Camera cleaning help?

sworks

sworks

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Mark
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I haven’t used my camera in months and took it out of its bag today to find a few small issues. Some of the small screws on the body and the edge of the grip along with a couple of other areas are looking white? Not sure what’s caused it as it’s not damp where it’s stored. It’s not bad on the grand scheme of things but it wasn’t like that the last time I used the camera and I like to keep my kit as good as I can. It doesn’t seem to wipe of by hand so I’m looking for advice on what I can use to clean the camera body safely?
Thanks
 
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A quick phone pic
 

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So it looks like it is originating from inside?

Does it wipe off with lightly dampened cloth? NB such "white" substance reminds me of what happens when an alkaline battery leaks, leaving a white chemical residue......................but as all Canon batteries are Li-Ion I would hope that is unlikely.

Is the battery itself AOK and also the battery compartment OK and free from any signs of the result of battery corrosion?

Did you expose it to seaspray on last use before storing it? I so did you make sure to wipe down and dry it before putting it away?

So many questions............................without knowing some background all anyone/I can do is surmise ;)
 
Usual cleaners are cheap vinegar, alcohol - good quality vodka!, lens cleaner. Vinegar is particularly good for cleaning battery compartment corrosion.
Use a cotton bud to apply the liquid - use as little as possible, barely damp is good.
That's a plastic screw in cover in your pic. I don't see a reason for it having corrosion around it.
 
Horse has bolted but imo a bag is not the best place to store a camera long term unless you are certain it is dry and maybe put some silica gel desiccant in. Hope you can get it sorted ok.
 
Box Brownie said:
So it looks like it is originating from inside?

Does it wipe off with lightly dampened cloth? NB such "white" substance reminds me of what happens when an alkaline battery leaks, leaving a white chemical residue......................but as all Canon batteries are Li-Ion I would hope that is unlikely.

Is the battery itself AOK and also the battery compartment OK and free from any signs of the result of battery corrosion?

Did you expose it to seaspray on last use before storing it? I so did you make sure to wipe down and dry it before putting it away?

So many questions............................without knowing some background all anyone/I can do is surmise ;)
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I wet my finger and gave it a quick wipe and it didn’t make any difference so I didn’t want to try anything else. Battery compartment is fine. Last time I used it was about 2 months ago and it was a dry sunny but cold day and nowhere near the sea
 
nog said:
Horse has bolted but imo a bag is not the best place to store a camera long term unless you are certain it is dry and maybe put some silica gel desiccant in. Hope you can get it sorted ok.
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I was certain that there was some silica gel in the bag but there isn’t, not sure when I lost it?
 
kendo1 said:
Usual cleaners are cheap vinegar, alcohol - good quality vodka!, lens cleaner. Vinegar is particularly good for cleaning battery compartment corrosion.
Use a cotton bud to apply the liquid - use as little as possible, barely damp is good.
That's a plastic screw in cover in your pic. I don't see a reason for it having corrosion around it.
Click to expand...
Thanks, does the plastic screw remove so I can clean around it, can’t remember what it’s for? Off for the instruction manual........
 
Magnesium goes white and powdery if the raw metal is exposed to the atmosphere.
With a username like yours you might have seen it on older suspension fork legs, my old Zocchi Z2's went like it
 
Extension terminal cover... feels like it doesn’t want to unscrew though
 
sworks said:
I wet my finger and gave it a quick wipe and it didn’t make any difference so I didn’t want to try anything else. Battery compartment is fine. Last time I used it was about 2 months ago and it was a dry sunny but cold day and nowhere near the sea
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Anything around possible routes of ingress or egress of liquids leaving residue seems kind of odd. As noted by @kendo1 Ken that looks like a screw in port cover (what camera body is it?).......................though possibly important to check under I would be carefull not to dislodge any residue, if only outside & not originating from under the cover, and letting it get into the socket it is covering.

sworks said:
I was certain that there was some silica gel in the bag but there isn’t, not sure when I lost it?
Click to expand...

Silica gel does not absorb moisture forever, any old packets are useless unless 'recharged' by heating them for many hours in a warm cupboard. Having said that, the little sachets that come with gear are harder to 'recharge' because you cannot see the colour change that guides you to know when they are ready to re-use.
 
tijuana taxi said:
Magnesium goes white and powdery if the raw metal is exposed to the atmosphere.
With a username like yours you might have seen it on older suspension fork legs, my old Zocchi Z2's went like it
Click to expand...
Been in its bag and it wasn’t wet or damp when put away. User name not related to bikes but the modified John Cooper S works cars
 
sworks said:
Extension terminal cover... feels like it doesn’t want to unscrew though
Click to expand...

Corrosion from inside 'locking it up'???
 
Box Brownie said:
Anything around possible routes of ingress or egress of liquids leaving residue seems kind of odd. As noted by @kendo1 Ken that looks like a screw in port cover (what camera body is it?).......................though possibly important to check under I would be carefull not to dislodge any residue, if only outside & not originating from under the cover, and letting it get into the socket it is covering.



Silica gel does not absorb moisture forever, any old packets are useless unless 'recharged' by heating them for many hours in a warm cupboard. Having said that, the little sachets that come with gear are harder to 'recharge' because you cannot see the colour change that guides you to know when they are ready to re-use.
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Probably a Canon 1D MkII :)
 
Re: the camera ~ what body? Also, owned since new of bought second hand, if so when? Some metal corrosion can be slow and progressive and if bought secondhand there might have been a trigger event/usage that started something not visible until now???
 
sworks said:
Extension terminal cover... feels like it doesn’t want to unscrew though
Click to expand...

Unscrewing plastic from metal willl not do any harm to the metal.
Just persist. Vinegar will help ease it by removing the residue.
 
Sweaty hands :)
 
kendo1 said:
Probably a Canon 1D MkII :)
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Yes, I saw his info in the profile but not knowing what the 1D MkII exterior looked like I Googled and cannot see that terminal cap on that body in that location above the battery and to the right of the video out port rubber covers, hence asking for clarification ;)
 
My Mrs thinks it’s where I’ve been holding it and possibly salt residue from sweaty hands. Thoughts?
 
Box Brownie said:
Yes, I saw his info in the profile but not knowing what the 1D MkII exterior looked like I Googled and cannot see that terminal cap on that body in that location above the battery and to the right of the video out port rubber covers, hence asking for clarification ;)
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Profile amended
 
I'm not up on Canon cameras - they're all the same to me :)

Re sweaty hands - is it possible that this is where you hold your camera?
 
sworks said:
Yes, it’s quite likely
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So a possibility that it was something on your hand, or something in the bag?
It is highly umlikely that whatever it is is detrimental to the camera.
 
kendo1 said:
So a possibility that it was something on your hand, or something in the bag?
It is highly umlikely that whatever it is is detrimental to the camera.
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It’s possible but doubtful, I was taking photos of a ‘borrowed’ car for a dealers website so would of been careful there was nothing on my hands. Hopefully I will have a go at cleaning it tomorrow. This thread has been really helpful, thanks all
 
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