Is Very High Humidity Shorting My Camera?

[vagabond48]

I have Canon A520 which I bought 3 1/2 years ago. This past April and May, I traveled through the south of India during the time of year when there was very little rain but high humidity. I also never stayed in rooms with A/C including Chiang Mai where I live. During that span of time until now, the camera never got wet.

I spent a week in Kolkata taking lots of photos, day and night with no problems. I traveled along the coast and headed south to Puri. Used the camera for several days including 1 evening but I discovered my camera no longer turned on, late during the 2nd evening until I placed it in the sun the next day for about 20 or more minutes. On the train ride down to Chennai, I went through the same "drying" procedure and it started working again and continued to work properly day and night while in Chennai. When I got to Pondicherry where it was extremely humid, it went through the same problem again but continued to die even earlier in the evening. I spent nearly a week there. After leaving Pondicherry, the problem again went away. To complicate things, 2 days later, for about 1 hour, the camera kept resetting the date stamp to 00/00/00 every time I turned the camera on so I had to change the date every time. This problem never happened before and has not occurred since. Weird.

I returned to Chiang Mai nearly 2 months ago and my camera was working fine up to 1 day before. Yesterday evening, the problem returned and I couldn't turn it on again. Here in CM, it has been raining for several days straight.

So anyone have a clue to what is causing this or a solution besides getting another camera?

Thanks

Just an update.

Although there is little sun here, it hasn't rained and I can feel the warmth of the sun so I left the camera out on the balcony for about 30 minutes. I just took it in and was able to turn it on although it turned off when I pressed against the battery cover.

Edited July 7, 2009 by vagabond48

[lordsux]

Have you tried changing the CR1220 internal battery? If not you should try as this could be the reason you are having issues.

[astral]

Leaving the camera is the sun is not advisable.

There are rubber seals inside that will rot with too much heat.

I had to have my old EOS 600 rebuilt after the shutter gave problems due to rotten rubber.

An expensive job.

Storing the camera with Silica Gel packs would be a better option to dry it out.

The packs can be refreshed in a warm oven.

[vagabond48]

Storing the camera with Silica Gel packs would be a better option to dry it out.

The packs can be refreshed in a warm oven.

I live in Chiang Mai. Is there a typical place where one can find Silica Gel packs?

[astral]

Here is one thread.

The matter has been discussed before.

Try a search on "Silica Thaivisa"

[j0rd]

http://www.powerdry.co.th/index_en.php

These guys sell Bulk Silica gel in Bangkok.

They sell online and ship anywhere in Thailand for 50 THB. Not bad.

http://www.powerdry...._Product_en.php