FS100 & Lens Changes At The Beach

J

Jeff Kirkland

Member
I've tried really hard to avoid this but I have a shoot coming up on Sunday that's going to mean my FS100 spending four or five hours at the beach. I tried to convince them that it was a perfect job for my (reasonably disposable) Canon 550D but they're insisting I bring my FS100.

I figure I'm going to have to rig up some sort of plastic cover for the camera... and maybe the lens as well?

I'm going to have to do several lens changes so I'm open to suggestions about the best way to change lenses on a windswept beach while minimising the risk to the camera, lens and sensor.

All suggestions for keeping sand, salt and sea spray out of the camera are very welcome.

Cheers,
Jeff K
 
Thanks for the suggestion. I hadn't thought of something like that. They obviously need to be opaque to do what they're intended for but I might see if I can rig something similar that I can see into, otherwise I'll add one of those to my shopping list - unless anyone else has another suggestion?
 
I've shot quite a bit of surfing, so I've film at the beach a lot.

Yes, it sucks. If I'm on a tripod, I always have a shirt over the camera to keep the sand from blowing onto the camera. Usually, if I have to change lenses, I take the camera off the beach and try and find a sheltered place (there's usually somewhere) and change my lenses there.

If I absolutely have to change lenses on the beach. I will stand right in front of the mount with my back facing the wind. I have the Body Cap ready in my hand. I take off the lens, and QUICKLY (like 2 seconds max) put on the body cap so no sand can get into the sensor. Then the sensor is safe and there's no stress. Then I get the next lens ready, then once again QUICKLY take off the body cap and put on the next lens.

Filming at the beach SUCKs, but I haven't had anything really bad happen with any of my modern gear. I had an old 16mm Beaulieu ACL that went down probably cause of sand, but modern equipment tends to do better.
 
I think I'm just being super cautious because I've only had the FS100 a few weeks and new toys are always better looked after than older ones. Mostly though, the FS100 doesn't strike me as being as rugged as some cameras so I feel I have to treat it with kid gloves quite a bit. I wouldn't think twice about taking my 7D to shoot at the beach, but that thing is near indestructible.

Mostly though, I'm concerned about the fact I'll be shooting right on the waterline on a windy day so there'll be plenty of salt and sand in the air. I found a Kata rain cover in the cupboard that sort-of fits the FS100. Would you guys think that's enough protection (it's open at the bottom) or would you go with completely covering it with a plastic bag or something?

I guess probably don't really need to stress so much but I've got four shoots for three clients over the next two of days and I don't want to be telling anyone "sorry my camera got messed at the beach"...
 
just have two guys on the case. one to remove the cap from the lens and replace it onto the lens coming off. while you do the switch over. aim the camera in the direction of the wind while doing the change. messing around with a load of silly tents / plastic bags etc will make each change take 5 times as long. if any sand gets in to the sensor area it cant get deep into the camera and wont do any damage. the 2-3 grains that might make it inside that area can be blown out in the comfort of your home.

maybe use a bit of electrical insulation tape over the buttons you dont ever touch., maybe over the ones you do. they'll still be press-able. and maybe over some of the other possible entries into the camera body itself. always have someone to hold the camera when you are not so it doesnt need to be put down on the ground
 
Jeff Kirkland said:
I think I'm just being super cautious because I've only had the FS100 a few weeks and new toys are always better looked after than older ones. Mostly though, the FS100 doesn't strike me as being as rugged as some cameras so I feel I have to treat it with kid gloves quite a bit.
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Yeah, I'd worry about sand getting into the camera body. I was caught in a sandstorm in a desert and the FMU release and battery release got stuck. Some sand did also get into the buttons and some of them were stuck for a while, but eventually I was able to blow everything out somewhat easily; a lot of the sand just fell out on its own in the camera bag. The sand I had was somewhat coarse though. If you're on a nice beach you may have to be more careful.
 
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