Camera at the beach?
Hey everyone, I finally placed an order for my HC7 after about a month of waiting. This summer I am going down to North Carolina to vacation at the beach and I am debating whether I should bring this camera or not. I live in upstate New York, away from any beach-like conditions, and it is not nearly as hot as it is down in NC. Basically, I'm worried that the different weather conditions (salt/humidity) in NC will mess up the camera. I only ask this because my friends PS2 stopped working when we returned from the beach. Obviously I'm not going to leave the camera in a hot car all afternoon, but I guess that I'm just worried that the large amount of salt in the air will screw up the camera when I return back to NY.
I really dont know if this is a legitimate concern, but I really dont want anything to happen to the camera a month after I get it. Any advice/info appreciated. Thanks, Simon |
I took my Sony FX1 on a Jet boat ride around the Isles of Scilly (in the UK) - couldn't avoid getting some salt spray on the camera and in the lens but I got some fabulous pictures of the coastline, basking seals etc. I wiped the camera down with a damp cloth to remove the salt and it was fine.
That was 2 years ago and its still working. Its sand you must avoid, especially the wind-blown kind. I took a video camera into the Saudi desert many years ago - the focus ring still grinds when you turn it. |
I second Tony's opinion: salt is not the real issue, sand is. I always take a camera or two with me on the beach (both still and video) and careful cleaning brings them back to normal. I don't think your friend's camera went bad just because of that!
Keep it in a zipped plastic bag when not in use, don't use it when the wind is blowing fine sand and don't go too close to the water - you'll be just fine using common sense. |
Ditto the advice above - especially the sand. If you want to shoot on the beach, you can get glorified plastic bags with lens ports to protect your camcorder. Such bags are manufactured by Ewa-Marine.
Failing that, if you do shoot on the beach without protection, only do so on a calm day and pay very, very close attention to what you touch - it's all too easy to get sand on your hands and then touch the controls of the camcorder. I know this from experience many years ago on a beach in Zanzibar. Some local children where fascinated with the camcorder that was on a tripod, so they started touching it and I let them look through the view finder. Got some enjoyable footage but, the next day, things weren't quite right. Fortunately, I had some jeweller's screwdrivers with me and was able to open the camcorder and clean out a couple of rogue grains. BTW - which beach are you going to? I'm rather spoilt as my mother-in-law has an apartment right on Atlantic Beach (Morehead City/Beaufort) and it's only three hours from home. I'm off down there on Saturday for a week of diving, along with my video equipment. John. |
Sounds like a glorious summer - I'll be on Hilton Head Island (South Carolina) with family and friends for eight days starting this Sunday!
Yoohoo! |
A screw on ND filter is all I use and I have shot about 30 tapes at the beach. I always change tapes back in the car after blowing off the exterior of the cam with compressed air (but not on the lens).
Regards, |
Thank you all for the advice... You all have definetly made me feel more at-ease.
Our family is going to Ocean Isle beach... It's small, and about 45mins north of Myrtle. I can't wait! Thanks guys, Simon |
I recently used my HC7 on Bermuda's beaches without a problem. I was careful about the wind, and made sure I always used my body to block the wind for sand and wind noise reasons. I also kept taping to a minimum and stored the camera in a zippered case when not in use.
When I returned home, I ejected the tape and lightly used a can of compressed air in and around the camera, just in case. |
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