 Roger S. Moore |
Equipment Protection from Sand I'm planning a 9-day trip to Egypt. I'm using the Canon 7D which is dust-resistant (according to their web site). My lenses will be a Tamron 18-270 and a Sigma 10-20. I'm concerned about sand getting into the lens focus and zoom rings. What accessory should I obtain to help protect and/or minimize sand getting into my equipment?
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- Carlton Ward Contact Carlton Ward Carlton Ward's Gallery |
I don't know how well sealed the 2 lenses you mentioned are as I shoot with L glass and I don't have dust problems even with my 100-400mm (which has been labeled as a dust magnet because of its push-pull zoom) but if I get caught in a rain or dust storm, take out a plastic grocery bag from your camera pack and place the camera/lens inside the bag until you are ready to shoot. If you are in a dust-storm, I don't know that you would want to be shooting in it anyway and its good to have a plan for these type incidents but I doubt that you will have much of a problem. The greatest risk occurs when changing lenses so find a place inside of a building or use a jacket/blanket to create a tent-like barrier to make the swap when needed. The best thing is to keep your lens changes minimal. Use the same care when replacing the battery or CF card as anytime you open a compartment, you are creating an opportunity for dust to get in to those places. Carry a Giotto air blower just in case you need to blow a little dust out but NEVER use compressed air as this can be very damaging. The 7D has the self cleaning sensor that works very well but if you see a few spots, wait til you back in you hotel room or someplace inside that is dust-free and well lit and follow your manual instructions for cleaning the sensor and use the air blower for the sensor and lenses. 1 more tidbit - many places do not allow tripods but a trick I learned from Jim Zuckerman is to take the ballhead off the tripod and set it on a floor or table with the camera attached and use a remote shutter release. This will allow you to get some of the shots that require slower shutter speeds or more DOF. Here is a photo I took during a heavy downpour hiking through Oregon. Both the camera & Canon 17-40mm f/4L lens were completely soaked and I let them both air dry for 2 days and then removed the lens, removed the battery & the CF card and cleaned them up and they all work perfectly. If I had opened them up sooner, I may have enabled the CF card & Battery contacts to short. Have fun & take some great photos.
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Bob Cammarata |
I would suggest some type of clear plastic rain hood, which doubles as a sand/dust guard. I used one during a blustery day along the beach at Nags Head and it worked great! Ewa Marine has many sizes, styles and price ranges from which to choose.
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- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
Also take a small paint brush to clean the outside of the lens and the camera body.
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Michael McCook |
I use those clear elastic bowl covers (they look like elastic shower caps, which I have also use on the road). I picked up a set of 50 with varying sizes for about $5.00, which slip into my camera bag or pockets very easily.
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Luiz Martins da Costa |
Hi Roger, Don't worry about sand. In your trip you'll find less sand than in a beach. 93% of Egypt is sand but you have no possibility to travel in it. Your preoccupation must be the water you drink. Never buy a bottle in the road, only in hotels and good stores. Bon voyage!...
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Roger S. Moore |
Thank you all for the responses. I appreciate the input.
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