How should I protect a Nikon DSLR and change lenses in a hot, dusty, windy environment?
Asked 9/18/2013
5 views
2 answers
0
I’ll be photographing at a very dusty bush airfield in hot Australian summer conditions, often sitting in direct sun with little or no shade. I’m using a Nikon D3100 and expect to swap between two or three lenses during the day.
What precautions should I take for:
- prolonged exposure to direct sun and heat
- storing the camera when it’s not in use
- changing lenses in dusty, windy conditions
I’d especially like practical tips to reduce dust getting into the camera or onto the sensor.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
2 Answers
2
1) Don't point it at the sun directly and you should be fine. They are designed for outdoor use.
2) The camera will be much more vulnerable to dust while using it than when away in any kind of bag, you should adequately protect it from dust and leave that protection in place while in a highly dusty environment.
3) Be ready to send your camera in for cleaning afterwards if you do. In any dusty environment, chances are good you will get dust inside the lens and camera body and pretty decent some of that will end up on the sensor sooner or later. When you have to change it, change it as isolated from the wind as possible, as isolated from dust as possible and as quickly as possible, beyond that, it's gonna be risky any way you do it. Best bet would really be multi-body shooting in a situation like that, but doesn't sound like that is an option. Try to plan carefully and keep swaps to a minimum as well.
Originally by user11392. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user11392
12y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Your camera should generally cope with outdoor use, but heat and dust are the real concerns.
- Avoid pointing the camera directly at the sun.
- Direct sun can make a camera temporarily misbehave if it gets too hot, but this usually improves once it cools. When not shooting, keep it shaded rather than baking in full sun. A cover or bag that blocks sunlight is helpful, especially if it allows some airflow.
- When the camera is stored, the main goal is dust protection. It’s usually more vulnerable while in use than while packed away, so keep it in a bag or other dust-protective cover whenever possible.
- Lens changes are the riskiest part. In dusty wind, some dust inside the body or on the sensor is very likely sooner or later. Change lenses only when necessary, as quickly as possible, and in the most sheltered spot you can find—out of the wind and away from blowing dust.
- Be prepared for the possibility that the camera or lens may need cleaning afterward.
If you have access to a second body, avoiding lens changes outdoors is the best solution.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI12y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
Can strong wind damage a camera lens, and what should I watch out for?
Is it safe to store camera gear in an attic that reaches 30°C, and what storage conditions are best?
Can storing a camera in a hot car damage it?
Why are most camera bodies black instead of white, and why are some telephoto lenses white?
How should I carry and use camera and flash batteries when shooting in very hot sun?