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Archive 2016 · Postmortem on my dead 200-400

dmahar
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Postmortem on my dead 200-400

OK, first I want to thank deeply the FM members who took the time to vote/comment on what I should replace my dead 200-400 with in my recent FM Poll. I found your thoughts most useful. I learnt several things from this "accident";

1. All Weather bags - even with rain shield installed - are no match for being drenched by salt water
2. No lens - not even high end weather sealed L glass - is immune from saltwater ingress - and I don't blame the lens for this
3. I will be buying a dry bag....
4. I will always fit my aquatech rain shield even when gear is stored in a bag if water ingress is possible
5. Canon is an incredibly responsive and helpful company
6. FM members are an incredible helpful group of folk
7. I will soon have a shiny new 200-400

For those who have asked - here are some relevant shots of the damaged lens. Remember - this was stored inside an all-weather backpack when I was drenched by rouge waves....

Damage #1

Damage #2

Damage #3

Damage #4

Damage #5

Jul 15, 2016 at 09:25 PM

dmahar
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Postmortem on my dead 200-400

Some more photos of the carnage

Damage #6

Last keeper from my late 200-400 taken the day before its death. Icelandic eider duck

Jul 15, 2016 at 09:27 PM

Ferrophot
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Postmortem on my dead 200-400

A good lesson for us all, sad that it had to be so painful. I hope the new lens is every bit as good a the deceased.

Jul 15, 2016 at 10:01 PM

Morgo
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Postmortem on my dead 200-400

As a fellow 200-400 owner, thats almost painful to look at

Jul 15, 2016 at 10:10 PM

dmahar
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Postmortem on my dead 200-400

Morgo wrote:
As a fellow 200-400 owner, thats almost painful to look at

The most painful moment for me was when I removed it from the backpack and it was clearly damp. From that moment on I was resigned to the likely outcome....

Jul 16, 2016 at 01:24 AM

willis
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Postmortem on my dead 200-400

Quite sobering pictures. I'm quite surprised how extensive and obvious the damage is for a weather sealed lens. I'm fully aware that it doesnt take much slat water to write off a lens but I can now fully understand why Canon wont look at water damaged lenses. I don't have the 200-400 but have some other super teles- think I'll only take to the seas with a fully waterproof bag from now on.
The image before the eider duck seems to show that even if the salt water only makes contact with the unpainted Magnesium/Titanium alloy rather than the copper/solder contacts it will cause enough damage to spread corroded particles throught the lens.

Jul 16, 2016 at 03:45 AM

dmahar
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Postmortem on my dead 200-400

willis wrote:
Quite sobering pictures. I'm quite surprised how extensive and obvious the damage is for a weather sealed lens. I'm fully aware that it doesnt take much slat water to write off a lens but I can now fully understand why Canon wont look at water damaged lenses. I don't have the 200-400 but have some other super teles- think I'll only take to the seas with a fully waterproof bag from now on.
The image before the eider duck seems to show that even if the salt water only makes contact with the unpainted Magnesium/Titanium alloy rather than the copper/solder...Show more →

Yes, the extent of damage to solid metal was an eye-opener for me too

Jul 16, 2016 at 04:37 AM

VictorJB
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Postmortem on my dead 200-400

So, I have to wonder. What will you be doing with your irreparable lens?

Jul 16, 2016 at 07:26 AM

jmckayak
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Postmortem on my dead 200-400

WOW! That is stunning.
As a kayaker, I've learned that 'splash-proof', weather resistant, weather sealed and splash resistant all mean that an item is NOT water-PROOF. Even water-proofing can fail. And that salt water is especially nasty! Dry bags are the most water-proof holder but you have to take care to seal properly and be careful when loading and unloading the bag.
Sorry for your loss!

Jul 16, 2016 at 07:57 AM

jcolwell
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Postmortem on my dead 200-400

Expensive duck !

Jul 16, 2016 at 08:06 AM

dmahar
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Postmortem on my dead 200-400

jcolwell wrote:
Expensive duck !

Yes, but I guess the 200-400 "paid" for itself with the many remarkable images she made for me during her too brief life. It was frustrating not having her when we reached the puffin cliffs later in our trip. However, turns out you can get so close to them clown-like pidjins that I got some shots with my 16-35 and the 100-400ii took care of the less friendly ones.

Jul 16, 2016 at 08:34 AM

15Bit
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Postmortem on my dead 200-400

Did you try to power it up after it got damp? Some of that damage looks like it was current-induced, not just galvanic corrosion.

Jul 16, 2016 at 08:45 AM

dmahar
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Postmortem on my dead 200-400

15Bit wrote:
Did you try to power it up after it got damp? Some of that damage looks like it was current-induced, not just galvanic corrosion.

Only after several days drying - she tried to focus but eventually gave The dreaded lens connection error..

Jul 16, 2016 at 08:53 AM

can0nfan2379
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Postmortem on my dead 200-400

Did your travel insurance come through for you on the lens?

Jul 16, 2016 at 09:01 AM

ifxbonz
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Postmortem on my dead 200-400

FYI: If you happened to make your original purchase with American Express your warranty is doubled and you might be able receive a new lens or make repairs. Thats if the lens is less than 2 years old?

Andy

Jul 16, 2016 at 11:00 AM

RexGig0
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Postmortem on my dead 200-400

My condolences; thanks for sharing your grief with us, and for the instructive narrative of how it happened. And, excellent duck image!

This lens is high on my list of potential retirement gifts I may acquire, for myself, when I am paid for my considerable amount of unused leave.

Jul 16, 2016 at 11:12 AM

darrenwhitley
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Postmortem on my dead 200-400

There's probably a repair house that would love to have such a lens for parts. I'm sure some of the chemical damage may be cleaned.

A photographer friend was hit with a wave while in Hawaii back in the 90s. His 300 f2.8 came back to life after sitting and sitting for months.

Jul 16, 2016 at 12:21 PM

Focus Locus
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Postmortem on my dead 200-400

I want to know about if insurance covered any of it?

Jul 16, 2016 at 04:21 PM

dmahar
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Postmortem on my dead 200-400

Quick answers to some of your questions.

I only submitted insurance paperwork last week and am still awaiting the outcome.

I did pay with AMEX and purchased and extended warranty for the lens as well. Sadly, salt water damage is not (understandably) considered a warranted issue.

I will be selling the bits I can like the hard case, hood, lens feet. Not sure I would ever want the lens back in circulation even if someone was brave enough to try a repair - just doesn't seem fair to whoever might eventually end up with the lens perhaps not knowing its history.

Jul 16, 2016 at 06:06 PM

Methodical
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Postmortem on my dead 200-400

dmahar wrote:
Quick answers to some of your questions.

I only submitted insurance paperwork last week and am still awaiting the outcome.

I did pay with AMEX and purchased and extended warranty for the lens as well. Sadly, salt water damage is not (understandably) considered a warranted issue...

That's one of the reasons I don't do extended warranties - only insurance. Did you show them the images or just Canon's report?

I think the insurance company will come through for you.

PS. If it were me and the insurance company let me keep the lens, I'd clean it up and see what happens - nothing to lose.

Jul 17, 2016 at 07:25 AM

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