Can I fix a saltwater damaged camera?

[Cherry347]

I found my dad's old camera. He said that it was broken because seawater (saltwater) had fallen on the camera. I want to get the parts but can anyone tell me if I can fix it (restore it) please? It's a canon 600d. The circuit boards are not available online (I think) so I will take a photo of the circuit boards and make a PCB out of them. Please reply 🙏😢 I want to give the camera to him as a surprise. I don't have the battery (because my dad sold it) but I will buy it.

I don't want to trash the camera or buy a new one

[ebiggs1]

Boy, how much do you want to spend? You can find a used T3i on eBay and would be your best course of action.

Salt water is just about the worse thing besides running it over with a Freightliner semi that you can do to a camera.

Still wanting a repair try Midwest Camera Repair.

[jrhoffman75]

Saltwater damage is bad and insidious. Repair is next to impossible, because residual salt can remain and continue to corrode.

Your time and money would be better spent by buying a used 600D (if you are committed to giving him the same camera model.)

You can get an excellent condition rated camera with battery from Keh Camera:

I didn't check eBay; I am sure they are available there as well.

[Cherry347]

I can only do it from amazon, but my budget is INR 7000 (93.86 dollars in USD)

[wq9nsc]

The only hope of repairing saltwater damage is the device must be IMMEDIATELY flushed with copious amounts of distilled water (which must also be de-ionized for high voltage equipment) and then properly and thoroughly dried. 

If done in this manner for gear that was NOT powered up when it got a salt bath, the chances of success are very high.  If the flushing wasn't done within 2 hours, the odds of success are EXTREMELY low.  And it isn't worth the trouble for an item without a very high actual value.

I have repaired electronics gear that got a salt bath but only when it was immediately available to be properly repaired.  If you wait even a day before flushing, it is likely far beyond any economically reasonable repair.

Rodger

[Cherry347]

it has been 5 years since that camera was wet

[ebiggs1]

"If done in this manner for gear that was NOT powered up when it got a salt bath, the chances of success are very high."

I would never rate a saltwater bath recovery as "very high". There is just too many things inside a camera that don't even like fresh water, distilled water or de-ionized water. I might say it is possible but still very low. The drying process and relube of the mech would need to be done correctly, too.

[Cherry347]

I don't know, I was not there when it got wet. It has been 5 years already

[jrhoffman75]

I am guessing, maybe incorrectly, that the reason your father hasn’t used it in five years is that he tried using it after it got wet and it didn’t work. 
I wouldn’t throw good money after bad by purchasing a new battery but perhaps you know someone that gas a similar camera and you could try their battery. Or a local camera club or camera store with a demo camera that has a battery. 

[ebiggs1]

Even a salt water splash on the controls is probably a fatal accident. Especially if left for 5+ years. The T3i is not sealed so salt water can get inside.

Have you actually tried it to see if it is operative. You never know you might get lucky.  A battery isn't too expensive and if you do buy a used T3i for a replacement the extra battery will be nice to have.