Photo Gear for Military persons

[Flukiew]

hello,
I am new on this site, But I have been into photography for a few years, as a member of the armed services I am looking for some advice on some good gear such as:
Filters
lenses
extra add ons for my gear.
any help would be appreciated before deploying.

I have a Canon EOS 40d with an 18-55 a kit lens and a promaster 70-200.
my main website is www.flukiew.deviantart.com

Thanks
Flukiew

[xarqi]

Excuse my ignorance, but what is the relevance of your being a member of the armed services as far as gear selection goes?

[Replaces]

filters, i think you should just have UV filter b/c CPLs will cut down light and hence slower shutter speed.
lenses.... get something fast. I'm not sure what kind of range you're shooting but seems like 70-200 f/2.8L is a MUST with IS.

[Replaces]

Excuse my ignorance, but what is the relevance of your being a member of the armed services as far as gear selection goes?

i think hes taking pictures of events? probably.

[beeng]

Excuse my ignorance, but what is the relevance of your being a member of the armed services as far as gear selection goes?
Durability and the like?

[nobodyspecial]

Maybe he is looking for equipment that won't be easily damaged/ruined in the environment he's being deployed to. That's the only reason I can think of.

[Waldemar Sikorski]

Excuse my ignorance, but what is the relevance of your being a member of the armed services as far as gear selection goes?
Would you be as ignorant if he was asking about that one lens for a trip to Europe?

[john-in-japan]

Greetings - Having been in the military, I did not see much need for anything special in terms of gear except for particularly harsh environments. Some here advocate UV for protection (I don't except for those harsh circumstances). I also don't advocate the camera armor either (you can search here for pros/cons). I have a rainsleeve that is camera specific, but tend to avoid heavy downpours. If you travel a lot, a durable camera bag (water repellant) is always a good idea. Unless there are unusual circumstances we don't know about, I don't recommend anything special.
Cheers,
John

[configsys]

I only took a P&S camera since I didn't want to take the risk with the more expensive gear. Good luck and take care on your deployment.

[Flukiew]

Im just looking for filter advice for desert conditions .
any help would be great thanks!

[Flukiew]

John,
Thanks, Mainly looking for types of filters for the "sandbox".
Huah!
flukiew

[xMClass]

I suggest just a regular UV filter to protect your lenses. And seal everything you can with some tape. Cameras and the Sandbox don't mix.

[xarqi]

Would you be as ignorant if he was asking about that one lens for a trip to Europe?

Not really. There are only a few one lens possibilities that could be recommended for general use on a trip, irrespective of the destination.

My understanding of military personnel is that they may perform any task, anywhere, any time, from filling out forms in an office in Guam to HALO operations in the Arctic, to being in a submarine for 3 months at a time, to flying at Mach 3. That understanding, right or wrong, doesn't help me tailor any advice I could give to any specific individual.

[Flukiew]

I suggest just a regular UV filter to protect your lenses. And seal everything you can with some tape. Cameras and the Sandbox don't mix.

Thanks! I figure I would have to bring a pretty good cleaning kit with me too!:cool:

[Flukiew]

Not really. There are only a few one lens possibilities that could be recommended for general use on a trip, irrespective of the destination.

My understanding of military personnel is that they may perform any task, anywhere, any time, from filling out forms in an office in Guam to HALO operations in the Arctic, to being in a submarine for 3 months at a time, to flying at Mach 3. That understanding, right or wrong, doesn't help me tailor any advice I could give to any specific individual.


Sorry for not being clear enough, I'm still new and it was a quick post, But I am trying to get a feel for filters and gear that would help protect and keep my lens in pretty good condition while deployed

[xarqi]

John,
Thanks, Mainly looking for types of filters for the "sandbox".
Huah!
flukiew

Decent bags to protect your gear; maybe a clear/UV filter for the 70-200. I wouldn't bother with a filter for the 18-55 - one worth using would cost more than the lens is worth.

Oddly perhaps - consider a 430EX flash - some fill in harsh lighting conditions can work wonders.

If budget allows, I'd suggest considering the 17-40/4L. Good environmental protection; good focal length range on APS-C, and probably fast enough.

[Flukiew]

Thanks!!

[J_TULLAR]

Yea filters are a plus... so is a good bag. Buy a rainsleeve too it comes in handy for both rain and dust. If you want more advice talk to a combat cameraman they know what to bring and what to use. I get alot of advice from a friend of mine who is combat camera. Anymore questions just ask away.

[J_TULLAR]

Btw check this out if you wanna buy some gear from aafes for 20% off :D

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=786580

[sapearl]

How about the venerable little Rocket Blower?

