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

[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.