Beach Safety

[Lindzy Marchbanks]

How do I keep my camera and flash and lens clean and sand free on the beach?

[CFord]

There are some commercial options that actually protect the gear inside sealed housings or shooting bags. I use mine at the beach or fishing regularly and have found that keeping things out of the wind and not laying them on the sand when not in use and minimizing the lens changing process offer the best practical use. Use a lens brush or rocket blower to clean the sand off the glass if it gets there. Wiping turns your cloth into sandpaper.

[HOUSCOUS]

wrap with cling film.

[AndrewCCM]

I don't have any good suggestions.. I just got back from shooting in Galveston (only a couple of hours) and my lens hood still crackles a bit when putting it on. Even when you think you don't have any sand, you do.. As mentioned, definitely do not wipe...blow off any dust...Even if you do not see any, I'd give the whole body and lens a good blow.

One other thing...I would highly discourage changing lenses.

I was using my MKIII and weathersealed L 70-200 and still came away wishing I would have been more prepared.

[toverman]

Leave it at the motel. That's the only thing that will guarantee your equipment won't get sandy or wet.

Conversely, your 40D has some weather-sealing. If your chosen lens is a newer L version, most have weather sealing as well (some need a filter on front to complete it). Don't change lenses and place everything in a bag you can close when you're not using it. If there's any wind at all, even if it's barely enough to kick up sand, I'd forget about taking the camera. Extreme solution: get an underwater housing, but they're not cheap.

[110240]

when shooting on the beach/reef with a tripod I stick duck tape on the lens hood then throw a towel/sarong over the lens and body and tape the front to the hood to stop the wind blowing it over the lens. The towel comes in handy to get a view through the viewfinder, if you stick it over your head, when the light is intense. Also comes in hady to wipe off your camera gear and perspiration.

I used to swim out over the lakey peak lagoon in Sumbawa, park up on the reef shoot surfers all day and swim home, no worries. Did it for about 6 months with a 10d and 100-400. Here's a few from a hard day at the office...







I've never had problems with sand, I always keep a pelicase nearby (the small ones on a piece of rope make a great tripod weight) and never change lenses in the field, common sense really.

[debba]

Tips noted thanks I wondered myself.