topic Re: Wet in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

Wet

Hashy80 — Wed, 25 Dec 2019 06:45:57 GMT

So my canon 80D got wet while hiking and it still takes pictures but nothing else works. I changed the display screen and board yet same results. Any other ideas what could be wrong?

Re: Wet

shadowsports — Wed, 25 Dec 2019 14:28:36 GMT

Greetings,

Sorry about your camera. Hats of to you if you are able to change these things out. The display is one thing, but the PCB sounds like it would be a little more challenging.

When a camera gets that wet, internal corrision it usually what can kill it. Sometimes they dry out, somethimes they don't.

Can we assume you have performed a full reset? If so, you are at a crossroads.

It's time to send the device to Canon, or walk away. Depends on how much money or time you want to throw at it.

Re: Wet

wq9nsc — Wed, 25 Dec 2019 14:11:04 GMT

The moisture that got into the controls likely has it appearing to the control board that more than one control input is being constantly activated. Although fresh water isn't great for electronic stuff it isn't that harmful by itself BUT the oils and salt from your skin along with other environmental debris which were carried into the controls along with the moisture leave a residue that stays conductive even after it dries.

In cases where it is possible to isolate the switches and push buttons from the rest of the camera, flushing with WD-40 works well. WD-40 was originally developed to displace water and all it leaves behind is a light oil (which also evaporates over a few days) that is non-conductive. I have used it often in restoring vintage electronic gear as a flushing/cleaning agent BUT you have to be very careful not to get it where you don't want it ESPECIALLY in a camera. One of the world's leading test and measurements equipment firm released a service note several decades ago after testing various contact cleaners and found that WD-40 provided the best results with the very expensive precision potentiometers used in their instruments.

With some vintage radio gear that I restore, I start with a thorough flush with distilled water and then use WD-40 as part of the cleaning/drying process. But I wouldn't use that level of cleaning with a precision camera. Good luck getting your camera going again.

Rodger

Re: Wet

Hashy80 — Wed, 25 Dec 2019 14:56:03 GMT

I actually ended up buying an eosr to replace the 80D but I figured since it still takes pictures I could mess around with it and try to fix it as a hobby lol. But I was thinking it was the main board being the issue.

Re: Wet

RobertTheFat — Wed, 25 Dec 2019 15:47:34 GMT

@Hashy80 wrote:
I actually ended up buying an eosr to replace the 80D but I figured since it still takes pictures I could mess around with it and try to fix it as a hobby lol. But I was thinking it was the main board being the issue.

Under those circumstances I'd suggest that you open all the camera's orifices, place it in the driest environment you can find, and let it sit for four to six months. If it then works, send it to Canon for a professional cleaning. If not, see if anyone will buy it for parts.

Re: Wet

ebiggs1 — Wed, 25 Dec 2019 16:38:07 GMT

"... place it in the driest environment you can find, and let it sit for four to six months."

I'm all in on this idea. Except you don't probably need 6 months. Put it on a warm, not hot, heating pad for several weeks. If after that it works, you are golden. But if it doesn't, it is toast so pop it up, its done.

Water and cameras do not fair well together. I would not even think it a good parts camera if the drying doesn't work.

Re: Wet

Hashy80 — Wed, 25 Dec 2019 17:04:11 GMT

Well this happened about six months ago and it still turns on and takes photos but but the lcd screen stays black.

Re: Wet

ebiggs1 — Wed, 25 Dec 2019 22:42:51 GMT

I doubt seriously it will fix itself then. It's done.

Re: Wet

Hashy80 — Wed, 25 Dec 2019 22:45:50 GMT

What if I change the PCB board? I mean it still takes good pictures lol

Re: Wet

Waddizzle — Wed, 25 Dec 2019 23:29:41 GMT

@Hashy80 wrote:
What if I change the PCB board? I mean it still takes good pictures lol

I think you should regard that camera as 100% unreliable. If you do not know how to troubleshoot the camera, it is best not to start experimenting by changing out parts. You would be spending money that would be best spent on a more reliable camera, a new oone.

Re: Wet

Hashy80 — Wed, 25 Dec 2019 23:31:48 GMT

I replaced the camera already with an eos r

Re: Wet

wq9nsc — Wed, 25 Dec 2019 23:44:57 GMT

Did the PCB board itself actually get wet? Corrosive/conductive residue from moisture is pretty obvious, circuit boards are washed after wave soldering so just getting wet with de-mineralized water doesn't kill them but residue will however conductive residue from this sort of moisture event is generally visible.

