5 Natural Enemies of Camera: How to Protect from Them

You have invested your savings in a camera device, and in addition it brings you a lot of fun every day. If you’re a bit like it, it’s a bit of a prune in your eyes. But your camera has many nasty naughty enemies all full. Let’s see how you can protect your camera from them.

1. Water

This is the Enemy No. 1, unless you own a totally tropicalized housing and lens (which I think is not the case with most of you), exposing your device to water to be immediately fatal.

The worst case is that you drop it into the ocean, a bath, a river, a municipal fountain, or your toilet. Don’t laugh: it can happen to everyone. Only one solution: you had a strap with your case to tie it around your neck, use it. So yes, it’s less classy than carelessly holding your SLR of $1500 in the hand, but quite frankly. I always have a deaf fear that takes me to the belly when I see someone holding their device like this. 😛

Of course, water can tackle your little gem in many other ways. Rain first, of course. A few drops will not kill it, even if it is not tropicalized, rest assured. But in case of heavy rain, do not take it out, or else protect it. I already wrote an article on – how to protect a camera from rain?

But water can be tricky: you don’t think enough about the condensation that can settle on your goals, especially when you suddenly change temperature (in winter especially). First of all, you need to constantly have one or two bags of “silica gel” in your photo bag. They absorb moisture and will most of the time avoid this problem to your device. Consider renewing them regularly.

In case of very large temperature differences, I can also suggest you place your device in a waterproof plastic bag before taking it home, or even try to make it gradually warm up. If it is -20°C outside, do not hesitate to place it a little in the fridge (4°C) on your way back before putting it back in your room at +20°C. 😉

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2. Dust

Treacherous, dust does not threaten the outside of your device, but rather to get inside, especially on your sensor. This usually happens when you change the lens.

The best solution is to change them as quickly as possible, with your sensor device down, so as to limit the introduction of dust. Also avoid changing lenses in the wind, in a particularly dusty environment, in short in a risky situation. Obviously, everything is not always ideal, and if you need to change it outdoors, be sure to protect yourself as much from the wind, by a natural obstacle or by hindering your body (yes, absolutely).

On top of that, don’t forget the dust that could already be on the back of the lens and thus get into your sensor. So, consider putting a “lens pen” (these kinds of pens with a brush at the end) on the back cover of your lens from time to time. 😉

As for the dust that can settle on the front lens, a shot of lens pen can do the trick. But don’t buy the 1st price from Aldi, and go easy on it, at the risk of doing worse than better.

3. The Sand

Sand is a bit like dust, but worse. Because sand is abrasive. A grain of sand can leave a nice scratch on the lens of your camera. And I don’t even tell you the state of your device’s mechanisms if sand gets inside. Brrrr, I’d be shivering.

It cannot be totally avoided as the coastline presents exceptional photographic opportunities. So, you must take your precautions. Already, if you lay quietly on the beach, your device should be in your camera bag, itself at least on a towel.

Besides, it is not useless to add one or two layers of plastic bags if you are a little paranoid on the edges. And when you go home, think about emptying your camera bag of the sand that has necessarily got into it. (why not a small vacuum cleaner?).

If you ever have the courage to change lenses on the beach, take the same precautions as for dust, but also watch the surroundings to prevent a frisbee or a ball full of sand from landing on your equipment, and so you want to end the days of the culprit. 😛

This is one of the only situations where I strongly recommend the use of a UV filter or protection. It also protects from the next enemy that is also encountered on the coast.

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4. Salt

I imagine that you have all been to the sea (if you ever live in a landlocked country and have never seen the sea, put it at the top of the list of things to do in your life). Spend 10 minutes on the coast in the wind, and your lips taste like salt. Because the sea is salty! (admire my immense knowledge 😉). In short, spray does not just dry your throat and give a salty taste to everything you eat.

Indeed, salt is corrosive, and it is better to avoid getting into your device. As much as possible avoid exposing the sensor but also the battery compartment and memory card to spray.

Also, clean your material with a microfiber cloth (not with a handkerchief or similar) at least once a day if you are at the beach. You will also quickly see a thin whitish film settle in the corners of your optics in particular, which should alert you of the situation.

5. Sunscreen and Mosquito Repellent

Those who hang out in nature like me should know, sunscreen (index 50, it will save you from having skin cancer 😉) and mosquito repellent are essential tools for survival when you spend several hours outside.

You are protected from becoming scarlet (and this is also important for your long-term health), and from being eaten by this dirt of mosquitoes, taons, and other insects. Except that sunscreen, it is often oily, and mosquito repellent stuffed with chemicals. As long as we do, we avoid putting all this in direct contact with the camera, your camera will thank you.

So, wash your hands in cool water after spreading these products: at least the fingertips, which is unlikely to get a sunburn. 😉

Another useful precaution: do not store sunscreen in your photo bag. It may be tempting, but frankly, do you want the bottle to open and spread its contents on your lenses?

That’s it, I hope this article will help you pay a little more attention to all these enemies of our cameras. But do not become paranoid either, it’s about continuing to enjoy yourself by photographing. 😉

Feel free to leave a comment to share your bad experiences, or the times when you almost damaged your camera. Or also to ask questions eh, I’m not sectarian, 😛 otherwise there is the newsletter too, right, it seems that there is a cool bonus with, but Hush, I did not tell you. 😉

And don’t forget to share the article. 🙂

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