Shooting in a dusty/floury location (T2i)

Saharanturtle

Saharanturtle

Active member
I might be shooting in a location that has dust and flour in the air. There isn't tons of dust and flour floating in the air and causing people to choke but I don't know how sensitive these cameras are so its better to ask first than come later and find that my camera is ruined for some reason.

Should I do anything to my T2i before shooting there? tape down some bounty paper towels around the camera?
 
yeah, id either find some portabrace or similar product or glue a big freezer bag to a uv filter on the cheap.
 
Problem with plastic bags/underwater cases (that are sub $1k) is the affect on optical quality, if you go wide angle it's usually fine though (<-50mm, but be sure to try first).

Actually I've heard a couple stories bout t2i surviving all sorts of stuff, but yeah, getting dust in the housing is a bad idea. Maybe a wide L-lens or other lens with an O-ring?
 
Thanks for the replies guys. Question, what would happen if dust gets in there, the sensor would get dirty? will that just give me bad footage or will it do worse to the camera?
 
Dust on the sensor will give you blotches on your image and if left, probably might kill a few pixels. Best bet is to wrap it up as best you can with either Portabrace or just some plastic sheeting. Be really careful when changing lenses, that's the most key thing. Cover the hole whilst you swap lenses over and DO NOT blow into it trying to get dust out, will cause even more problems.
I don't think you'll have much problem if it's only light dust. We've shot a couple of things where we chucked a lot of china powder dust into the air around an EX1, no problem. Best/worst one we did was pretty much cake a RED in powder paint following a band running with it on their shoulders. Bit of a panic moment that one, desperately trying to brush it all off the camera and lens. Eeek. Rental house didn't even bat an eyelid.
 
Beware of dust getting in your lens. I went to Italy and was shooting there, got dust inside my 18-55 2.8 IS lens. I wish I would have bought an L lens. It also rained on the lens to make matters worse latter in the trip. Next time I'm not being cheap and going to pony up the dough and buy L and get it over with. I'm glad I was shooting with a sealed 7d. I tell you that was the moment I was glad to own one and not a T2i.
 
its 100% that you will get dust/flour in the unit in some way shape or form. Be careful, moisture in the air added to that will not only add to the problem, but left un attended will result in corrosion and mold in the lens as will as the rest of the unit. Particals as small as a grain of sand can travel from the tape carriage through the boards to the lens and cause a short. After repairing HUNDREDS of cameras from Original Productions ( Deadliest Catch, COAL, Axe Men) and seeing everything from salt water corrosion, to pine needles, and more dirt than you can imagine. Im pretty well informed on this subject ;)
 
Thanks for the help/suggestions so far guys. This is my first actual "shoot" so I'm kind of scared of messing up the camera on my first day


Yeah, I'll be shooting in with my 18-55 for the most part and the 55-250(if needed, don't think it will be though). I have a HOYA uv filter on both my lenses, should I tape down(glue sounds like it might ruin the uv filter) a plastic bag around the body as a cheap(free) but safe protector? or maybe buy a big freezer bag like someone said and cut out a hole in the front for the lens and tape the hole onto the side of the UV filter?
 
While you are protecting your camera, you may want to also invest in a very good particulate respirator mask to protect your lungs as well.
 
What i have done in the past is get a cheap uv filter or polarizer as cheap as you can find) and then carefully take out the glass but leave the threaded ring in tact. Then take a garbage bag or freezer bag or whatever you want to use and put it over the camera (which also needs a UV filter on your lens). Screw on your empty filter ring and then with a sharp knife, and WHOLE lot of care, cut out the plastic thats over the lens itself. I use this method when shooting in the rain. Just in your case seal up the bottom as well. It wouldnt hurt if you had a loupe, to cut the area around the loupe out and attach it to the metal frame that holds the loupe on.
 
Have you looked at the OSHA requirements for the location by any chance? A lot of high dust/flour locations are designated Class 1 Division 1 Explosive Environments that you cannot even take a cell phone in to. Just saying...
 
I'd also be VERY afraid of heat buildup in the plastic bag. Canon's are not always known for the best heat dissipation.
 
Yeah, I've only done this in cold environments when snow and mild rain was the worry so temperature wasn't a problem.
 
Well I decided not to shoot there, but this thread is still very informative. I'm sure I'll end up using these tips and tricks sometime in the future


Thanks guys!


If you have any tips or suggestions on things to watch out for, or things to do to protect my camera, keep posting them. I'm sure there are a lot of other people here who are relatively new to dslr's and/or cameras in general


One tip I found randomly a few weeks ago:

Don't take your DSLR to a concert. If there is a laser show at the concert the lasers can ruin the cameras sensor
 
Depends on the show, but most lasers if they are going to be damaging your camera, they are going to be damaging your eyes too. I've shot TONS of lasers with my 7D. I have 3 different lasers and none of them have ever damaged my 7D, or a friends 5D who takes pictures at the events I throw.
 
Saharanturtle said:
Well there goes the one piece of knowledge that I had, straight out the window. Now I feel completely useless, thanks Rick, thanks a lot pal.

lol just kidding, here's the video where I got that "tip" about lasers ruining the camera sensor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0TgaGePhJA
Click to expand...

Haha! Well, it's always better to be safe then sorry. I take video of my lasers but not the laser hitting the sensor, if that makes sense. I bet those lasers they are using are NOT good for your eyes and what they were doing was against the manufacturer guidelines. ALL the lasers I have say don't shoot into peoples eyes. I did bounce my lasers inside an infinite cabinet I made with 2 way glass, and in that case, they did hit the sensor, but the two way glass does reduce the beam.

Interesting that the laser only hurt one line of the scan, but not others.
 
I have one of these:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/469774-REG/OP_TECH_USA_9001132_18_Rainsleeve_Set_of.html

they're cheap, and get the work done, but operating the camera inside there is extremely cumbersome (no FF, no louple, no tripod, no nothing, and I can only get one hand to touch the camera) (plus, the UV ring thing will get better sealing at the front)

based on my experience with that, the "perfect" thingy would have:
* two sleeves, so you can get both hands to the camera
* UV ring without glass, for best sealing without optical issues
* hole for loupe
* tiny hole for tripod screw (so the QR plate rests outside the bag, holding it in place too)
 
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