Canon 20D problem

[arthurgrosset]

I was 3 weeks into a 2 month trip to South America when my Canon 20D packed up on me. Very strangely it refused to work in any of the Creative Zone settings and wouldn't let me even access the menu but in Basic Zone settings everything worked fine including the menu.
Basic Zone not being very suitable for bird photography, I was fortunate in having my old D60 as a back up and went on to complete a super trip.
I sent off my 20D to Canon UK for repair under guarantee (or so I thought).
I have just had a reply from Canon UK saying "Warranty void due to liquid damage. Needs to replace Mirror Box, DC/DC, Flex unit." and quoting me £464.85 for the repair.
I will admit that it was a bit humid in Brazil but surely a Canon camera should be able to withstand a bit of humidity.
Has anyone had similar problems?
Can anyone suggest what I should do?
Should I move to Nikon? Are they better in humid conditions?

[hummerman]

Strange one that,took my 20D to panama,where again it was very very humid,but had no troubles what so ever,surely Canons after sales should be more understanding??,fully explain your concerns,and try to find out exactly what the "warranty "covers

[Keith Reeder]

That's a bummer, Arthur.

I don't know if moving to Nikon is really the solution, because there isn't a directly comparable model to the 20D in the Nikon line up: the D70s is a bit below the 20D in spec and doesn't have anything over the 20D in the way of weather seals (though they are pretty robust little cameras); and the new D200 is very robustly built from magnesium alloy and has excellent weather seals, but it's still a bit of an unknown quantity, and I don't know if its weather seals would be protection against the effects of rainforest humidity levels if it was enough to kill your Canon.

I'd be more inclined to try and challenge - or at least get a detailed explanation of - the conclusion arrived at by the Canon engineers.

"Liquid damage" sound like more than just humidity...

[James Eaton]

Hi Arthur,

You may have a 20D that wasn't manufactured correctly or there was something more than humidity upsetting your camera. I've used my 20D for 7 months continually in humid conditions, especially the depths of the rainforest and I have yet to come across any problems that could be associated with humidity.

[compa]

Perhaps you could ask for a fuller explanation from the repair depot and if appropriate, challenge their decision. They do not have the final say on warranty decisions! You could have the camera returned and get another opinion on the source of the damage from another camera repair shop. But, from what they said, it sounds like the camera experienced more than mere high humidity or condensation.

I have often used my 20D in light rain showers and at the beach. Also I frequently wipe it down with a damp cloth. Humidity does not harm it at all.

[Lena Halaouate]

Hi Arthur,

You may have a 20D that wasn't manufactured correctly or there was something more than humidity upsetting your camera. I've used my 20D for 7 months continually in humid conditions, especially the depths of the rainforest and I have yet to come across any problems that could be associated with humidity.
James,
How do you take care of your camera while travelling? Do you keep it in water resistant environment while not using it?
I just got a worrying textmessage from Mehd. He is on his way from Buru and Tanimbar to Papua with trouble with both his old 10D and the 20D.
The 10 only says ERROR now. It has happend before and we sent the body for service to Canon Sweden (we got the same answer as Arthur; the warranty did not cover the damage) and it worked well again.

Now Mehds 20D only gives unsharp pictures and he still has at least one month more to travel.

How do you take care of your equipment so this does not happen?