Caring for camera in wet trips

[Gymnoschoenus]

HI all,
Planning tassie paddling trip in Oct - just wondering how you people look after your SLRs in constant wet weather camping ??
Just don't want to get moisture build up in lenses.

ta

[Area54]

I horde the little silica gel/crystal pouches, stick them in with sensitive kit. They absorb moisture in small amounts, then when ready for dryout I toast them in a dry pot, stick em in a snaplock ready for next use, easy to treat in the field.

A bit off topic, but related: Weve got this old bikky tin with a glass nob at the top, it is filled with these silica crystals, they change colour when ready for roasting (moisture saturation), then change back once they are dry again. Best bikky tin ever, around 30 years old I estimate!

[Liamy77]

you can buy larger silica packs too - stallards and the like should have em or get them in... not much fun shooting with a fungus farm!
you can look through the lens from the mount end and see white spots or thin spider-web like marks / growth (fungus)if you get too much moisture - useful if you shop 2nd hand... also watch out for quick temp changes(drops particularly) - can cause condensation... say if your camera is next to your body n warmer then you go to shoot and it cools down...

[ninjapuppet]

i think this is what you might be looking for
its about $150
http://www.d-d-photographics.com.au/underwaterhousing.htm

[Liamy77]

i think this is what you might be looking for
its about $150
http://www.d-d-photographics.com.au/underwaterhousing.htm

you'll still have to watch out for temperature condensation... maybe a silica pack or 2 inside it as well...

[cvn76hk]

For my last kayaking trip I used a clip and lock box (a large one) to put my camera in. $10-15 when I bought it I think, it proved to be waterproof as I tested it in the sink the night before and with my D300 and two lens in it it still floated so it gave me some assurance when I was kayaking
I also chuck in some moisture absorbing stuff in it but forgot what they are.
Hope this helps

[Bush Walker]

A bit off topic, but related: Weve got this old bikky tin with a glass nob at the top, it is filled with these silica crystals, they change colour when ready for roasting (moisture saturation), then change back once they are dry again. Best bikky tin ever, around 30 years old I estimate!

Reckon I saw one of those about 50 years ago in my Aunts kitchen. Like you I remember it well, as the silica seemed to work like magic. I suspect that the amount of silica present would not have lasted much more than a packet of biscuits, Arnotts Cremes of course. Not sure what my Aunt did to "recharge" it

[tsangpo]

Just got one of the small pelican cases (1050) to use with my non water resistant lenses while rafting and I'm thinking about using it while bushwalking, isn't a massive amount of extra weight above that of the lenses and it definately keeps them safe in case of inclement weather. It involved a bit of metal work with the dessicant pack in the middle and pocket knife work with the rear lens caps of the lenses on the left hand side to fit them in.

Here it is with it's cargo:

[andrewbish]

All good ideas. My camera got wet during rain while under my tarp a few weeks ago -,it's wrecked

[wildlight]

I use 2 of those dry bags- the brand escapes me- something like "Seal-Line". They have a lighter version, as well as a heavier one. I put the item in the lighter one, then all that goes into the heavier one. My macbook air was left out in overnight rain by the good Mrs, up near Mt Darling (Eagles Peaks area), in Feb 2012, and I still use the computer today. Absolutely no problems "when the bag is not submerged".

The ideal set-up for a camera I'd say, when you don't require super-fast access.

Safe steps

WildLight

[gayet]

Yeh, I keep cameras and lenses in dry bags inside carry cases. Bags of silica gel in each dry bag and a microfibre towel handy for wiping down before rebagging. It does take some time to unpack it all when walking so I have a compact but it is still in a dry bag in a carry case. Cases are soft and flexible and water resistant rather than proof.