Cheap, small, portable, crushable.....and at the end of the day give the gear a "once over" with some blasts from the blower to dust off the major grime and particles. Perhaps some microfiber cloths to for wiping things down. - Stu

[J_TULLAR]

How about the venerable little Rocket Blower?

Cheap, small, portable, crushable.....and at the end of the day give the gear a "once over" with some blasts from the blower to dust off the major grime and particles. Perhaps some microfiber cloths to for wiping things down. - Stu

You know I totally forgot about that, good call!

[sapearl]

Thank you Tullar - took me a while to remember it too :D.... back in 1971 I was working on an archaeological dig as an undergrad and the site photographer. I used a Canon FT QL back then, it was a dusty hay field and I was always getting crap on the gear.

They didn't have rocket blowers back then - just those little puffer balls with soft brushes - and at day's end I'd blow the gear off and gently wipe everything down with a soft cloth. Some things you don't forget ;). Btw, much thanks for you over there keeping us nice and safe over here. Happy Thanksgiving - a safe and healthy one to all your crew.

You know I totally forgot about that, good call!

[beeng]

I'd like to add that as much as you try to protect your equipment, the dust will get -everywhere-. You will definitely need a rocket blower or something of that sorts. Weather seals and filters only protect so much, and if you're changing lenses and batteries the dust -will- get in to the camera (not to mention get in to you as well; you'll be coughing the stuff up for weeks after you come home :P )

[RDKirk]

Not really. There are only a few one lens possibilities that could be recommended for general use on a trip, irrespective of the destination.

My understanding of military personnel is that they may perform any task, anywhere, any time, from filling out forms in an office in Guam to HALO operations in the Arctic, to being in a submarine for 3 months at a time, to flying at Mach 3. That understanding, right or wrong, doesn't help me tailor any advice I could give to any specific individual.

Xarqi, I was in the military for 26 years, and I had the exact same question you did. There are plenty of people who do as much or more traveling as military people do, and to even more extreme conditions (keeping in mind that although a soldier may go to a certain place, it doesn't mean the military will let him whip out his camera during a mission).

[RPCrowe]

I spent 32 years in the Navy as a photographer and combat cameraman. I retired as a Master Chief Photographer's Mate (E-9).

If you are shooting "normal" subjects, your gear needs are not really any different from what civilian photographers generally use.

If you are shooting in extreme conditions, then the gear that you need should be along the lines of what photo journalists use to cover combat and other venues such as disasters.

That gear needs to be sturdy and somewhat impervious to the elements. The enemies of your gear are precipitation, dust and grit as well as bumps and hard knocks. I carried a pair of the early Canon 35mm film DSLR cameras (Canon FD models) to Dong Ha in Vietnam and they lasted about a half day of use due to the blowing dust. Of course the later Canon cameras are much better regarding sturdiness.

The 40D is an excellent camera - I love mine. It is fairly weatherproof if used with the correct lenses. However, if I were intending to carry a camera in a venue which could be dangerous to my gear, I would probably think seriously of a pair of the Canon 1D series; full frame or 1.3x bodies.

I would opt for the Canon "L" series lenses. Although I love my 17-55mm f/2.8 IS lens, I would hesitate to take this into a venue that has dangerous elements. I would probably opt for the 24-70mm f/2.8L as my mid-range zoom. I would opt for one of the 70-200mm IS lenses. Either the f/2.8 or f/4 models as my tele-zoom.

I can vouch for the sturdiness of the 70-200mm f/4L IS lens because I fell to the concrete with this lens hitting first. The lenshood was toast but, the lens was not hurt. That is one sturdy lens.

I recommend using a pair of bodies for at least three reasons:

First - it is very easy to switch focal lengths by just switching cameras. I use an OPTECH Dual Harness http://www.amazon.com/Dual-Harness-Black-Binocular-Included/dp/B002IUQ180/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1259424822&sr=8-3 which holds a pair of cameras just great. That way, you can have a mid range zoom on one camera and either a telephoto or a wider lens on the other camera. You also have the equivalent of a larger CF card and an extra battery since you are dividing your exposures between two bodies. Using excellent lenses with shorter zoom ratios provides far superior image quality, far superior autofocus and a faster f/stop than if you were using a single lens with an extreme zoom ratio.

Second - the extra camera is an insurance policy against losing a photo opportunity due to a single camera failure. Murphy's Law of Photography states, "The possibility of a piece of gear failing is in a direct ratio to the importance of your assignment and in an indirect ratio to the availability of replacement gear!"

