[ User Report ] Help!!! Water in lens!!

[starocker]

was out on sea today again with my E3 and 12-60mm..so it got its usual splash of seawater..upon reaching home..i rinsed my E3 and 12-60 as usual, but this time, i saw water in the lens..is my lens leaking or spoilt?i did not notice this before..it looks like there is a layer trapping the water but im not sure.. below are some pics..my cam and lens is sitting in my dry cab now..should i go to the repair centre?i've not tried the lens yet as my battery is drained out..

you can see a "water ring" at the centre of the lens..n some water collected at the bototm ot the lens:


ths outside of the lens was already dry,water inside

[Oly5050]

Wow, it looks like it is choked full of water. Better pictures?

[starocker]

cant take any clearer pic of the water leh..it looks like there is alot of water in the front of the lens..look like trapped in a container or something..

but the rest of the inside of the lens looks fine..

[kkenji]

wah..

1st time hear such a case..

so much for the dust/splash proof thingy..

somemore from the E-3 and 12-60mm SWD..

i dont dare to let the camera come in contact with any water let along rinse it..

the very most i'll do its to take a damp clothe n clean it

[starocker]

i had to rinse it as alot of sea water splashed on it..and everytime after i bring it out to sea i will rinse it..but this is the first time this has happened-.-

argh..wad do i do?

[dorts]

Wow, my first time seeing such stuff. I wonder if Olympus will still honor the warranty, if still available.

[rockstarwatercooler]

Hi

I am no pro, but I think you should call up the customer service ASAP.

[blurboiboi]

wow.. this looks pretty bad... if i am you... the lens and cam would be in olympus hospital tomorrow....
do let us know what olympus has to say about it also... tyty

[starocker]

hmm..okok..i think i should call up olympus tml..should still have warrenty as i jus bought it bout a month ago..there is not much water inside..just about a teaspoon i think..but still it looks bad..

will keep an update..

[cityzensg]

put the lens in a air-tight tupperware container with a canister of Thirsty-Hippo

close the tupperware and leave for 3 days.... Thirsty-Hippo will suck dry the water from the lens

[headfonz]

Originally Posted by cityzensg put the lens in a air-tight tupperware container with a canister of Thirsty-Hippo close the tupperware and leave for 3 days.... Thirsty-Hippo will suck dry the water from the lens

if its under warranty, i don't think he needs to diy a solution yet. let olympus take care of it.

also, its not clear if its sea water or clean water that is trapped inside, so there could be salt or other residue in there too.

if its a problem with the gaskets on the lens, the TS should request a replacement since a repair may not be a long term solution.

[spidey89]

maybe the rubber came off?My E-1 when i first got it,2 rubber was loose,and water seeped in causing the camera to malfunction,after servicing it,less than a 100 to replace the damaged part and rubber,the camera works like when it was first made,no problems whatsoever,so i still believe in it's robustness,but there will be times when even the most tough things fail,so no worries,i believe it is a once in a long while thing ^^

[spidey89]

Originally Posted by headfonz if its under warranty, i don't think he needs to diy a solution yet. let olympus take care of it. also, its not clear if its sea water or clean water that is trapped inside, so there could be salt or other residue in there too. if its a problem with the gaskets on the lens, the TS should request a replacement since a repair may not be a long term solution.

Agreed,if there's a once,there will be a twice until its fixed,so best would be to send in for check up and repair should there be a need

[scenar]

sorry, im not an oly user, but u mean the oly e3 and the lens in question is DESIGNED to withstand RINSING ?
WOW, i mean.. i thought these things were splash resistant, but rinsing it under the running tap is possible?

[spidey89]

Originally Posted by scenar sorry, im not an oly user, but u mean the oly e3 and the lens in question is DESIGNED to withstand RINSING ? WOW, i mean.. i thought these things were splash resistant, but rinsing it under the running tap is possible?

Yup,i've shot in thunderstorms before,I believe so has Microcosm,it can withstand super heavy rain and I've rinsed it a couple of times and its still working

[kwan0029]

But since Olympus E3 and 12-60 is meant for water-resistance.... does tat mean it shld be FOC even if warranty is over?

Becuz consumer bought this combo of this unique features, so does tat mean after the warranty period, it does not cover? so unreliable?

Is true tat after years, there will be wear & tear... at least Olympus can extend the warranty for any damage due to liquid problems. Maybe another 1 or 2 yrs might be appropriate?

[spidey89]

Originally Posted by kwan0029 But since Olympus E3 and 12-60 is meant for water-resistance.... does tat mean it shld be FOC even if warranty is over? Becuz consumer bought this combo of this unique features, so does tat mean after the warranty period, it does not cover? so unreliable?

Don't know,I remember that time when E-3 just came out not long,some guy shot or rinsed his cam,and water was in the screen,IIRC,that guy got a new set free

[headfonz]

Originally Posted by kwan0029 But since Olympus E3 and 12-60 is meant for water-resistance.... does tat mean it shld be FOC even if warranty is over? Becuz consumer bought this combo of this unique features, so does tat mean after the warranty period, it does not cover? so unreliable? Is true tat after years, there will be wear & tear... at least Olympus can extend the warranty for any damage due to liquid problems. Maybe another 1 or 2 yrs might be appropriate?

warranty by any manufacturer covers for manufacturer's defects during the warranty period. so if the weather seals fail to work to specification, the manufacturer will have to bear the cost of the repair and replacement.

however, any mechanical part has a lifespan, so depending on a users' usage, the mileage that one gets may vary.

the rubber gaskets that are the weather seals have a limited lifespan. those should be replaced after X no of years to maintain the level of weather sealing, just like the seals on Casio G-shock watches which do need to be replaced after 5 - 7 years.

if the defects surface after the warranty period, and the defect part is not designed for maintenance replacement and cannot be maintained by the user (e.g. the magnesium alloy chassis of the E3), the end user can negotiate that the cost of repair to be borne by the manufacturer.

[splim]

Originally Posted by cityzensg put the lens in a air-tight tupperware container with a canister of Thirsty-Hippo close the tupperware and leave for 3 days.... Thirsty-Hippo will suck dry the water from the lens

no need so troublesome, go out shoot under direct sun light, few hours will dry out.

Better sent to SC to check.

[Mikefellh]

As long as you didn't go diving with the camera and it was only from being splashed, Olympus should fix this for free, even past the initial warranty period!

At a photography show in Toronto (Canada) an Oly rep took an E-3 with the 12-60 and dunked it into an aquarium to prove to the audience how water tight the camera/lens combo was (yes, the aquarium was full of water at the time, but unfortunately I don't have a picture of the dunking).

I remember a story an Oly rep told me about the E-1 and 14-54 when it first came out...his job was to abuse the camera to test it so the night before photographing an F1 race he put the camera in the shower and let the water run onto the camera for 20 minutes.