K10D survives from 2 sec fresh water dive

gchiam · 25th August 2007

I want to share what I read from dpreview forum:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/re...6&changemode=1

Quote:

Brought the K10D to a resort.

And by a slip of a step...the K10D, the Sigma 17-70 on it, and the battery grip ALL went underwater for 2 seconds. Fresh water.
First, the camera went beserk - turning off means on, on means DOF preview. Av means Auto, etc. Pulled out the battery immediately and ran back to the room.
Opened all the openings I could on the camera and the grip (amazingly, inside the grip is DRY. Water vapour started to appear on the top LCD - immediately into the washroom and turned on the hairdryer to dry every part. 30 minutes. Things started improving - OFF meant OFF, etc. But the lens was still full of water vapour.
Wrapped camera with tissue paper, went to lunch. Came back and hairdryer again, another 30 minutes. The camera 100% recovered, and I tried another lens, everything including the image quailty seemed normal - including the built-in flash - as if nothing had happened.
Dried the lens for another 30 minutes (hairdryer low, from a feet away) - and after the night, everything seemed to be fine. By the next day, it was as if nothing had happened. I knew if it were the DS, I'd have kissed the whole thing goodbye.
Back home and I put everything into an airtight box together with some spanking new silica gel pellets (the colour-changing ones). First they changed colour after a day, but after the second day no more moisture seemed to be absorbed.
The K10D is now as good as new.

I'm a Pentax believer.

In one of the thread responses, there is another guy sharing his experience of how he saved his K100D from fresh water dive.

dnaxe · 27th August 2007

Originally Posted by gchiam

I want to share what I read from dpreview forum:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/re...6&changemode=1

In one of the thread responses, there is another guy sharing his experience of how he saved his K100D from fresh water dive.

Which shows that the saving of the K10D has nothing to do with weathersealing.

fengwei · 27th August 2007

Originally Posted by dnaxe

Which shows that the saving of the K10D has nothing to do with weathersealing.

Well, he probably couldn't have saved it if it's a non-weathersealed camera like the Ds

SpendorK · 27th August 2007

Originally Posted by dnaxe

Which shows that the saving of the K10D has nothing to do with weathersealing.

If there's no weathersealing, the camera already gone to heaven

. for sure.

dnaxe · 27th August 2007

Originally Posted by SpendorK

If there's no weathersealing, the camera already gone to heaven. for sure.

Originally Posted by fengwei

Well, he probably couldn't have saved it if it's a non-weathersealed camera like the Ds

Uh.

Notice in the first post that a K100D was saved.

I don't think the K100D has weathersealing.

SpendorK · 27th August 2007

Originally Posted by dnaxe

Uh.

Notice in the first post that a K100D was saved.

I don't think the K100D has weathersealing.

The P.C.Board will corrode.

fengwei · 27th August 2007

Originally Posted by dnaxe

Uh.

Notice in the first post that a K100D was saved.

I don't think the K100D has weathersealing.

Yeah, the K100D was saved too, but at least it was dead (defunct by the OP) for quite a while. And there might be some damage inside the camera.

On the other hand, the inside of the K10D posted above was almost totally dry, which we can safely say there might not be any damage on the electric board at all after such a dive.

Besides, we've seen enough testing reports on the weather sealing of a K10D

Just go and get a couple of weather sealed DA* lenses, you'd be safe to shoot in the rain

IF there is any damage by the rain, blame Pentax and return them to Shriro

Cheers!

dnaxe · 27th August 2007

Originally Posted by fengwei

Yeah, the K100D was saved too, but at least it was dead (defunct by the OP) for quite a while. And there might be some damage inside the camera.

On the other hand, the inside of the K10D posted above was almost totally dry, which we can safely say there might not be any damage on the electric board at all after such a dive.

He said that inside the GRIP it was dry.

He also noted electrical abberations, and condensation on the top LCD.

I don't see how you can conclude that the inside was dry...

gradual recovery is consistent with the electronics becoming wet, and drying off.

Quote:

Besides, we've seen enough testing reports on the weather sealing of a K10D Just go and get a couple of weather sealed DA* lenses, you'd be safe to shoot in the rain IF there is any damage by the rain, blame Pentax and return them to Shriro

Lol. I make no comment as to the efficacy of the weathersealing of the K10D.

In fact, as you've mentioned, it's probably quite good.

--
My comment was to point out that weathersealing and recovery after a 2 second dip is not necessarily related. Of course, 2 second dip is MUCH better than washing under a tap...