protecting your camera from impacts

[Hashier]

im sure this topic has come up somewhere in this forum, but i dont have the free time to search everything. one of the aspects of photography i want to get into is sports photography, specificly paintball. i was wondering if any one had tips on what to buy protection wise for your camera (already have all the paintball gear for me). i just got a pretty new 50D and i would like it to last.

thank you

[eigga]

i dont have the free time to search everything

There is a search button on the forum...also you could check the similar threads at the bottom. As for protecting the camera ..IMO there is only one true way and that is good insurance.

[Hashier]

im currently at work ... and i did that ... i know thye make like camera armor and stuff like that i was just wondering if it worked... or if there is a lens filter that would work

[stathunter]

Personally I have a UV filter on all of my lenses -- it is a first barrier of protection for these kinds of things. If you search for paintball in the forum-- you will find a great paintball photographer who has had a ball break his equipment.


Here it is: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=86465

[Dan-o]

I'm sure one of the paintball guys will give you better advise but just your basic rain gear should work fine. Also maybe a UV filter for your lens. As Matt suggested insurance is very good to have.

[Mark1]

If you are worried about the impact from the balls, I would not worry. They may be flying at 200MPH but they only weigh 3 grams. And are designed to break on impact. The only thing I might do is get a rain cover for it. While I don't worry with the impact, but the paint can work its way just about anywhere. I would put a UV filter on the lens. Just so you dont have to scrub the front element.

I have been lucky and never had my camera hit. Goggled a few times but never in the camera.

[Hashier]

i play paintball i know they are designed to break ... i have also wittnessed; in tourniments, paintballs break gear designd specificly to withstand the impact of a paintball fail ... i just though id ask ... ill look into rain gear tho

thank you

[chris270]

I use Camera armour, all it does is protect water and dust from entering the slight gaps in the buttons. However I have not tryed dropping my camera with it and really don't think it would help too much. It would probably be a good product for paintball added with a clear filter to protect the lens.

[northpointphoto]

From what I can tell, camera armor is really nothing more than a rubberized material designed to protect the camera from minor bumps and scrapes. I highly doubt having camera armor on would protect a camera from anything more (strong hit, fall, etc).

I would look into getting a rain cover and clear filter because the only thing that you can really protect the camera from reasonably would be the paint spray if you or the camera got hit.

Only other option I can think of that would protect from direct hits and paint spray would be an underwater housing and they can get quite pricy.

[grphx]

http://img487.imageshack.us/img487/9601/BrokenFilter3-26-06.jpg

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/5894/BrokenFilter7-16-05.jpg

I always use a protective filter ….sometimes I use two



www.paintballphotography.com

I think this will give you an idea of "the worst that could happen".

[Mark1]

WOW. How far was it fired from? Close range or accross the field?

[Hashier]

it doesnt matter its going 200mph ... stuff breaks ... i have had welts that bleed ... i have scars on my back ... they can do damage hence the concern ...

[Mark1]

I have had welts that last for days, but never one that bleed. Not even at close range.

[RyanK]

I mainly shoot paintball photography, and don't really use any "safety". I just shot the last NPPL (National Professional Paintball League) and my camera didn't get shot once; however, I got shot many times. A lot of people have to me to use a filter, a lot of people have told me not too. I'm kind of stuck in the middle on that one.

As for normal camera protection, I use an LCD protector. However, the best option to help prevent fall damage is Camera Armor.

[Cole_Schmitt]

Use a Nikon shooter as a shield :)