[Leica] Wet camera failures MADE BETTER! :-)

[tedgrant at shaw.ca (tedgrant at shaw.ca)]

Well OK here's the simplst answer to all this leaky camera stuff, sea side 
surf and splashing salty eyes and sea water. READY and it's for real. Only 
with a Hasselblad!

Asssignment out of Toronto ad agency to Halifax east coast of Canada!
Pictures of happy tourists... (models to look happy when necessary!) 
Shooting all Hasselblad! That's the way the client wanted it! Quote: " None 
of that toy 35mm camera, kodachrome!  I don't care how fantastic a camera it 
is.... we want big slides!"

Now remember this is the ART DIRECTOR guy paying the bill for the right kind 
of sailing yacht, models, meals, everybody's accommodation, plus flights 
from Toronto to Halifax and back. You are not going to argue with the guy 
paying you $1500. per day! "Yes sir we'll have big film cameras!"

So off we went early morning having a splendid time "working!" That is 
sailing about the coastal waters in warm sunshine.... oh life as a 
photographer is so tough! ;-)

So we have a great day shooting umpteen dozen rolls with the Hasselblad. Now 
we come to the wrap ride about to enter Halifax Harbour, the wind and water 
have picked-up and it becomes a tad blustery. Last set with city in 
background and we hit a big wave off the Port bow as I'm shooting the couple 
sort of hanging in the rigging. I shoot as the water is coming toward the 
model and me head on Hassie in hands and click!
Models me & Hassie are near drowned, everybody is laughing but me as I whip 
film out of the camera and water already inside.  film survived.

Then the moment of truth was about to happen.. With film out and in the 
hands of the assistant, I made a "so called shall we say "accidental fall" 
towards the port side and the camera? Shall we say.....  "Accidently went 
over the side and deep sixed to the bottom of the Halifax harbour! OOPS!!

Of course I yelled out in great anguish as it went out of my hands.... it 
was all wet in any event and was gone!  You need witnesses to the moment to 
collect insurance to buy a new camera... After all it was sea salt water and 
would have cost a new one for repair... if I was crazy enough to have it 
repaired! So sometimes an "OOPS factor" can make life a lot easier than 
fiddling about sending a camera in for an overhaul!

None of you guys happen to be insurance adjusters are you? :-) I mean, it 
was an accident! Really!

Dr. ted.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lawrence Zeitlin" <lrzeitlin at gmail.com>
To: "Leica LUG" <lug at leica-users.org>
Sent: Sunday, February 20, 2011 3:42 PM
Subject: [Leica] Wet camera failures


>A number of consumer groups have reported digital camera failures because 
>of
> high humidity. All camera manufacturers products fail including Leica. If
> you take your expensive equipment into wet conditions, some form of
> protection is necessary. I suggest waterproof cases, camera wraps, or a 
> good
> insurance policy. Or simply leave that multi thousand dollar camera at 
> home
> in foul weather and take a cheap camera that you can afford to lose. Here 
> is
> a web site that lists cameras subject to failure in wet conditions:
> www.imaging-resource.com/badccds.html
> Larry Z
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information