Failure of controls from excessive moisture exposure is a common issue with Canon camera lines which aren't weather sealed and I suspect that is where the moisture has created gremlins. The reason just drying often doesn't work is a lot of the residue that is carried in by the moisture remains electrically conductive after it dries. On a related note, one of the reasons you don't use typical cleaners for the exterior of electronic products is the residue left from them after they dry creates all sorts of problems if it is carried into the inner workings via moisture. In the 1990s, there was an different variation of the current industrial version of 409 cleaner that was excellent for removing a lot of substances but the residue it left behind was highly conductive. I used it for some radio restoration where it was the best choice between a cleaner that wouldn't remove what needed removing and one that would remove stuff you didn't want removed but it required a very thorough cleanup with another agent after the 409 product did its thing.

After 6 months, you are looking at doing a full flush of any area that would have gotten significant moisture into it and for an 80D it just really isn't worth the level of time required unless camera repair of a single camera looks like an appealing new long term hobby. Also you will have the nagging question of whether you have cleaned it thoroughly enough that the next radical temperature change combined with high humidity won't result in an apparently OK repair once again experiencing a fault condition. I have several cameras but I can't think of any situation where I would be comfortable using one where the probability of gear failure is high due to a known existing risk factor.

Rodger

Re: Wet

Hashy80 — Thu, 26 Dec 2019 00:19:09 GMT

I'm not sure what got wet that's my point. But I figured I would use it to possibly learn how to work on cameras so if I break it then oh well because it's kinda shot as it is.

Re: Wet

lly3988 — Thu, 26 Dec 2019 04:09:29 GMT

Hi, Merry Christmas.

I have the same problem with my 80D last year. In my case, water did not damage the PCB. Everything works except the rear LCD display which stayed black all the times.

I tethered to shoot by connecting it with a micro USB cable to my PC and wireless connecting it my ipad Pro as well. Remote shooting was enabled. It worked and liveview and playback were normal. I can change menu settings as well.

Send your 80D to Canon repair for a quote. If the cost exceeds that of a used 80D, you don't have to proceed with the repair. Keep the 80D and continue to play with it with tethering and use the money to buy a M50 which has a similar sensor and it performs quite well. ( I paid US$469 to buy a new M50 with kit lens and I guess replacing 80D PCB costs around the same or more.)

If tethering works and you don't want to spend the money repairing it, use it with a smart phone/ipad. Then you have a bigger screen.

Re: Wet

shadowsports — Thu, 26 Dec 2019 14:53:26 GMT

@Hashy80,

Believe you have received lots of excellent advice, When you said, I replaced the LCD and board, I assumed the LCD and PCB. The LCD has a little (integrated) logic board in its ribbon cable, so I didn't think you were referring to that.

What we are all trying to tell you is this. Its not worth it in the long run to throw money at this camera hoping you might "fix" it. If you want it fixed, send it to Canon.

Anything else is a gamble. 50/50. Not so good odds. You have a high probability of failure, that's 100% certain. Many of the guys here are Pros who depend on equipment that functuions reliably. Others like myself haven't earned their living taking photos, but are passionate about photography. We aren't going to recommend throwing mud at a wall to see what sticks.

While I could easily afford 2 or more bodies, I wouldn't waste a minute of time carrying one of questionable integrity or reliability.

Great you have an EOS R now. Either "fix" the 80D right, or move forward with a reliable "back up" body.

Happy Holidays

Re: Wet

ebiggs1 — Thu, 26 Dec 2019 15:57:46 GMT

"...if I break it then oh well because it's kinda shot as it is."

You are a grown up adult? It's your dime and you don't need our permission. Go for it.

Re: Wet

Hashy80 — Thu, 26 Dec 2019 17:59:34 GMT

Well first of all let's get one thing clear I wasnt asking for permission I was asking what could be possibly wrong with it. Secondly it's not worth sending it out to canon because I can buy a new body for cheaper. I was just curious if it could be the pcb board since I found one cheap on ebay and figured why not try to fix it. That's all!! I did get excellent advice on here and I do appreciate it.

Re: Wet

BurnUnit — Thu, 26 Dec 2019 19:33:46 GMT

Another nearly miraculous product you might want to try for cleaning electrical contacts, switches and terminals is DeOxit. I've had good results with DeOxit D5 spray on a few projects, but the spray version might be a bit messy to use on a DSLR. Check their website and you'll find several other specialized cleaners in aerosol cans, brush-on and pin-point eye dropper bottles.

Re: Wet

Hashy80 — Thu, 26 Dec 2019 19:36:02 GMT

Oh ok yea I thought about the spray and wasnt sure if it would be to messy or not. I'll check it out thanks!!