Sunscreen/bug repellent and cameras

drisley · 17th of July 2010 (Sat)

Now that summer is here, I've been making a point of wearing sunscreen every day when I'm out. One thing I notice is that it can make a mess, get on your hands, and then eventually on your camera gear (worse once you start sweating). I currently use Neutrogena Healthy Defense SPF45 on my face every day to keep my youthful good looks (

) and on long outings I use Coppertone Oil Free Broad Spectrum SPF45. The former can be kind of greasy, the latter is actually much better, but I can still feel it accumulate on my hands after a day of being out in the sun.

I've read that sunscreen, and bug spray, can be a nemesis of camera gear, especially the rubber.

How about a thread where people list what they find are camera friendly sunscreens and bug repellents?

philwillmedia · 18th of July 2010 (Sun)

Quote:

Originally Posted by drisley

I've read that sunscreen, and bug spray, can be a nemesis of camera gear, especially the rubber.

First time I've heard anything like that.

I had 1/2 a tube of sunscreen go right through my camera bag - all over the flash, 1 body, lenses etc.

Just wiped it off, no probs.

It's probably no worse than anything else that's been thrown at my gear.

argyle · 18th of July 2010 (Sun)

I'd be more concerned about bug repellent...DEET and plastic do not go well together.

picard · 18th of July 2010 (Sun)

DEET repellent breaks down all plastics components.

Naturalist · 18th of July 2010 (Sun)

When I get ready to head out I first spray myself down with DEET before touching the camera gear, then I wipe off the palms of my hands trying to keep them DEET free.

I've never had a problem.

drisley · 18th of July 2010 (Sun)

Ah ok there is the problem... the DEET!
I figured it was something in the oils or some other chemical that was bad.
Good to know!

argyle · 19th of July 2010 (Mon)

Quote:

Originally Posted by drisley

Ah ok there is the problem... the DEET!
I figured it was something in the oils or some other chemical that was bad.
Good to know!

The repellent that I was using had 40% DEET. I had an iPhone in the pocket of my cargo shorts, and the DEET was carried by sweat from my leg to the pocket. When I took the phone out, the plastic aftermarket case that it was in was pretty well eaten up, but not the phone itself. I guess a lot would also depend on the amount of DEET thats in the product (40% was of the highest that I had noticed), but I'd avoid it altogether around plastic and rubber.

Sparky98 · 19th of July 2010 (Mon)

My truck has a leather wrapped steering wheel and sunscreen has discolored some spots on the leather but sweaty, dirty hands do the same thing because the leather is too soft. I have never had sunscreen stain anything else. I have left my fingerprints etched into a pair of binoculars because I had DEET on my hands. Now when I use sunscreen or DEET I wash my hands with hand sanitizer to get the bad stuff off my palms and fingerstips. So far that has worked for me.

Karl Johnston · 19th of July 2010 (Mon)

Holy crap I didn't know that about deet...

YamahaRob · 20th of July 2010 (Tue)

Dont know why bugs dont bother me. Must be still saturated in insecticides from doing pest control for 2 yrs.

17th of July 2010 (Sat)	#1
drisley "What a Tool I am" Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 8,695	Sunscreen/bug repellent and cameras Now that summer is here, I've been making a point of wearing sunscreen every day when I'm out. One thing I notice is that it can make a mess, get on your hands, and then eventually on your camera gear (worse once you start sweating). I currently use Neutrogena Healthy Defense SPF45 on my face every day to keep my youthful good looks () and on long outings I use Coppertone Oil Free Broad Spectrum SPF45. The former can be kind of greasy, the latter is actually much better, but I can still feel it accumulate on my hands after a day of being out in the sun. I've read that sunscreen, and bug spray, can be a nemesis of camera gear, especially the rubber. How about a thread where people list what they find are camera friendly sunscreens and bug repellents? __________________

18th of July 2010 (Sun)	#3
argyle Cream of the Crop Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 8,170	Re: Sunscreen/bug repellent and cameras I'd be more concerned about bug repellent...DEET and plastic do not go well together. __________________ "Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son". - Dean Wormer GEAR LIST

18th of July 2010 (Sun)	#4
picard Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 1,958	Re: Sunscreen/bug repellent and cameras DEET repellent breaks down all plastics components.

18th of July 2010 (Sun)	#5
Naturalist Adrift on a lonely vast sea Join Date: May 2007 Location: Minnesota Northwoods Posts: 4,560	Re: Sunscreen/bug repellent and cameras When I get ready to head out I first spray myself down with DEET before touching the camera gear, then I wipe off the palms of my hands trying to keep them DEET free. I've never had a problem. __________________ Doug My Gear List http://www.flickr.com/photos/n8trshtr/ Entered: 2-16-84 Passed: 5-22-84 Raised: 6-19-84

18th of July 2010 (Sun)	#6
drisley "What a Tool I am" Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 8,695	Re: Sunscreen/bug repellent and cameras Ah ok there is the problem... the DEET! I figured it was something in the oils or some other chemical that was bad. Good to know! __________________

19th of July 2010 (Mon)	#8
Sparky98 Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: East Texas Posts: 921 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Sunscreen/bug repellent and cameras My truck has a leather wrapped steering wheel and sunscreen has discolored some spots on the leather but sweaty, dirty hands do the same thing because the leather is too soft. I have never had sunscreen stain anything else. I have left my fingerprints etched into a pair of binoculars because I had DEET on my hands. Now when I use sunscreen or DEET I wash my hands with hand sanitizer to get the bad stuff off my palms and fingerstips. So far that has worked for me. __________________ Joe 7D

19th of July 2010 (Mon)	#9
Karl Johnston Rare exception that I didn't say anything stupid" Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Canadian Arctic Posts: 9,020	Re: Sunscreen/bug repellent and cameras Holy crap I didn't know that about deet... __________________ Adventure The Canadian Arctic With Me Canadian Features Editor of Let's Be Wild Adventure Magazine

20th of July 2010 (Tue)	#10
YamahaRob Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: WI Posts: 487	Re: Sunscreen/bug repellent and cameras Dont know why bugs dont bother me. Must be still saturated in insecticides from doing pest control for 2 yrs. __________________ Rob Nikon D300 Canon AE-1P (it becomes digital when pics are scanned in with a scanner)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Canon cameras as good as Nikon cameras for HDR purposes?	lsquare	HDR	28	14th of April 2010 (Wed) 15:35
Any suggestions for non-greasy sunscreen for shooting mid-day sports???	pfjbaldwin	The POTN Lounge	3	18th of August 2009 (Tue) 11:23
Baseball, Snow and Sunscreen	vetkrazy	Sports	12	2nd of March 2008 (Sun) 00:57
bug repellent	oceangirl	Accessories & Storage	4	6th of May 2007 (Sun) 09:04
Do you use insect repellent when you go out to the field?	Leorooster	Macro	24	24th of July 2006 (Mon) 13:08