| Sign in: |
| Members log in here with your user name and password to access the your admin page and other special features. |
|
|
|
|
|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
To those who have shot (cameras) in the desert...
Adam Heller, Photographer
 |
Grafenwöhr | DE | | Posted: 1:45 PM on 04.28.10 |
->> What did you use to protect your equipment? I'm on my way over to Afghanistan shortly. I want to bring my 1D mk III and L series lenses (Canon claims a weatherproof system), but I'm not sure how they'll hold up. Any recommendations other than plastic bags and a lot of cleaning?
Thanks.
Adam |
|
Thomas Webb, Student/Intern, Assistant
|
Gilroy | CA | USA | Posted: 3:33 PM on 04.28.10 |
| ->> I used a D700 for 2 weeks in the Mexican desert, and it held up pretty well. I got some rubber bands to keep sand out of the AF/Zoom rings. I brought a lens brush/cleaner combo for the actual glass and some canned air to spray off the body/lens before I opened it up. Camera Armor might be a good idea, I didn't use it but one of the other guys did and he was pretty happy with it. |
|
Andrew Nelles, Photographer
 |
Chicago | IL | usa | Posted: 4:00 PM on 04.28.10 |
->> During a brief trip to Northern Iraq I had luck just periodically cleaning with a rocket blower and lens cloths. The weather sealing on the body and L lenses kept my 1D3's sensor fairly clean. Nothing a few blasts of air at the end of the day didn't cure.
Funny story, the rocket blower (such as this http://media.the-digital-picture.com/Images/Pic/Giottos-Rocket-Air-Blower.j...) was not a good thing to have when passing through check points. I had an Iraqi soldier understandably freak out and point a rifle at me when searching my bag; he mistook the blower (buried at the bottom of the bag) for a hand grenade. He had a good laugh about it after an explanation at least. |
|
Adam Heller, Photographer
|
Grafenwöhr | DE | | Posted: 4:35 PM on 04.28.10 |
->> Sweet deal. Thanks Thomas and Andrew for the info.
One of the guys on my team was saying that all 3 of our issued team cameras had died (cheap P&S-es), I planned on bringing the 1d, but just wanted to make sure it was the right call.
70-200 f/2.8 + 1dmkiii + one handing the camera and working the 240 with the other should work. Haha. |
|
Wally Nell, Photographer
 |
CAIRO | EG | EGYPT | Posted: 5:42 PM on 04.28.10 |
->> If you are able to use 2 cameras in the 1D series, and just keep the lenses on. Dust has more of a chance to get in when you change lenses. 1 wide, 1 long zoom. Bring some cans of DustOff or whatever the brand name is these days. Take a light mini towel or something with that you can just stuff in your pocket. There are times you need to put your cameras down and putting it on a small mini towel or something will help as well.
If you want to see dust, you have to come to Cairo during the Khamseen (sandstorm) season! All my Canons, all 1D's of some sort, have survived just fine... so far! |
|
Chris Large, Photographer
|
Okotoks | AB | Canada | Posted: 6:10 PM on 04.28.10 |
->> Ditto to what Wally said. I shot in Fiji, on the beach, in high winds for 7 weeks. Very fine sand in everything but I never ever changed lenses in the open, kept a blower handy and kept a bunch of diapers - actual cloth diapers, that I could have wrapped around or covering a body, to use as a pad and cover when I put them down etc.
I had no camera problems at all.
Chris |
|
Jonathan Castner, Photographer
|
Denver | CO | USA | Posted: 7:40 PM on 04.28.10 |
| ->> The trick is to not change lenses ever. The fine sand can attach itself to the rear element and then get sucked to the sensor. Keep a protection filter on your lens because the fine sand in the wind can wear away your front elements delicate coatings very quickly. A fine bristle paint brush is your best friend to easily whisk dust and sand off of your body and gear without blowing it into the crevices which then get directly inside the workings. Realize that your bag won't help keep crud off of your gear so take some plastic bags to wrap your gear in when you are not using it. |
|
Matt Kartozian, Photographer
|
Scottsdale | AZ | USA | Posted: 12:26 AM on 04.29.10 |
| ->> I take all my gear to the desert at least every two weeks and then stand in clouds of dust and silt shooting. I dont use any protection. The gear takes a beating but I just clean the sensor once in a while. My zoom and focus rings are stiff but that is after several years of shooting in the desert. For a short trip I would not worry about it much but if you are really concerned I would use some simple rain covers. |
|
Chuck Liddy, Photographer
|
Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 12:55 AM on 04.29.10 |
->> I wouldn't advise attempting to use the 240B and the camera at the same time. I would think you would get a serious beat down by the 1stSgt. Keeping the squad safe= priority. Making photos for the scrapbook= beyond secondary. Be safe, be smart.
Dust will be the LEAST of your worries. |
|
Patrick Smith, Photographer
|
Salt Lake City | UT | USA | Posted: 1:19 AM on 04.29.10 |
->> I've had multiple friends shoot overseas in deserts and not use any protection on their cameras minus UV filters. They've all came back with working cameras with zero complaints.
I don't know if I'd do that with personal gear though.
Recently I shot a festival which is known for throwing powdered chalk. I simply wrapped my camera and lens in a one-gallon plastic bag and used some gaffers tape. It was bit tough to handle, control, but it was nice knowing the camera and lens were completly percent safe from the elements.
Play it by ear and use common sense.
Good luck. |
|
Adam Heller, Photographer
|
Grafenwöhr | DE | | Posted: 5:44 AM on 04.29.10 |
->> Ha, it was a joke Chuck. I'm planning on doing the majority of the shooting on the FOB and cataloging the bordeom of me and the team. And espicially considering i'm EOD, the camera is going to be near some explosions..I doubt that's covered under warranty.
To everyone, thanks for the comments and help, I really appreciate it. I'm trying to avoid bringing my laptop for fear of killing it. I don't suppose there is a standalone hard drive solution that will automatically rip the pictures from the cards? |
|
Kevin Novak, Photographer, Assistant
|
Israel Shirk, Photographer, Assistant
|
Boise | ID | US | Posted: 11:06 AM on 04.29.10 |
->> Hyperdrives work great; I use an Epson P0912 (can't remember the actual number right now)...
The ones with screens are nice because not only can you look at the photos, it allows you to copy selected images to another drive through USB (so you can just offload some to transmit if you'd like) |
|
Israel Shirk, Photographer, Assistant
|
Adam Heller, Photographer
|
Grafenwöhr | DE | | Posted: 5:49 PM on 04.30.10 |
->> Thanks Kevin and Israel! The info is appreciated.
I've concluded I am going to bring the 1D...And just be really careful with it.
-Adam |
|
Scott Foley, Photographer
|
Destin | FL | USA | Posted: 9:56 PM on 04.30.10 |
->> Adam,
I am on active duty as well, had my Mark III with me on my last tour in Iraq...no issues at all...brought the 70-200, 15, 17-40...all worked great, when I was traveling, tucked them in my day pack...
Good luck and stay safe...and as some have said, snapping pics is a luxury...focus on your mission...
As I always tell my defenders...keep you head down and powder dry...
Stay frosty...
Scott |
|
Patrick Fallon, Student/Intern, Photographer
|
Columbia | MO | USA | Posted: 11:43 PM on 04.30.10 |
->> Hi Adam,
Not sure what your budget is, but instead of hard drives have you thought just about getting a bunch of CF cards and a pelican case style box to store em all in? Not sure what kind of environment you will be in, but harddrives don't like vibrations.. |
|
Return to --> Message Board Main Index
|