Salvaging Waterdamaged X-e2 Camera + 23mm Lens

[ding]

So my underwater casing was fine when I dived in Monterey 2 weeks ago. After descending 60ft this morning diving in Maui I tried to turn on my x-e2 + 23mm but the ewa marine casing had a bit of water sloshing around in it.

 

Anyone have any idea or experience with cameras/lens and salt water damage? My 23mm was pure magic... anyone know if fuji has the can bring it back to life or is it time to call time of death?

 

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[Trenton Talbot]

Judging by the looks of your camera body (all ports are closed, crystals of salt everywhere), I'd call it a total loss   …except for the thumbrest and a softie 

 

You might be able to salvage the lens. Rinse it in distilled water, changing often, and let it dry in near zero humidity (surrounded with uncooked rice or better yet, silica gel). Once it's dry, send it to Fuji for repairs (most likely they'll have to replace the motor and a PCB). Once they send you an estimate for the repairs, you'll know if its worth it or not.

[milandro]

Even limiting the efforts to the lens, the expense, in terms of labor costs, of completely disassemble all its optical parts, clean them without damaging the coatings, then removing all the electrical components of a lens like the various electric motors of the lens and replacing them, would be a daunting and a time and money consuming task, way more complex than making a new lens and with the risk to damage the lens elements by simply handling them after the ordeal that they have been through.

 

I suppose that it could be worth a try but probably you might add insult to injury in the form of shipping charges. Unless Fuji will extend you a superior act of mercy ( they have done so in the past, or at leas so I’ve read) none of this could come cheap of be covered by any guarantee.

 

Anyway, if you don’t ask... so give it a shot.

[steve]

Save your money in shipping and put it towards another camera. Any kind of water damage is no good. Equipment with water damage makes that equipment now a paper weight

Steve

[milandro]

Unfortunately, with hindsight it is easy to talk, after things have gone wrong, I realize that it is too easy to pontificate about what one should have done and I really don’t like to make this sound as a criticism at all.

 

Perhaps you will now consider buying a plexiglass hard case ( I don’t even know if there are any out there for Fuji cameras!?) rather than a soft bag and next scuba adventure would feature a less expensive set up as in a cheap XM-1 or XA-1 body and a lens such as the 18 (which is now been sold at very low price)

 

The likelihood of something going wrong there offers just a little bit better odds and should anything go wrong the loss won’t be as serious for your pockets as the one that you are facing now ( is there any travel insurance claim possible in this case? ).