Is the equation "550d + sea water = RIP" correct?

Canon 550d + sea water = RIP?
Help!!

I accidentally today put my 550d (or t2i) into the sea. I've done it many times before, but today there was a child nearby playing with the waves... so... although the water just touched the bottom of the lens/camera and I removed it immediately from the water, now it won't show any signs of life.

I know, it's entirely my fault (I didn't even thought of complaining to that child)

Now the thing is
Battery is charging ok, sd card is ok (though I saw some wet signs there), but canon is dead (?).

Please somebody help!

 

Thank you for your quick response..
I did try to turn it on..
I feel really depressed now..
Anyway..
I'll try to leave it for a day or so to dry, and then try my luck..

 

I am sure gonna try it..
Either way there is no money left to get a new one, so I have to try anything!!
:-(

 

After a few days, letting it dry, this happens.
When I insert the battery, it makes a beeping sound for around 5 seconds, screen turns on but stays blank. All this without turning the dial to ON. When I turn it to ON, stays in the same condition.
I removed the battery and then tried to do it again. The results are, no beeping sound, screen turns on for about a second, blank and thats it.
Do you think there is still hope?

 

Yes. Its fully charged.

 

I hope this could be it.. I'll do it when I get home!

 

Hey I got it to work today!! Although it takes photos/autofocuses/indications in the viewfinder are fine, it has some issues. The screen flickers sometimes and stays blank (except when I'm on liveview mode) and some buttons are unresponsive.. I'll let it dry some more and see what will happen!!

 

I just let it dry...
But I think nothing happened eventually. Today I reinserted the battery and nothing happened at all. Nothing turns on/no autofocus.
Guess we're back at step 1 again.
Maybe I'll try another battery eventually.

 

Sorry to tell you but you are probably wasting your time.
Immersion or sometimes just a splash of sea water is almost the worst thing that can happen to a camera, even if it works when it dries out then it will almost certainly fail later. As the sea water dries it leaves behind salt crystals, these crystals will spread across the printed circuit boards and wiring slowly corrode everything.
Best to start saving up for a new camera and don't take it to the beach next time.

 

Is there a way to clear these crystals? I heard that a contact cleaner solution / isopropyl alcohol might help. Is that true?

 

It may be possible to clean it depending on where the water went, however it would need opening up and possibly some partial dismantling. Isopropol rubbed on vigorously with a small paintbrush would work, the sooner it is done the better, before the corrosion takes hold.

 

Do two weeks count for soon enough??
Guess not, right?
Anyway, I'll try opening it tomorrow and see what I can do!
Wish me luck!

 

how'd that work out?

 

I did it today morning..
I will let it for one day to rest (myself too) and I'll be back!

 

Careful use of a hairdrier can help remove moisture that is trapped in small places, although Isopropyl evaporates pretty fast anyway..