After spending hundreds sometimes thousands on your camera, replacing it or missing beautiful shots because of a damaged camera is certainly not an option.The very best thing to do is to protect your digital camera under all circumstances. How are you going to do this?
Let’s take some time to cover some basics and get back to our most important job, taking stunning landscape pictures.
Protection from hot weather:
Heat is a factor that can wreak havoc on your equipment. In the worst situation it could lead to irreparable damage to your camera.
So, how are you going to protect your camera from hot weather?
Under no circumstances point your camera directly to the sun. Just imagine the damage the combination lens and sun can do to the inner parts of your camera. Remember when you were a kid, and you used a magnifying glass to burn leaves and stuff? Be very careful where you leave your camera and it’s always a good idea to keep the lens cap on when you are not using the camera.
More important: Be careful with possible damage to your eyes.
Keep your camera in an insulated camera bag or cooler. If you don’t have a camera bag or case wrap your camera in a beach towel or other fabric.
Don’t forget your camera’s manual. You will find some useful indications as to what temperatures your camera can withstand.
Place the camera in a “cool” spot, if you have to leave it in the car. Keep in mind that the temperatures can become really intense in the car. Again wrap your camera in a towel or place it in a cooler or insulated camera bag if necessary.
Don’t try to use your camera while it’s still warm/hot, this can cause even more damage.
Protection from cold weather:
Winter scenes may inspire you to use your digital camera, but precautions must be taken to protect your camera from the harsh elements.
Always keep your camera dry.
Use a lens hood to keep snow off the front of your camera.
Moving a camera directly from cold outside conditions to warm inside air or from an cooled room to the heat outdoors can cause condensation (moisture on the lens, LCD screen or body of the camera) creating a potential hazard to it. Put your camera in a plastic bag before moving to the new temperature. Any condensation from moisture in the heated or cold space will collect onto the bag and not on the camera. If you do not have a plastic bag at hand, let your camera warm up slowly.
Don’t use the camera until all the moisture has disappeared and if the moisture is really high consider adding a few moisture absorbing silica gel packs in the camera bag.
Keep camera and equipment inside your camera bag with the zippers tightly closed when you're not taking photos.
Camera and flash batteries deplete much faster in cold weather. Let them share your body heat to keep them warm. Use lithium and rechargeable Ni-MH batteries as they last longest in cold temperatures.
Most importantly when shooting in cold conditions, is to protect yourself. Pay attention to your surroundings.
Protection from sand:
Sand can ruin the body of your camera, scratch your lenses or worse get into your digital camera, rendering it useless. So, what can you do to protect your camera from sand?
Consider acquiring an UV filter. Besides helping you get clearer pictures it also serves as a protection for your lens.
A rain cover or plastic bag can also protect your camera. Make a hole for your lens to go through and an opening to get access to the controls. Besides an UV filter can be used to protect your lens (which is still exposed) as mentioned before.
Keep your camera bag closed and use a separate sealed Ziploc bag to store your camera in your camera bag.
Avoid exposure to sand as much as possible. Choose an appropiate spot to change your lenses, for instance in your car.
Clean your hands if necessary before touching your camera.
It doesn’t matter how many safety measures you take, There is always a possibility of sand creeping into your valuable camera, for instance by a sudden burst of wind. So what are you going to do in this situation?
Turning your camera on can do more damage. There could be sand lodged into places you cannot see.
Don’t wipe away the sand. This can cause scratches on the camera lens and other delicate parts.
Very carefully try to remove any visible sand with a blower, brush or with a well moistened lens cloth (lens cleaning solution)
In the worst scenario you can have your camera professionally cleaned.
Protection from salt:
The same precautions apply to salt, but it also presents an additional problem, corrosiveness (salt water can corrode the mechanisms of the camera).
Wash your hands after swimming with fresh water or use a moist towelette before picking up your camera
Be aware of salty air and salt on your body or swimming suit (the salt can be transferred on way or the other to your camera).
Use a lens hood for additional protection.
Use a damp cloth to rid your camera of salt remains on your camera.
Under certain extreme weather conditions consider using a weather proof disposable or non-disposable camera (pay special attention to operating procedures).
Protection from water / rain:
Protecting your photo-gear against water may become a problem, however it should certainly not stop you from taking pictures.
Cover your camera and lens with a plastic bag, shower cap or a large Ziplock bag, uncover the lens (front) when you are ready to shoot. An alternative is a watertight housing or rain sleeves.
Instead of the shutter button use a cord release at hand.
As mentioned before use a lens hood or a UV filter to protect the lens.
If you’re taking pictures at the beach, don’t forget to watch the waves and the tide!
Additional tips to extend the use of batteries:
Always read the instructions that come with your batteries.
For NiCad and NiMH batteries run them down completely at least once a month to avoid problems with the memory effect.
Give rechargeable batteries a chance to cool down after recharging.
Replace all your batteries at the same time.
Don't mix batteries from different manufacturers.
Store batteries in a cool, dry place at room temperature.
Protection from Sunscreen and Insect Repellent :
Wash your hands with fresh water after applying sunscreen or insect repellent since they contain chemicals that can harm your camera or accessories. Nevertheless if your camera gets greasy clean it off as quickly as you can.
It is also recommended not to put sunscreen and insect repellent in your camera bag. A simple leak could mean the end your camera’s life. If there is no other way put them in a separate sealed plastic bag.
....Ethan, Australia
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