550D Weather protection

hi all

i have been viewing and admiring photos on the site for quite a while now and finally decided to post my first topic

mods if i have posted in the wrong sections or if the thread already exists then i apologies

ok so i bought my 550D a couple of months ago and was wondering if i should take with me on my trip, its going to be very dusty and sandy and possibly we at times

would i be an idiot to use my camera in such conditions, btw I am still using the kite lenses ''going to upgrade soon'', as is and if not then what sort of protection is available there if any


thank you

I bought a couple of very cheap covers from ebay that are basically plastic bags with a drawstring to attach to the lens and a hole that you stretch over the eyepiece and then put the eye-cup back on. The bottom is open for holding / tripod mounting. I'm sure you could also cobble something together for your own needs.

I have rarely used them! But they take up no room in the bag.

I would use a protective filter on the lens in such conditions.

It is probably most important to carefully wipe down after use and careful use of blower to remove grit/dust where you can. Don't forget the bag which will now be contaminated.

I sometimes take my camera on small motorboats - I use a series of bags - a very old big outside one with a towel in the bottom, a plastic bag and a nicely padded cooler type bag inside. I leave my normal bag ashore. The towel is very useful!

In the end i guess it's a value / risk decision - how valuable are the shots vs potential for damaging equipment. I often take a P&S dinghy sailing, but don't risk my Canon.

You may be able to get by with a protective case, I use Pelican brand cases for camera and computer storage.

But if you want to use your camera in a dust or rain storm then you will need another solution like the above poster has mentioned.

Jim

Unless you are planning on totally burying or drowning your camera and lenses, a little bit of dust and/or rain won't hurt your camera.
I shoot motorsport including rallies and off road events in all kinds of conditions without any probs.
I've used many different bodies including the following - d30, 300d, 350d, 450d, 10D, 30D, 40D, 1D MkII, and 7D - and have not had any dramas except when my 40D got drowned when I was caught in a torrential downpour (2.5 inches/80mm in 15 minutes.)
Just use some common sense and you'll have no problem.
Some advice my camera tech once gave me when I complained to him about how dirty my gear was - "The only way to keep your camera gear perfectly clean is to wrap it in plastic, put it in its box and put the box in a cupboard and you'll never have a dirty lens again. You won't have any photos either, but at least your camera will be clean"
Those words still reverberate in my head 10 years later.
You bought your camera to take photos with - get out and use it and don't worry about what if's.

thanks for the quick replys guys, you guys are awesomely quick man

i think dixons idea seems to be the cheapest and most affordable for me i will see if i could get a hold of those bags

"The only way to keep your camera gear perfectly clean is to wrap it in plastic, put it in its box and put the box in a cupboard and you'll never have a dirty lens again. You won't have any photos either, but at least your camera will be clean"

that's is great advice

In case it helps I got a packet of two 18" "OP TECH USA" "RAINSLEEVE"s.

abuha wrote in post #11035573
ok so i bought my 550D a couple of months ago and was wondering if i should take with me on my trip, its going to be very dusty and sandy and possibly we at times

would i be an idiot to use my camera in such conditions...

If that makes someone an idiot, then I'm totally brain dead! Just keep your camera in a bag or holster pack when you're not actually shooting. Early Spring is the windy season here in central New Mexico, and the flying grit gets everywhere. I keep a clear multicoated filter on my lens when shooting outdoors on a windy day. Be careful to gently blow off any grit that may adhere to your lens element or filter.

Get yourself a rocket blower.