I was crushed! How would I ever explain to Farmer Rick--now that I have gutted our main bathroom and uncovered unsightly, secret, chaotically wired chambers--I would rather have another camera instead and just finish the bathroom project in, say, 2011? That would only be a tiny inconvenience, right? Right? No, that would never do. Not when I'm the one always harping about follow through, like I had it tattooed across my...well you get the picture, no pun intended.
So, I googled 'what to do if your camera got left out in the rain', and I came across someone who said they actually baked their Canon Rebel (I can hear many of you cringing right now) and it was raised like Lazarus from the dead and it has continued working. I decided to give it a try. Even though my oven couldn't go as low as 120 degrees, I set it at my lowest of 170 degrees and baked it (without batteries or memory card) for 20 minutes with the door slightly ajar.
This way, I could at least peek in and see if it was melting. I would hate to have to explain to Farmer Rick how we suddenly needed BOTH a new camera and new oven! I'd really feel like Lucille Ball then. It got hot, way too hot to handle but held its shape. So I let it cool to room temperature. After replacing the batteries and card, here's the first picture.
For AF (After Oven) isn't this amazing? There's still a bunch of moisture under the digital screen of the viewfinder, but I'm hoping I can remove that with a little time in a plastic ziplock baggie and some silica gel. Or maybe it will need to bake longer.
Anyway, here's another vintage bird button and a maple leaf to go along with the recipe!
For more up close and personal images, visit Macro Monday!
Postscript: After a cozy evening spent by the fire with my camera (wish I could have captured this happy photo), and a night sealed in a plastic baggie with all the silica gel packages I could find from shoe boxes, and some Rainsorb thrown in, the last bit of moisture I was seeing in the display screen has completely disappeared! Whew!
16 comments:
hmmm....bathroom.....camera.....bathroom....camera.....it must be CAMERA!
I've been camping and peed in the woods. I'd live without an indoor bathroom for as long as I'd have to, but life without a camera would be miserable and pure suffering for me! gah!
Never thought a camera could be baked, though. I suppose the alternative option would be worse, though. So it was worth a try.
I'd like a side of taters with that baked camera, please? lol!
I know what you're feeling, though. I had my camera stolen last year, in October in Santa Fe. And I was devastated. I used my kidlet's old dinosaur camera for several months and I was so frustrated! I had to wait until after Christmas when the tax returns came back to get a new one. That was such a long time to go without a camera.
I hope you'll be able to salvage your camera, my friend!
The bird button and maple leaf are beautiful.
~Lisa
You made the right choice. I couldn't live without my camera either. You're braver than me though, I would probably still be trying to convince myself it's a good idea.
I'll be.. O.k so baking a camera works, leave it out in the sun to get rid of the rest of the moisture, just remember to bring it in when the sun goes down..;-)
so glad you have your camera back!
Sage, you are so brave!!!! I am glad everything worked out for you and the camera.
Did you tell Farmer Rick?
So glad you saved your camera, and a good save it was. Leave it up to a woman to think of the oven. :):)
Oh Dear, My 18th year old daughter had her drink botle unscrewed tight. Water seeped out and got her digital camera wet. It could not be rescued. May be you can get a cheap one from eBay.
ingenious! or is the right word genius? well, anyway, nice save! Now I am going to tell you the same thing I told my niece last week, your camera is to you as a weapon is to a soldier. Never let it leave your side!
your poor camera
:(
i like the 2nd photo :)
That is AMAZING! I am shocked. I "picture" cameras to be very delicate instruments. WOW. What a story. Lucky you :)
Wow, congrats to you for resurrecting the camera from the dead!!!
Holy Crap!
Okay, I too want to know if you told Farmer Rick... ;-).
Wow..I have a rebel and I thought yours would be gone..amazing.. Michelle
Please, I like my camera medium rare . LOL.
I'd like to know more. At what temperature? What did you set it in?
For how long? You caught yourself a real break!
Oh I am so glad it worked! I would say you are one lucky duck! :)
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