How to Repair and Save a Wet DSLR Camera

This video shows how I brought a full frame DSLR camera back to life and full function after it had been completely submerged in muddy river water.

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This was definitely not a planned video but I thought I would share my experience in case it might help some others. It is a horrible feeling to think you just ruined expensive camera equipment. As I show in the video there just may be some hope if you handle the situation appropriately.

In my case the camera fell off a tripod, bouncing off a dock before hitting the water. The camera landed in muddy water that was about two feet deep. I had to get in the creek to retrieve the sunken Nikon camera. It was probably completely submerged for about two minutes. When I was back on the dock I wanted to get the battery out right away but notice it was already missing (this might have been a good thing). The camera was completely soaked with water behind the view finder and the lens was a mess with water and dirt behind several glass elements.

I went and found a large bag of rice with the idea to leave the camera sitting in the rice for several days in an effort to draw out the moisture. I left the camera in the rice for 5 days but then decided the rice trick would not be enough. I decided to then dissemble this Nikon D-600 to clean and dry out the individual components.

Dissembling the camera was a last resort but salt and impurities in the water could damage internal parts so I felt it a necessary procedure. With the correct screw drivers and a system to keep track of all the screws and components, the camera dissembling was not as complicated as I feared. Video taping the steps help me reassemble the camera correctly.

This particular camera was a Nikon D-600 and I imagine the Nikon D-610 is constructed similarly.

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