A Tough Test For The 7D

I've just come back from an amazing 2 week trip shooting in the Sinai Desert (egypt) with the local bedouin.

However despite the deserts amazing natural beauty when captured, the environment sure takes it's toll on camera gear.
I've shot in rain and snow and dropped my camera in the mud and ice... but the desert environment is by far the harshest environment for a camera.
Within a few moments dust and sand coats the camera and finds its way into every button.

So people take care if you're taking it into a desert environment, keep it covered with a shirt or cloth or something as much as you can!

Here's some photos of the camera on the first day!

Yikes! I guess that is one reason people spend big bucks for the 1D-series bods, but it is good to know your 7D was up to the task.

Nice pic, too!

my 7D will probably never see that much dirt on it, whether in my lifetime or the next few generations down the line, but its good to know it can hold up pretty well - especially in the Sinai.

Hopefully that lens was an "L" series lens with the gasket around the mount to keep the dust from migrating inside.

I've seen the 7D covered in snow/ice, rained on ... but your is the first I have seen 'dusted' by the desert!

I don't think that lens has weather sealing.

harcosparky wrote in post #10075111
Hopefully that lens was an "L" series lens with the gasket around the mount to keep the dust from migrating inside.

Looks kinda like the 28-135 kit lens. No sealing on that.

That's pretty impressive that it still works after such a treatment through a desert and all that. Not something i would do..

/ Magnus

This is just further proof that the 7D is a big step forward for Canon and them trying to give the consumers the best possible camera out there, below their flagship full-frame.

Thanks for the pix!

Yeah the 28-135 has no sealing, so I was concerned. I did the full sensor clean quite often, but there wasn't a lot I could do. The clay dust is really hard to prevent, didn't expect it!

Did you swap lenses a lot? I would be interested to see a small aperture shot at the sky or white wall to see if there is anything on the sensor.

Kudos to you for buying quality gear, using it and not crying about it. Any plans to send it off to be professionally cleaned or are you going to do it yourself?

Wow! It's nice to know the camera is capable of handling those types of conditions but I'm so anal about my 7D I got irritated when it got some dust on it during a windy baseball game!

BucketMan wrote in post #10075788
Did you swap lenses a lot? I would be interested to see a small aperture shot at the sky or white wall to see if there is anything on the sensor.

Kudos to you for buying quality gear, using it and not crying about it. Any plans to send it off to be professionally cleaned or are you going to do it yourself?

I only changed the lens once really, did that when I got some shelter. I did a small aperture shot when I was out there and it seemed clean so hopefuly it's okay.
I'll give it a proper check now I'm at home, but if it needs a clean I'll probably do it myself.

But yeah I'm all for letting my gear have a bit of the rough stuff if it lets me get the shot, I think good quality gear is a lot tougher than we expect.

Hope nothing goes wrong with it in the long run!

benesotor wrote in post #10075810
But yeah I'm all for letting my gear have a bit of the rough stuff if it lets me get the shot, I think good quality gear is a lot tougher than we expect.

I couldn't agree more. Egypt is high on my list of places i'd love to see one day. Glad the 7D served you well. Although I am nowhere near an upgrade both financially and gear necessity wise (my 40D works well), I would strongly consider the upgrade to the 7D over the xxD series due to the improved weather sealing/resistance.

Thanks for sharing!

Egad, now we know how well it holds up under adverse conditions. More 7D pics you took please.