Sun-Damaged Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III and the Perils of Lens Testing

I was testing a Canon EF 600mm f/4 IS USM Super Telephoto Lens on a Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III Camera body for a new lens comparison tool (coming to the site in the near future). After completing a short test procedure, I removed the 600mm lens from the body - only to be greeted with a very-dishearteningly-noticeable amount of smoke.

I obviously had the 600mm lens framed too close to the sun for too long of a period of time - which I'm guessing was a minute or so. Here is a look at the blistered plastic in the 1Ds III.

Imagine taking an $8k lens off of a $6k camera and seeing a plume of very-black smoke come out. Wish I had video'd that! The good news is that the camera is fine - just cosmetic damage was done.