billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

If there is sand in on or on the surface of the lens, compressed air could push it into the gearing and the result would be bad. Never used compressed air to clean off sand, there is no telling where the sand will go on a delicate electronic instrument.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Use a dry brush and vacuum.

Don't get too close with the vacuum... a standard household vac can be too powerful up close and cause damage to shutters, apertures or other mechanisms. But can work well as long as you keep an inch or two away, or use a weaker vac like the little battery powered ones made to clean keyboards.

Use the vac overall first, then go back over with the vac and the dry brush to loosen and remove anything that might be more adhered to the surfaces.

I might finally use a dry micro-fiber cloth to go over the camera and lens. I buy the "terry cloth" type sold by auto parts stores. Those are great for this purpose and reasonably priced.

Also take the time to vacuum out your camera bag and accessories like lens caps, camera body caps. Anywhere the blown dust and dirt might have gotten into.

The advantage of a vacuum is that it pulls the particles away from the camera... Anything else risks driving things into the nooks and crannies of the camera.

KindaSpikey Loc: English living in San Diego

After reading the other comments on using the compressed air cans, I'm withdrawing suggestion! I hadn't really concidered that it might drive smaller particles further in, and also that it might cause condensation. Valid points guys, my mind has been changed, and again, this shows the value of this forum. I agree that a vacuum would be a better way to go, maybe with some kind of narrow nozzle or tube attached, (taped on) to really get into the small "nooks and crannies).

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

it would require an awful lot of wind velocity to blow sand into the camera with a lens in place. I don't work on beaches or do marine shooting but I work in industrial settings and have all lots of filterable harmful dust and particles, and dreadful air quality and have never had anything get into the lens mounts as long as I do not change lenses in those atmospheres.

There is probably more danger in harming your equipment in vigorously cleaning it with compressed, air, vacuumed cleaners and thereby blowing unnoticed small particles into the camera or lens mount. If you carefully clean your gear by first removing any surface particles and carefully brushing or using soft, lint-free, cloths or one of those fibre-cloth things, and do not feel abrasiveness when removing or replacing the lens, or manually focusing, you are most likely good to go. If you feel significant friction or scraping, do not mess with it and send it in for service. Sand, silica, metallic or glass particles, etc. can grind away at helical mechanisms, gear trains and other mechanical parts as you work those parts and to try and loosen them up.

Since I frequently work in dirty environments I have a cleaning routine. I make certain not to accidentally blow any foreign matter INTO the camera. If I suspect the may be something to clean out, I carefully remove the lens and hold the camera front side down to expel any particles that may be present. I equipped my old worn-out Shop-Vac with a small piece of medical tubing that reduced its suction and allows me the clean small crevices. Do not use one of the newfangled Dyson machines that have been known to suck up the family pet. Canned air oftentimes will expel a wax-like propellant from inside the can- bad news of that gets into the camera or on a lens surface.

More importantly, is PREVENTION. If you know you are gonna be working in hazardous conditions- be prepared. polyethylene (plastic) bags can be lifesavers for your gear. I did an assignment at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal and received a free rain-protector bag from Nikon for my FTN. I still have it. It is made of Naugahyde or some synthetic, is padded, has a zipper and there are hand holes, like a changing bag, and an opening for the viewfinder and the lens. It is yellow and with its weight in gold as to precluding breakdowns and repairs.

Hip Coyote

I have an Oly so I just put it under the faucet and clean it off! Joking aside, I did have a similar experience. I blew off as much sand and dirt as I could with a pocket rocket and then used a large lens cleaning cloth dampened with lens cleaning solution and wiped my camera down. Used a lens pen to get into the cracks. It worked for me...no adverse issues what so ever.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

You might consider using low pressure compressed air to blow off the body and dislodge any stubborn sand stuck in the crevices. Note: Do not use on the bare lens or viewfinder lens.

Then, as prior said, un-mount the lens with the camera pointed down so any residual sand falls away from the body.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

How is sand on the outside going to get into the gearing exactly?

KindaSpikey Loc: English living in San Diego

You know what they say, "if it will never happen, it's gonna happen"! Lol.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

If low pressure air blows sand into the gears, then the wind already did that.

gwilliams6

Just follow all the good advice here on cleaning, and keep those cameras facing down when you unmount those lenses. Then it is straight forward to cleaning those mounting surfaces.

And to the one who said,

"I NEVER get any of my equipment within a 100 miles of the conditions you described. Sand is the absolute worst thing you can get near your camera.
Lesson learned?"

I say , no risk, no reward. I have made some of my greatest. most impactful, and award-winning shots in bad weather and challenging conditions, and my gear survived with proper preparation and care before and after the shoot. That is the only lesson. Keep pushing and challenging yourself and your gear to get those special shots.

If you just want to shoot from your armchair or only shoot in nice weather, your photos will always be just safe shots. LOL

Not for this professional, who has shot in the dead of the worst winter blizzards, in hurricanes, in extreme ocean shoots (above and below water) , sandy beaches, and sandy desert environments, in steaming rain forest jungle war conflicts, and so much more. Gear is just a tool to be used. The image is what matters and what is lasting.

Cheers

ggttc Loc: TN

Your 850 is weather resistant. The lens fit is designed not to let water in, not a submersion, but water as in rain. So…think this thru. Sand. Rain. The 7100 to a lesser degree but the lens to body tolerances are very good. Changing lenses in a sandstorm is a different story.

You’re fine.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Indeed!! What good is a camera that you don't take with you? I'm not a pro but I take mine everywhere. Sand dust rain (put it in a zip lock bag if it rains). It survives. I even took a camera to burning man and got it all full of dust. It was fine. Used it for years after that.

(Download)

KindaSpikey Loc: English living in San Diego

I'm impressed, (and just a little bit jealous), of your resume. I'd imagine it wasn't only your equipment that was in danger in some of those locations! Kudos to you, and glad to see you all made it back safely. And keep shooting.

KindaSpikey Loc: English living in San Diego

G
This is primarily why I have 2 cameras. My regular one for regular everyday shooting, and for conditions that I suspect may be hazardous, I have a 'reasonable' bridge camera. (no lens changes, so one less gap for stuff to penetrate). And although it does take some nice shots, it wouldn't be really expensive to replace, so it wouldn't break my heart if I needed to. Actually it has stood up well in some pretty harsh conditions.