty' uneven terrain. Tried to keep the two lenses (stock and zoom) dry but open in their dry bag/Ziploc safety-setup.

Well... on the way back taking shots from the car, I get a 'camera is not communicating with the lens error' on the camera screen. When I try to take a shot, the 'focusing' step, of the squares and red dots showing on half shutter press... are gone.

I have everything apart and in a good dry air flow area, but think there is a serious problem here... anyone got some advice on the cheap? Maybe it's just damp and needs to dry, or I need to get it repaired professionally ASAP?

a pic from the trip - tick gathering pollen? :

 

[randomrogue]

I'd google bag of rice and see if maybe that would help. If you drop your cellphone in the toilet you have like a 50% chance of it working if you turn it off and put it in a bag of rice or something.

 

[SecurityTheatre]

Yeah, I'd wager there is water is the lens, or possibly the mount.

I assume you removed the lens to check the contacts with the body and ensure there isn't water in that joint?

You really do need to get it somewhere dry and remove the battery and let it air out. Bag of rice may help too, but if you have a very dry location to place it (like near an air conditioner vent, or in the desert), that might suffice.

 

[corkyg]

A hair dryer can help.

 

[JamesV]

Checked the contacts, and they look dry... can't see anything that jumps out to me as 'wrong'.

I just remember checking the camera every day, and how fogged up all the glass was; so I'm guessing the problem is water.

Right now I've got the camera body pointing down without a lens on, on a makeshift stand. Battery removed, and it's in a dry place. Guess I'll just try it again in a few days to see if that helps, and maybe try the rice method.