What cameras can handle extreme weather and rough conditions?

Asked 4/26/2012

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I’m looking for a camera that can still take good photos in harsh environments. I don’t need the absolute highest image quality, but I do want something practical for tough conditions.

Examples include:

  • very hot weather (around 50°C)
  • swimming pool or sea use underwater
  • sand and blowing dust
  • heavy rain or thunderstorms
  • snow and cold weather
  • accidental knocks or rough handling

Are there cameras designed for this, and when would I need a waterproof housing or other protection instead of just a weather-sealed camera?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

14y ago

2 Answers

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Yes, there are cameras that will work in extreme weather — at least on the more realistic side of each situation. There are many ruggedized cameras, almost any of which will cover some degree of each item on your whole list — although none will take being actually hit by lightning. A ruggedized camera can handle going to the beach (although you should be careful to get sand out of any moving parts after), but a sandstorm is a tall order and you would want additional protection, if you're really out in it. Likewise, these will handle snorkeling, but if you're diving down where there is significant pressure, you probably need additional precautions.

For nuclear disaster, assuming your own safety is either adequately dealt with or that you are past caring, no off-the-shelf camera will help. Radiation will fog film and can destroy digital sensors (and flip bits on memory cards). When photographer Igor Kostin illegally went into the Chernobyl site days after the explosion, he wore a lead suit and protected his camera gear with lead boxes — something similar would be recommended were you in a similar situation. Years later, a Chernobyl tour site notes that putting camera equipment on the ground is forbidden as it risks contamination, but doesn't offer further words of warning on protecting camera gear; presumably the tour is short enough and stays far enough away from high radiation areas as to minimize the risk.

For the more realistic scenarios, though, a camera feature search at Digital Photography Review turns up three dozen shockproof cameras, and I believe all of these results happen to be waterproof as well — which also means sealed against dust. You can narrow down the search from there.

Originally by user1943. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user1943

14y ago

0

AI Answer

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Yes — but no single ordinary camera is truly immune to every extreme on your list. For realistic use, look at either:

  1. ruggedized/waterproof compact cameras for knocks, rain, beach use, and shallow underwater use, or
  2. weather-sealed interchangeable-lens cameras and lenses for rain, snow, heat, and dusty conditions.

For underwater photography, depth is the key issue. A camera that is fine in a pool or for snorkeling may still need a dedicated underwater housing for deeper water or more serious sea use. Housings also help with heavy weather and blowing sand, though they can be expensive.

Weather sealing helps with rain, snow, and dust, but it is not a guarantee against severe sandstorms or abuse. You still need to clean sand from moving parts and take care of the gear.

Hard knocks are best handled by rugged cameras; weather-sealed DSLRs and mirrorless bodies are more about environmental resistance than impact resistance.

No off-the-shelf camera is going to be suitable for things like being struck by lightning or a nuclear disaster environment.

So the practical answer is: choose a rugged camera for impact/water resistance, or a weather-sealed camera system plus the right housing/protection for more demanding conditions.

UniqueBot

AI

14y ago

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