Cameras, Sand, and Water, oh my!!!

[Jennifer]

We're going to the beach this weekend and staying for the week. This is my first year with a "real" camera and I'm terrified of having it on the beach! DH would KILL me if anything happened to it. I still have my P&S, which is fine, but I really want some great pics this year.

How do you girls protect your cameras at the beach? Or should I just not take it at all? I need to be smart about this, lol.

TIA!

[ditzyscrap]

Just make sure it's around your neck at all times, and if not, it's in a case. I don't have a really good camera but DH would still get mad if something happened to mine in the same scenario, but I have taken it with me. Just be really careful with it - unless you are really clumsy you should be OK!

[ColleenSwerb]

Pick 1 lens (if you have serveral) and put that lens on before you hit the sand (preferably before you leave the house, lol). I don't have any experience with beaches as I haven't taken mine to the beach yet, but I would NOT change lenses there. Too high a chance of sand getting inside and on the sensor and such.

I'm with Bree, in that if it's not around your neck, it should be zipped up inside it's bag.

Other than that, I think you should be ok. Don't dive into the water and you're set

[gracielou]

Try not to over stress about it. I have had my DSLR at the beach every year for the past 4 years and it has been no problem. I have also changed my lens on the beach and everything worked out. I think you will be more likely to damage it if you are worrying non-stop about it. Just have fun taking your pictures. The main thing I noticed with mine was the salt from the water somehow puts a film on the outer part of the lens sometimes. I take lots of photos of my kids in and by the ocean so this is a given but it cleans up fine. You can buy a cheap polarizer lens cover for the end of the lens and that also helps protect it. I always keep it in my bag when I am not using it but it goes everywhere with me. The beach , the pool ect...
Hope you have a great trip!!

[kresta]

I have a little experience with my DSLR on the beach. My advice - just keep it protected -- in your bag and zipped when you're not using it. I also agree with Colleen about the lens - try to get the one you want to use on before your out on the beach. Don't know about the humidity there, but I had to let mine "thaw" a little last year - the glass would fog up when I went from inside to out. I would also suggest probably not using my most-loved 50mm if you're going to be on the beach in the middle of the day (when most people are). It's just too wide (aperture) a lens to not blow almost everything out unless you up your shutter speed and your f-stop extremely high, and then you wouldn't get as pretty of blurred backgrounds and such.

[meganmecrazy]

I took a camera that was nice but not THAT nice to our one and only family trip to the beach. And after being careful and what-not I still ended up with traces of sand in my camera. I'm not sure how it happened but my hubby and I were taking turns with it so it could have been him. LOL! Just be really really careful. Good luck and have tons of fun!

[Sharon Kay]

I have a Rebel XTi....Wolf Camera manager told me since I had an extended warranty my camera would be covered...however...that I would have to send it in for cleaning after I had it at the beach no matter how careful I was. She said that there is sand in the air and it will get into the camera...and sometimes you can even hear a grating sound. So...I purchased a 5MP underwater camera for $50 on clearance and I think it took pretty darn good pictures. It was a slim digital camera with a waterproof case...heck I even took it on the lazy river at Typhoon Lagoon and water was dumped on me...and to the beach and was in the water...it took pretty good pictures...and I didn't have to worry about my Rebel. So glad I did that.

Now I don't have to send my camera off for cleaning and have it all summer long for photos.

[lizzyfizzy]

ya, i would totally take mine too and ditto to what col said, the lens changing with all the sand nearby sounds like an accident waiting to happen. just be careful with it and dont freak too much. it'll be fine. i can't wait to see your piccies!! have a blast!!

[jessica31876]

I dont have an SLR camera but I do have a more expensive advanced P&S. I take mine to the beach all the time. I only go into the water with it around my neck and then only a few inches deep so there is no risk of water hitting it. I keep it in a case in my purse (the case is pretty large but it fits in a hobo style bag. As long as it is not to windy and you do not put the case/bag in the sand directly it should be ok

[aggiefamily]

I take my dslr and p&s with me. I leave the p&s out to grab when needed and take my dslr out for the pretty pictures I want. I have used my dslr on every beach trip and have not had a problem. But since it is heavier and more cumbersome for the beach I do use the p&s more.

Maybe you could just take it to the beach for one day of your trip?

[beaucat]

I take mine and just don't change the lens at the beach.

I did have a problem w/ condensation and mine though since my in laws like the beach house to be COLD and the beach was hot. I had to wait a 1/2 a hour or so for the condensation to clear up (I was worried at the time but it doesn't seem to have hurt anything. I've since read that putting it in a sealed ziplock will help with that.

[mummytothree]

Originally Posted by Jennifer

We're going to the beach this weekend and staying for the week. This is my first year with a "real" camera and I'm terrified of having it on the beach! DH would KILL me if anything happened to it. I still have my P&S, which is fine, but I really want some great pics this year.

How do you girls protect your cameras at the beach? Or should I just not take it at all? I need to be smart about this, lol.

TIA!

Were headed to the beach too for a week!! Last year I didn't even take my Rebel out of the hotel room...I was too scared!! We bought a cheap Nikon P&S to use and it took fabulous photos. This year I think I'm going to brave the water and sand and just take it down. I have a big padded backpack and I'll just take it out once...shoot some photos and stick it back in.....no in & out...in&out....in&out.....I think that's when something would happen if it's going too!!!

[Jennifer]

Thanks girls! I'm nervous, but def. want to use it!!!