Troubleshooting underwater cameras

As you probably already know - and I hope you have not found out the hard way - water and electronics do not mix. Digital cameras, this rule if you are also designed with a model specifically for underwater photography.

Even if you have an underwater camera, the last thing you want to stop the water in the box itself. If you end up with water inside the camera, the chances are that the camera does not work. After all, from an underwater camera is waterproof; Interior and electronics are not. Water damage is almost always permanent.

Follow these tips to avoid problems with water damage to your camera in the water ... and hopefully fixed the water damage low.

• If you are using a special waterproof housing for your camera, make sure you inspect always uses the O-rings in the case. The O-rings must be flexible and free of dirt or other particles or protect your camera.
• If you use an underwater camera that does not require a case, make sure the manufacturer for the distance of the camera to follow the rules under water is safe for use. Do not exceed the recommended water depth.
• Some evidence that water can leak in the following cases: Bubble camera, a malfunction of strobe (as if a short circuit), the condensation on the buttons or the display is working properly.
• If water has leaked suspects in the case of the camera, do not panic. Take some time to dry the outer casing of the camera before opening parts of the case. You would pretty stupid, if you open the camera housing, to find out which is dry, but realize that you, the first case of forgotten dry the water in the neighborhood of the point distinguished only open to.
• Once you have water in the underwater camera, you can take some steps to try to prevent permanent damage to the camera. First remove the camera from water immediately. Less time in contact with water gives you a better chance to avoid damage.
• Disconnect the power immediately, the camera and a flash light or a camera connected to the external flash.
• Keep the camera upright under water - hopefully - to keep the water in the bottom of the box. Do not twist or rotate the camera, you can enter the water to other parts of the camera.
• Then remove the battery and memory card, control water or moisture in this area within the unit leaked. If you see water in the battery compartment, you leave the door open compartment for the water to evaporate.
• You can also use a hair dryer to carefully try to speed up the evaporation process. However, do not use excessive heat or high pressure air, which could spread the moisture inside the unit. The drying chamber with a hair dryer should be a slow process at low temperature.
• If you have enough time to dry the inside of the camera under water, place them in a sealed plastic bag with a packet of silica gel. Keep the battery compartment and USB opened while the camera is in the plastic bag that gives you a better chance to dry properly with any camera. Once this is complete, you can re-insert the battery and the memory card to see if the device is in operation.
• Note that there is a possibility that the device is turned on for all their work. Even if the device is not working properly, it can be verified by a camera repair center, just to make sure she's okay. Water damage does not appear immediately.