Hi -

I purchased an EOS 5 with the 28-135 IS lens and took it this weekend to Death Valley National Park. At the end of our trip we stopped at a sand dunes OHV area just outside of the National Park.

Well, the wind had kicked up something fierce and after trying to keep the camera clean all weekend, it picked up some grit that is now under the mode dial (P, Tv, Av, etc.) I can feel it and hear it when I change modes. Also, there must be a little bit of sand in the lens as the focussing ring feels a little crunchy.

Needless to say, I am really bummed out. It's been a while since I used an SLR (TLb!) so I had a blast with my new camera this weekend. It just disappoints me that it has gotten gunked up (I have to admit that I am a bit anal retentive about clean gear...)

Does anyone have any suggestions about how to go about getting the camera back to it's pristine state? Well, I'd just settle for no more crunchies.

Thanks! -c

-- Chris Moore (chris_moore@compuserve.com), December 03, 2001

Answers

Wow, bad deal. I left my A2 on a tripod for about an hour on a mountain top on Oahu. The trade winds were really whipping and my camera filled up with ginger pollen. It was a sticky mess. Even the film chamber was coated! I cleaned it out as best as I could but ended up taking it to Canon Hawaii for a professional cleaning. I've had salt spray problems--coated mirror and lenses, rusting screws- -while shooting surfers and other water sports on the beach and small boats. I now keep my cameras in the bag when not shooting. When it really gets bad I cover the camera with a big ziplock bag with a hole for the lens.

That's why people pay the big bucks for the dust and water seals in the EOS 1N, 1V and 3. You should quit using the camera as sand abrasion will grind down the plastic parts. Take it to the nearest Canon tech for a cleaning.

-- Puppy Face (doggieface@aol.com), December 03, 2001.