Worth fixing 60D

Hey folks,

So last weekend the wife wanted to go look at a local waterfall and I brought the 60D with me. My tripod has a little metal pin on the mount that ended up snapping off during the day. I normally carry the camera around attached to the tripod. So I tried putting the camera back on the tripod because there is a little metal "hook" that locks over one of the edges. It seemed pretty secure. I tried moving the camera around and it seemed solid. So I keep walking next to a creek and sure enough the camera comes off the tripod and rolls right into the creek.

I jumped down screaming, "NNNNnnnnnnooooooooooo​oooo!!!" My wife said, "You looked like you were trying to save a baby." I fished the camera out. It was only in the water for a couple of seconds but I guess that was enough.

I brought it home and put it in rice for a couple of days. Everything seems to still work other than the camera doesn't communicate with lenses anymore. The screen says ER01 and tells me to clean the lens contacts. I tried 3 different lenses and all came up with the same error. I just looked at the little LCD screen on the top of the camera and there is a little condensation in there so I guess there's still some water inside.

My question is, is it worth sending to Canon to fix? I'm hoping that just the lens contacts need to be replaced since everything else seems to work but I have no idea how complicated this might be. If it's minor, ($200-300) fine but if they will want like $500 to fix it I might as well just get a new one. Just sucks because the camera is only about 6 months old. I've barely used it.

Guess I should have known better than to trust that stupid tripod after that little pin broke off.

I dont think canon will fix it once its been wet. I'd continue to let it air out and hope that it works for you.

gonzogolf wrote in post #16747983
I dont think canon will fix it once its been wet. I'd continue to let it air out and hope that it works for you.

They probably won't fix it for free but I'm sure they'll still fix it. In fact I called their customer service number and they said to send it in and see what the repair center says. If it's too much I can always just tell them to send the camera back to me.

What I was hoping was that someone on here might know what would be involved in replacing the lens contacts.

darien87 wrote in post #16748065
They probably won't fix it for free but I'm sure they'll still fix it. In fact I called their customer service number and they said to send it in and see what the repair center says. If it's too much I can always just tell them to send the camera back to me.

What I was hoping was that someone on here might know what would be involved in replacing the lens contacts.

There have been lots of threads here that say once canon determines water incursion they wont work on it, because problems tend to migrate and they will have a warrantied repair. Send it in, see what happens. Canon has a $209 standard repair fee, so thats where you start, then it goes up if the labor/parts cost more than that.

gonzogolf wrote in post #16748071
There have been lots of threads here that say once canon determines water incursion they wont work on it, because problems tend to migrate and they will have a warrantied repair. Send it in, see what happens. Canon has a $209 standard repair fee, so thats where you start, then it goes up if the labor/parts cost more than that.

Bummer. Thanks for the info.

You don't mention it but did a lens bite the dust as well?

One thing worth considering would be a Canon refurb under the Canon Loyalty Program. Go to http://shop.usa.canon.​com …d-eos-digital-slr-cameras to see what is available. Currently the 60D body is $576 and $680 with the 18-55mm STM lens. Under the Loyalty program you would get 20% off those prices.

By the way did you check any applicable credit card coverage and of course homeowners insurance.

Go to https://photography-on-the.net …ght=canon+loyal​ty+program
for details of the Canon Loyalty Program.

Thanks John. I did ask my insurance company and they said they would only cover it if say a water pipe had burst in the house and damaged the camera, not just dropping it.

I think the lens might be OK. It had a UV filter on it and that shattered but the lens seems to be OK. Unfortunately I don't have another camera body to test it on.

darien87 wrote in post #16748420
I think the lens might be OK. It had a UV filter on it and that shattered but the lens seems to be OK. Unfortunately I don't have another camera body to test it on.

Stop in any Best Buy and ask them if you can try the lens on something with a cropped body becuase you heard you get a different field of view and might purchase.

darien87 wrote in post #16747942
I jumped down screaming, "NNNNnnnnnnooooooooooo​oooo!!!" My wife said, "You looked like you were trying to save a baby."

you were trying to save something precious
Canon probably won't repair water damage but give it a try

What was the brand of tripod?

darien87 wrote in post #16748065
What I was hoping was that someone on here might know what would be involved in replacing the lens contacts.

I doubt that the contacts are the problem. It is more likely to be damage to the electronics that process the signals carried by the contacts due to short-circuiting by water. As suggested, continue the drying process. Either there is a temporary water bridge somewhere and the symptoms will disappear when that dries out, or permanent damage has been done, which I think to be more likely.

Even if Canon was willing and able to repair a waterlogged camera, I would not trust it for anything important. I recommend the Canon Loyalty Program already suggested by others. If you can get 20% off a $576 refurbished camera, that is under $500. Used 60D's on eBay seem to run about $500.

watt100 wrote in post #16748902
you were trying to save something precious
Canon probably won't repair water damage but give it a try

What was the brand of tripod?

It was a cheapy $50 Sunpak I got at Best Buy. Now I guess I know why it was so inexpensive.

So far Canon is fixing the camera under warranty. I'll keep my fingers crossed but knowing my luck once they bust into it they'll probably find more damage than their original estimate.

RodneyCyr wrote in post #16749519
Even if Canon was willing and able to repair a waterlogged camera, I would not trust it for anything important. I recommend the Canon Loyalty Program already suggested by others. If you can get 20% off a $576 refurbished camera, that is under $500. Used 60D's on eBay seem to run about $500.

Forgive my ignorance but what's wrong with a repaired camera? I REALLY don't want to spend another $500 on a camera. I hated spending $600 on this one. At least Best Buy allowed me to take advantage of their 18month free financing. I wouldn't get that with Canon. If I had to buy another one I'd probably just go back to Best Buy.

It's not like I'm shooting weddings or anything. I just like to go out and take pictures every once in a while.

Sorry to hear about your disaster. Been there and done something similar (a tripod leg sank into soft ground toppling my 300/2.8 IS and 7D to the ground.... it was one of those "slow motion", whole-life-flashing-before-your-eyes, experiences)

Hard lessons learned....
1. Never carry a tripod around with camera mounted on it.
2. Don't trust cheap tripods. Or...
3. Invest in a good tripod and head... And chances are it will be a once or twice in a lifetime purchase.

Also, don't power up a camera that's gotten wet until you are 99.9% sure it's completely dry inside. You can never be 100% sure. But if there's any moisture in there, the electronics will fry!

I got caught in a downpour with two cameras, flashes and lenses mounted... couldn't get to shelter for 15 or 20 minutes and the gear got soaked (I couldn't even open my backpack to put them away, without risk to other gear in it). It took me 4 or 5 days drying things out with hair dryers and silica before I risked putting batteries back in. I was lucky. All worked fine and no harm was done. But that was just a heavy rainstorm, not a dunk in a stream. And I now always carry cheap plastic ponchos and plastic bags to cover me and my gear.

I saw a post earlier that a 60D refurb under the Canon Loyalty Program (trading in an old or broken camera) currently costs $419 plus shipping. Even if Canon would tackle a wet camera, I doubt you can get the repairs done for anything close to that. Check out https://photography-on-the.net …ght=Canon+Loyal​ty+Program for more info.