Shooting at the beach

[Syborg1211]

How concerned should I be with sand or seawater/air/condensation getting into my camera or lens? What are some precautions to take? I've seen people on the internet wrap the camera in a plastic bag, but I don't understand how you operate the camera at this point. Should I leave my FX system at home and bring along the DX because of these concerns?

 

[Paladin3]

I wouldn't worry about extra protection unless it's windy, or you are getting particularly close to the sand or splash of the surf. When you are not shooting, put the camera away in the bag and zip it closed. I wouldn't change lenses or open a camera compartment unless it was very still and no chance of getting any sand or water inside the camera.

I guess if you had cheaper lenses or a camera that wasn't sealed very well it could be a problem, but I've shot with pro to semi-pro gear at the beach many times and never had a problem. I don't go setting my camera on a blanket in the sand, though.

 

[cheez]

Are you taking the camera so you can take pics of bikini girls?

Be sure to share some to us.


cheez

This is a help thread. If you can't post something useful, go play in OT
-ViRGE

 

[MrSquished]

i took my canon 40D kit to morocco and used it in the sahara desert. just be careful and thoughtful when you decide to change lenses, and keep it at a minimum in windy conditions, but do it carefully and you will be fine. i sometimes swapped underneath my shirt.

 

[Syborg1211]

I'm going to a beach resort where our room's balcony will have an oceanview and the building is right on the beach. Changing lenses can be localized to inside the room only.

cheez - I am curious to see how the 70-200 captures bikinis. My wife might complain though...

Speaking of which, deciding what lenses to bring along is going to be tough. If I'm bringing FX, I have to choose between:

20mm 2.8
28mm 1.8
50mm 1.4
24-70mm 2.8
24-85mm kit
70-200mm 2.8

The 70-200 is my only zoom, but that thing's kinda a beast to travel with and so is the 24-70. I might just bring the kit lens and 20mm, but I love the colors on the 28mm so much and the low light and low profile of the 50mm.... but the picture quality of the 24-70 and 70-200 are hard to leave on the table.... gah. What should I bring?

 

[Gintaras]

cheez - I am curious to see how the 70-200 captures bikinis. My wife might complain though...

Take pics of your wife instead, of her nude - for her and yourself...to see, to look at...not to share to anyone......

Don't listen to, or to show anything to oversexed perverts like cheez...

 

[iGas]

I brought along a FF body with 14mm, 50mm, 100mm macro, 24-105mm, and 70-200mm on my 5 weeks trip to SE Asia, and I was at many beaches & resorts. The 14mm saw very little action, 50mm & 100mm were dead weight, while the 24-105mm saw most of the action and 70-200mm came in as a close second. I also brought along my Canon S95, and it saw just about as much action as the FF camera.

IMHO, the 24-70mm would be the best compromise lens to have if you intend to take full length shots as well as scenery. Unless you intend to take mostly portraits and do not mind the weight, then the 70-200mm may be the lens to bring along. Or, bring both zooms.

 

[randomrogue]

Never had a problem with any of this. I think the only place I might be worried about would be Kenya where that red sand seems to get into everything but I haven't been there so I don't know how bad it is first hand. Just heard crazy stories.

 

[Paladin3]

I would personally take the two f2.8 zooms. The 20mm would be the third lens I would choose. I'd also pack a flash that could be used off-camera and a small tripod.

But asking other photographers to select your gear is a bad habit.

 

[Throckmorton]

Clean your lens with a wet cloth because otherwise the salt could corrode the coating. Don't do what some people do, which is clean the lens with a dry cloth. To me that's stupid to begin with, but way worse when there's silica particles and salt.

 

[Syborg1211]

Clean your lens with a wet cloth because otherwise the salt could corrode the coating. Don't do what some people do, which is clean the lens with a dry cloth. To me that's stupid to begin with, but way worse when there's silica particles and salt.

Thanks, Throck! That's a good point. I usually forget cleaning solution since I normally carryon all my photo equipment. I usually use a rocketblower out there and just avoid cleaning lenses thoroughly until I get home from the trip.

I would personally take the two f2.8 zooms. The 20mm would be the third lens I would choose. I'd also pack a flash that could be used off-camera and a small tripod.

But asking other photographers to select your gear is a bad habit.

That's probably exactly what I'll do. Those three lenses were really my intended final kit. However, the 24-70 and 70-200 are lenses I got recently so I've never traveled with them before. They are definitely larger lenses that also carry a higher replacement cost if I were to lose or damage them on the trip. I guess I was looking for people to say "Don't walk around another country with a 70-200 strapped around your neck you're just asking to be mugged." I like these two lenses for local work where there's less travel and more safety involved, but abroad I dunno (it's just Cancun, Mexico though). I actually just realized that since I got the D600 for Christmas I haven't even traveled with it yet!

 

[Juilesterry]

well, i think you should watch out for the sand and water in the beach, and also the sunshine, so when you take photos, you should keep your hand clean, and put the camera in the bag when not using.

 

[AkumaX]

should you use ND filters @ the beach?

 

[iGas]

Thanks, Throck! That's a good point. I usually forget cleaning solution since I normally carryon all my photo equipment. I usually use a rocketblower out there and just avoid cleaning lenses thoroughly until I get home from the trip.



That's probably exactly what I'll do. Those three lenses were really my intended final kit. However, the 24-70 and 70-200 are lenses I got recently so I've never traveled with them before. They are definitely larger lenses that also carry a higher replacement cost if I were to lose or damage them on the trip. I guess I was looking for people to say "Don't walk around another country with a 70-200 strapped around your neck you're just asking to be mugged." I like these two lenses for local work where there's less travel and more safety involved, but abroad I dunno (it's just Cancun, Mexico though). I actually just realized that since I got the D600 for Christmas I haven't even traveled with it yet!

There's such thing as insurance. You may want to see your home insurance policies (it may be add to the home insurance with little to no cost to the premium).

 

[Throckmorton]

should you use ND filters @ the beach?

You should use a polarizer

 

[AkumaX]

You should use a polarizer

tell me more about shooting @ the beach?

 

[blastingcap]

This thread is worthless without pics

 

[adt002]

Are you taking the camera so you can take pics of bikini girls?

Be sure to share some to us.


cheez

This is a help thread. If you can't post something useful, go play in OT
-ViRGE

Oh no, there is nothing about bikinis. I thinks OP should only taking care of the lens but not paying attention to bikini girls. Anyway, a waterproof plastic bag would be helpful.