Going to the Carribean... Question at DVinfo.net

Eric Wotila · February 13th, 2005, 08:48 AM

For spring break, we're going on a trip to the Carribean, and my familiy has hired me as the trip videographer. We're going to be sailing around the Virign Islands, and I'm concerned that the salty air will damage my camera. Is this a legitimate concern? How can I protect the camera? Thanks for the help!

Rob Lohman · February 14th, 2005, 06:45 AM

There are two easy ways to protect a camera:

- raincover (this might help, but it won't protect against large amounts of water

- underwater housing (with this you can go diving with your camera)

I doubt the camera will have much trouble with the conditions
as long as it doesn't get wet. However, the most fragile thing on
these camera's is the tape mechanism. I would make sure this
stays clean at all costs. So changing tapes can perhaps be done
below decks for example?

Jeff Patnaude · February 14th, 2005, 08:41 AM

One of the problems I had when I was a videographerr for a cruise line down there was when you take the camera from your air conditioned cabin to the hot, humid outdoors, The lense will fog and the tape mechanism will start giving humidity warnings.

What we did was use a hair dryer and blow hot air into the open tape transport and lense for a minute or two, and then load the tape and head out.

It's always a good idea to clean the camera with a damp cloth after being out on the sea or near the ocean. Make sure and dry it well afterwards.

My two cents...

Jeff Patnaude

Eric Wotila · February 14th, 2005, 09:40 AM

Thanks for the help!

I'm less concerned about the water than the salty air. Is that something I should be concerned about, or not a problem?

Paul Tauger · February 14th, 2005, 12:05 PM

I've shot in the Caribbean without problem.

As another poster pointed out, your concern is more humidity than salt -- some cameras, particularly less-exepensive consumer models, are more sensitive to humidity.

Eric Wotila · February 14th, 2005, 12:15 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Paul Tauger : I've shot in the Caribbean without problem.

As another poster pointed out, your concern is more humidity than salt -- some cameras, particularly less-exepensive consumer models, are more sensitive to humidity. -->>>

Thanks for the help!

Shawn Mielke · February 14th, 2005, 05:17 PM

I would think that salty air would be a problem, at some point. Maybe the question to ask of the experienced is for what period of time was their camera exposed to salty air? A day? A month? Six months?

Jeff Patnaude · February 14th, 2005, 08:59 PM

From What I've heard cars around the coasts corrode almost as bad as they do in Minnesota (they salt the highways in the winter). So the salt air must have some negative effect.
Call me paranoid- I just like to wipe stuff down after being out on a boat or on the shore.

Good luck!

Jeff Patnaude

James Connors · February 15th, 2005, 05:07 AM

May I be the first to post how jealous I am ? I went to the Bahamas about 7 years ago (doesn't feel that long ago mind!) and didn't have a camera at the time... boy I wish I did now! The colours would come out so beautifully.. there's only so many shades of drab grey I can live with here in the UK :)

February 13th, 2005, 08:48 AM	#1
Eric Wotila Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cadillac, MI Posts: 129	Going to the Carribean... Question For spring break, we're going on a trip to the Carribean, and my familiy has hired me as the trip videographer. We're going to be sailing around the Virign Islands, and I'm concerned that the salty air will damage my camera. Is this a legitimate concern? How can I protect the camera? Thanks for the help!

February 14th, 2005, 06:45 AM	#2
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	There are two easy ways to protect a camera: - raincover (this might help, but it won't protect against large amounts of water - underwater housing (with this you can go diving with your camera) I doubt the camera will have much trouble with the conditions as long as it doesn't get wet. However, the most fragile thing on these camera's is the tape mechanism. I would make sure this stays clean at all costs. So changing tapes can perhaps be done below decks for example? __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

February 14th, 2005, 05:17 PM	#7
Shawn Mielke Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Santa Rosa, California Posts: 745	I would think that salty air would be a problem, at some point. Maybe the question to ask of the experienced is for what period of time was their camera exposed to salty air? A day? A month? Six months? __________________ Breakthrough In Grey Room

February 14th, 2005, 08:41 AM	#3
Jeff Patnaude Major Player Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Duluth, Georgia Posts: 248	One of the problems I had when I was a videographerr for a cruise line down there was when you take the camera from your air conditioned cabin to the hot, humid outdoors, The lense will fog and the tape mechanism will start giving humidity warnings. What we did was use a hair dryer and blow hot air into the open tape transport and lense for a minute or two, and then load the tape and head out. It's always a good idea to clean the camera with a damp cloth after being out on the sea or near the ocean. Make sure and dry it well afterwards. My two cents... Jeff Patnaude

February 14th, 2005, 09:40 AM	#4
Eric Wotila Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cadillac, MI Posts: 129	Thanks for the help! I'm less concerned about the water than the salty air. Is that something I should be concerned about, or not a problem?

February 14th, 2005, 12:05 PM	#5
Paul Tauger Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Los Angeles (recently from San Francisco) Posts: 954	I've shot in the Caribbean without problem. As another poster pointed out, your concern is more humidity than salt -- some cameras, particularly less-exepensive consumer models, are more sensitive to humidity.

February 14th, 2005, 12:15 PM	#6
Eric Wotila Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cadillac, MI Posts: 129	<<<-- Originally posted by Paul Tauger : I've shot in the Caribbean without problem. As another poster pointed out, your concern is more humidity than salt -- some cameras, particularly less-exepensive consumer models, are more sensitive to humidity. -->>> Thanks for the help!

February 14th, 2005, 08:59 PM	#8
Jeff Patnaude Major Player Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Duluth, Georgia Posts: 248	From What I've heard cars around the coasts corrode almost as bad as they do in Minnesota (they salt the highways in the winter). So the salt air must have some negative effect. Call me paranoid- I just like to wipe stuff down after being out on a boat or on the shore. Good luck! Jeff Patnaude

February 15th, 2005, 05:07 AM	#9
James Connors Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cardiff, UK Posts: 223	May I be the first to post how jealous I am ? I went to the Bahamas about 7 years ago (doesn't feel that long ago mind!) and didn't have a camera at the time... boy I wish I did now! The colours would come out so beautifully.. there's only so many shades of drab grey I can live with here in the UK :)