Third - as a corollary to the first reason, avoiding the switching of lenses in the field helps to keep your sensor clean.

BTW: I always carried several pieces of dry T-shirt material in plastic bags. They come in handy for wiping down your camera. I also carried medium size camel's hair (I guess a good soft acrylic brush would work also) for dusting off your camera gear.

There are also some special precautions when shooting in wet tropical and extreme cold conditions. These have to to with switching from heated to cold environments and the reverse which could cause the camera/lens to fog up. Additionally, in very cold conditions, camera and flash batteries lose their charges more readily.

best of luck and thanks for serving our country.

[beeng]

Heh, I'm not sure if humping around 2 bodies is exactly do-able when his primary trade is something other than photographer. I know that for us at least, there is limited room in UAB (unaccompanied baggage) and carrying around all that gear from place to place (or FOB :P ) is a huge hassle.
My choice now-a-days would be a 17-40L, 1D, and maybe the 70-200L. It all depends on where you are and what you're doing though :P

[JWright]

Sorry for not being clear enough, I'm still new and it was a quick post, But I am trying to get a feel for filters and gear that would help protect and keep my lens in pretty good condition while deployed

It would help if we knew which service you are in and what your job is. Certainly the recommendations are going to be different for a Navy man deploying on an aircraft carrier than they would be for a Army infantryman deploying to Afghanistan.

I spent a tour in Vietnam and carried a standard, run of the mill SLR camera with me on patrol every day. I shot under these kind of conditions and never had any problems with the camera. In fact, I still have it and it still works...

http://johnwright.smugmug.com/Military/Vietnam-1968/DAWNPATROL/65928653_Rjxdt-L.jpg

BTW, no matter what branch, thank you for your service.

[KnightRanger]

BTW, no matter what branch, thank you for your service.


+1

I was fortunate enough to miss The Vietnam Experiance.
1975-79, Submarine Service was my choice. I had a little point and shoot camera. One of my Ship mates had a Noink he let me borrow on occasion.

If I was a young man going to "The Sandbox", I think I would focus on one of those little point and shoot that fits in a pocket, one of those "durable" models. No zoom to go in and out and get stuck. I think I'd make sure it was not going to compromise my situation with it's reflectivness, or flash going off unexpectidly. I'd make sure my Squad Leader had no problems with it being packed along for the ride.

After hearing the reports of how the sand played a toll on the technology gear that was introduced into that environment, I think I'd try to stay low tech, and durable.

Whatever image capture device you decide on,
be safe first, take pictures later.
God Speed
Hoo Ahh.

[Flukiew]

Thank you all for all your advice!
Huah
Flukiew

[bps]

Flukiew,

If you can afford the weight (not sure about your mode of travel or how often you'll be moving), but you may want to consider a Pelican case. It will absolutely protect your gear when you are not using it and will make it impervious to the elements.

Two years ago, I was in Iraq and used a point-n-shoot. You really can't beat the portability and the price. You can even get a tiny Pelican case if need be. And now-a-days, the Canon G11 or the S90 can cover a good majority of your needs. And the best part of all, if your point-n-shoot gets ruined, you're only out $400 or so. Just something to consider.

If/when I go back, I may take a SLR, but only if I will sitting at one place while I'm there.

Bryan

[dannycnl]

You can always buy the Polarizer filters from B+W some of them have an all weather seal.
So that no sand dust or water can get between the two rotating polarizer parts.
Since polarizer filters are very nice in the desert I recommend you get one of these.
You need to look for the Keasemann Weather Seal

[thebishopp]

In addition to all the good advice I would recommend also a decent compact wet cleaning kit for your sensor. I personally like the copperhills kit with the led magnifier. In the sandbox and with the occassional swapping of your lenses it will be inevitable that you are going to get crap on your sensor (especially with the fine powder sand/grit you will no doubt encounter). Some things will not blow off with the blower. Be careful using it if and when it is necessary (not sure what your quarters will be/are but be sure it's not windy or a lot of foot traffic).

[russ_hillis]

I don't know if this helps, but the dust that came home in one gear bag from Afghanistan was the consistency of talcum powder. Everything the stepson had was coated in the crap. I've never seen anything like it.

[onebikeonehorseone5D]

I am currently in Iraq, and I have about $6k woth of gear in my bag, and none of it special. In the desert (if you're coming over here) you'll want warming filters, and a bag or pelican case that keeps out dust and can allow your gear to get beat up. Nothing else that I can think of.

Oh....and good insurance through your homeowners or renters insurance.