Frank47 Loc: West coast Florida

I've always been careful and frankly very conservative in the care of my camera and lenses. I've seen any number of people with DSLRs and lenses at the beach and often wonder how likely it is that sand might find its way into the camera body/lens. What kind of experience have some of you UHHers had?

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

I take my D7000 and P510 to the sandy beaches of Fort Myers frequently. Absolutely no lens change and keep the camera high off the sand as folks walk by.

I've had no problems after a year.

Sarge69

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

It probably wouldn't hurt to dust the outside off with compressed air when you are done as well, just in case a speck of sand is hiding out in some little crevice, waiting to fall inside as soon as you take the lens off.

Donwitz Loc: Virginia Beach, VA

I live near the ocean and over half of my photography work involves the beach. I have a Delkin silicon case for my Nikon. Its sort of like those cases you see on cell phones, only its custom designed to fit around buttons, lenses, and hot shoes. Kids and dogs occasionally populate my shots, and sometimes the sand starts flying! So far, no problems.

terry44 Loc: Tuolumne County California, Maui Hawaii

Here on Maui where the trade winds blow always change lenses in your car or a tent of some sort. The sand gets into everything, even your bags no matter how airtight. It is a good idea to use a soft brush and a rocket blower during and after use on the outside of body to keep it clean. even if weatherproof.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Frank, hey, I'm in CA, where life's a beach!
Personally, I've never had any problems, and yes, I do change lenses on the beach. Have you ever hiked a quarter mile, with your pack on your back and your tripod strapped to it, down a path and then down a cliff to the beach? NO , I'm not going back to my car.
And why in the world would you be on a beach if the wind is howling and the sand is blowing, even if it was the Copacabana, I'd come back another day, or put my camera in a bread bag. ;-)
SS

Terry in Indiana Loc: rural Indiana

Hi Frank! I read a wonderful idea last year and it worked like a charm on our beach vacation in North Carolina. I bought a small cooler (easy to carry), put a hand towel in the bottom to cushion it a bit, and kept my big camera in there. I only took it out for the shots I wanted then put right back in the cooler and kept the lid closed. Not only did it keep the sand and water out (just in case a wave came in closer than anticipated and got the bottom wet), it also is a good decoy to keep it from getting stolen. Just a cooler...no one would be interested in taking that! I've saved the cooler just for this and plan to use it again this summer.

JPL

When on the beach it is best not to keep the camera in the sand. If you avoid that there is no problem at all.

Frank47 Loc: West coast Florida

Excellent idea, thanks. . . . . and thanks to all for your input. Guess I was being a little more careful than necessary. Happy shooting to all! Back to the beach this afternoon!🏄

wj cody Loc: springfield illinois

because, SS, those are the times you want to have your film camera and not your digital imaging device.

Morning Star Loc: West coast, North of the 49th N.

Three years ago we spent a week in Jamaica. My son has a Nikon camera, I can't remember what model off-hand, D-something or something-D. Considering the weather (28 degrees C in January/February) we spent a lot of time on the beach. My son took his camera everywhere, including the beach and even waded into the water a distance with the camera on his neck.
The only things he did was to determine at the beginning of the day what lens he would be using and left that on for the day, or went back to his room to change it to another lens if he needed to change it. In the evening he took a slightly damp cloth and very thoroughly wiped off the entire outside of camera and lens(es).
We are now three years later and he has not had a problem with that camera that can be ascribed to spending a week at the beach.

My own camera and lenses (Olympus 4/3 and micro 4/3 system) are weather sealed, so I don't do any more than wiping off on the outside either.

Carl 383 Loc: Southampton UK

Ah, the beauty of weather sealed camera and lens - Sony A77 and 16-50 f2.8 with the Sony smart teleconverter button means I have in effect a 24mm - 150mm f2.8 zoom so no need to change the lens and if I get salt spray on the front of the lens I can just dip it into the sea and dry it off :)
er ... ignore that last bit, I was getting a bit carried away. :)

A solution some of us may have is to take our old superseded camera body to the beach - saves it getting dusty on a shelf.