slr on beach/boat..

[senecabeach]

This might really sound like a novice question..yes it is..but I am concerned about spending days on the beach/boat/ATVing with my SLR/lenses.

Yes..basic protection will be the case in a large zip lock when not in use. What else??
(For those of you who know me....I know.....I really should be more worried about my bursitis & arthritis )

I'm very curious about your thoughts on how you do/would protect your SLR on a sandy beach or sail boat/catamaran??

Would you even take it there?? Maybe I should take the "other" camera?

Your thoughts
BTW...leaving for the rest of the month..this Saturday

 

[jann1033]

depends on how windy...if this is a regular thing i'd probably get a waterproof jacket for my camera. last vaca. i used those little rain hoods optech makes..they worked ok but it wasn't windy. i'd be more concerned about salt spray on the boat...not sure how the underwater jackets work but the rain hoods cover everything up to the lens cover area..i put a filter on to protect the front of the glass if i though it might get wet or sandy

and i never put my camera down while on the beach unless it went into my zipped bag placed on a clean towel of it's own....for obvious reasons

 

[My2Girls66]

I took my D50 on a boat last summer. I bought a waterproof/floatable bag from EMS and stored it in the bag when I wasn't using it. I've done the same at the beach but I mostly take a p&s to the beach. I may invest in one of those rain hoods this year, it sounds like a great idea for boat, beach and rain(along with the waterproof bag). I have a small NRS drybag for my D50-it fits much more than just the camera. For the p&s I recently bought an Aquapac waterproof case. The waterproof/drybags will float if they go overboard(and are closed).
http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product.asp?pfid=2939&deptid=1630
http://www.aquapac.net/usstore/erol.html#588X0

 

[Gdad]

I took my dslr in my kayak one time but was a nervous wreck. Now I use a Pentax W30 P&S for any shots around (or under) water or where there is blowing sand. If it on a large boat that has a cabin area to make sure everything stays dry I would probably take it. But I am definately carefull on the beach- dslr+sand I find very scary. As was mentioned be very mindfull of the wind blowing sand and/or salt spray.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Be afraid. Be very afraid. Water destroys equipment. Salt water is even worse. Sand is also a nightmare because it scratches things.

1) Consider a UV filter for your lenses. They are clear glass filters. They help protect your front lens element. Many people prefer not to shoot with them on because they can cause problems with flare and reflections. I rarely use them, but I make an exception for when I'm going to be in sandy environments.

2) If you are going to spend a lot of time in rough environments, consider a Pelican case. These hard plastic cases are waterproof and very shock resistant. They are for safely carrying your gear, not for use while actually shooting. I do a lot of canoeing and keep my gear on a pelican case when not actually shooting.

3) If you get sand or dirt on a lens, gently blow if off. Failing that, try brushing it off. Wipe it off only as a last resort. A piece of sand pressed against a lens with a wiping cloth can easily scratch the glass.

4) If, heaven forbid, you drop any of your gear in water, you aren't necessarily doomed. If the water is salty, quickly wash your gear in fresh water. You MUST get the salt water out or it will corrode everything. Also, take any an all batteries out ASAP. Once you're down to fresh water and no batteries, try to dry everything out as quickly and safely as possible. Leave your gear in the sun. Even better, put it on a tray in a clothes dryer. The risks of water are electrical damage (which is why you removed the battery) and corrosion (which is why you flushed any salt). I've rescued several pool dropped cell phones with this technique.

5) If shooting from a moving vehicle (boat or ATV), be careful about smacking yourself. I almost got a black eye shooting on the Safari ride one year. When you've got the camera held up to your eye and you hit a bump, it can be unpleasant.

6) Obviously, keep a neck or wrist strap on while around water.

7) If you really want to get aggressive, EWA marine makes a line of waterproof camera covers. They are really safe enough (in my opinion) for diving, but they are great for taking shots in the surf or other rough conditions.

 

[Shutterbug]

I took my canon slr to Death Valley National Park many years ago. No matter how hard I tried to protect it, fine particles of dust still made it into the lens housing. After that the focusing motors wouldnt work well at all.

 

[MICKEY88]

I agree with everything MArk said..

years ago when I worked for Ritz camera our top 2 reasons for repairs during the summer months, were..


water/sand or salt from the beach...

or cameras/camcorders hitting the ground, most often from people putting them on the top or hanging them from the handles of a stroller, the child would get out removing the counter balance and the camera hit the ground hard,

this was so common, that when I had a customer come in with a damaged camera I started to ask if they had been at WDW using a stroller, the customers would get a funny look on their face and then ask how I knew

I actually had one customer come in 2 years in a row after their visit to WDW, you would think after the first time they would have learned, but I guess the excitement of WDW cause a momentary lapse in memory

 

[senecabeach]

WOW !!

OK...scared me !! Many...many...THANKS to ALL of you!!!

Definitely will NOT be taking the D80 on those trips. See ya in a few weeks

 

[jann1033]

you know when we were on vaca and i was wading in a salt pond with my camera and 70-200 to take some bird shots, i kept wondering what i would do if a shark came up...drop my camera and slosh as fast as i could toward shore or have the presence of mind to keep my camera and slosh... ( this was of course the day after the boat naturalist had told us about how sharks in the lagoon were the dolphins predators and i knew the dolphins were just on the other side of some rocks so kept wondering just how close the sharks were )

 

[MICKEY88]

you know when we were on vaca and i was wading in a salt pond with my camera and 70-200 to take some bird shots, i kept wondering what i would do if a shark came up...drop my camera and slosh as fast as i could toward shore or have the presence of mind to keep my camera and slosh... ( this was of course the day after the boat naturalist had told us about how sharks in the lagoon were the dolphins predators and i knew the dolphins were just on the other side of some rocks so kept wondering just how close the sharks were )

hmm a true photographer would have been thinking of what settings and what angle would produce the best shark pictures...

 

[jann1033]

hmm a true photographer would have been thinking of what settings and what angle would produce the best shark pictures...

so that's how they get those shark's mouths photos with all that red stuff in the water

 

[MICKEY88]

so that's how they get those shark's mouths photos with all that red stuff in the water

now you know why a lot of wildlife photographers use assistants

 

[jann1033]

now you know why a lot of wildlife photographers use assistants