Windows

Digital Camera Boo Boo

Posted by on Mar 25, 2009 | 3 Comments

Gnomie Jim Wink writes in with this heart-tugging tale of gadgetry woe:

Hi Chris,

I’m writing you because it looks as though you are quite the handyman when it comes to digital cameras. I was wondering if you or one of your readers could help me out at all or lead me in the right direction. If so I would really appreciate it!

What happened is that my girlfriend and I recently went on a cruise and, like a fool, I jumped in a hot tub totally forgetting that I had the camera in my swimming trunks. I tried to turn it on not too long after this, but the camera lens stuck out and it said “lens error” and it wouldn’t retract. At first it didn’t work, but my girlfriend used the blow dryer inside of the camera and eventually we could see the photos on the memory card, but had no use of the camera and it also said there was still an air within the lens.

The next day I turned the camera on and the lens retracted finally. It allowed me to take a couple of perfect pictures. I was extremely excited as I figured the camera had been fixed. My girlfriend walked in the door and I tried to take a picture of her, but as I attempted to zoom in, the camera said “error” again and wouldn’t retract.

As of now we can take perfect video and look at our pictures, but when we take new pictures they come out kind of choppy. It looks perfect on the screen but after we take them they are still choppy with horizontal lines down them. What do I do? Do I need to get this camera fixed, try to fix it myself, or buy a new one? It’s an HP R742 and new ones go for about 180 bucks. Any ideas?

  • bern muller

    Hot tubs usually have a high concentration of oxidative chemicals in them to keep them sterile. This has quite probably corroded some mechanical or electrical element. I’d say that camera will probably always be unreliable from now on even if it works intermittently. Write it off as an additional expense of the cruise, and get a new one.

  • Gerry

    You can’t fix it yourself, and the cost of getting it fixed, given that it will probably involve replacing the sensor, possibly some of the electronics, and dismantling the lens to get it dry between elements, will be more than a new camera will cost.

    While you’re at it, buy one of the waterproof cameras that are around and cost not much more than the “leaky” ones, or, get one large enough that you can’t put it into a swimsuit pocket. That is, if you are in the habit of doing this.

  • Ken Downey

    If you did not turn it on you may have a chance at saving it. Put it in a bowl of (dry) rice for 24 hours. That will take the dampness out.