Water in my lens. fixable?

[Hazeb1]

My Nikon 18 -55 mm kit lens got dropped in a puddle while I was changing lenses. I got it dried out, except for a few small drops on the front lens element and fogging. Any ideas how to get the last bit of moisture out,or am I screwed? Will a blow dryer (on low heat) work, or just make it worse?

Any advice is welcome

Cheers

[Ken MT]

How about putting the lens in a plastic bag with a dessicant for a while? eg one of those that you get when you buy electrical goods or camera etc.

[enaiman]

That might work, good idea Ken.

[Colin Southern]

Hi Warren,

Put it in a container - fill it with rice - leave it 2 to 3 days.

[DanK]

If you use a dessicant, make sure it is fresh. Pelican makes silica gel that changes color when it is no longer fresh. You can dry it out by putting it in the oven at 300 F (150 C).

I dropped a lens into shallow water last summer and got a modest amount of water in it. Canon would not repair it, saying that the cost of doing what was needed to avoid fungus and possible circuit-board failures exceeded the value of the lens (even though it was an expensive one). They said it might continue to work and might not if left unrepaired. 8 months later, it still works, although there are some small spots on at least one of the interior lens surfaces. So I think I would dry it out (with a dessicant, not heat) and see what happens. Maybe you will be lucky.

[geordie01]

I dropped a lens into a sink of water i put it in the airing cupboard next to the hot water cylinder and it dried out and is still in use 4 years later.

[The Blue Boy]

Just to chime in, as funny as Colin's idea sounds, this actually works really well. Old pros used to do this to prevent fungus in older lenses.

[Hazeb1]

Thanks so much. Since I've plenty of rice available,I'll give it a shot :-)

[darkslide]

I dropped a lens into a sink of water i put it in the airing cupboard next to the hot water cylinder and it dried out and is still in use 4 years later.

The lens or the airing cupboard?

Sorry...

[Geoff F]

Apart from the UK, and parts of Europe, I think airing cupboards are an unknown item.

Certainly a common idea here for drying out almost anything - eventually.

[jeeperman]

I have used the rice trick on my cell phone after putting it in the wash. Worked well, uhm 2x. Actually when living in Okinawa Japan we would put rice in our salt shaker to suck up the humidity. Otherwise it would be a salt lick.

[Colin Southern]

I have used the rice trick on my cell phone after putting it in the wash. Worked well, uhm 2x.

You did well ... one of mine got dipped in salt water once, and I ended up putting it in the ...

... rubbish bin

[Hazeb1]

Update! Just thought I'd let you gents know that the rice solution worked perfectly! Everything appears to be clear, no fogging. I'll be shooting some test pics today.
Thanks again for the advice.

[Dave Humphries]

You did well ... one of mine got dipped in salt water once

The theory goes you should not let it dry out, immerse immediately in clean fresh water until it can be washed through, ideally with the de-ionised water for car/auto batteries, since tap water can be quite 'hard' (chalky) in some areas (e.g. mine).

Then do the rice trick for at least 48 hours.

Fortunately I've not had to try it - so I can't vouch for it, but in many ways, what do you have to lose, especially if not insured.

Cheers,

[Dave Humphries]

Update! Just thought I'd let you gents know that the rice solution worked perfectly! Everything appears to be clear, no fogging. I'll be shooting some test pics today.
Thanks again for the advice.

Good news Warren, well done