How to care for your camera in Cold and Wet Conditions
I am a great believer in getting out in all weather conditions as a Landscape Photographer. Some of my favourite images have been taken when I am in some of the worse conditions. I have never had a camera fail on me due to water, ice or snow and in this article I wanted to outline some of the things I consider and implement to ensure I get the best images in the worse conditions without damaging my camera.
Preparing Your Gear Before Heading Out
Using a simple shower cap on my camera
Understand if your camera is weather sealed or weather resistant
Weather sealed cameras have much better protection against water and dust ingress. Most modern cameras have some kind of weather sealing. Lenses also have weather sealing but some of the less expensive ones are just weather resistant. In my experience with Nikon gear even the weather resistant lenses are still very good in bad weather such as the 24-200mm lens which I often expose to rain.
Invest in weather-sealed cameras and lenses if you often shoot in harsh conditions. These are designed to resist water and dust to a certain extent.
Remember, weather-sealing is not foolproof; additional protection is always recommended when near salt water as this can quickly damage a camera or lens.
Protective Covers
I don’t like using the bigger protective covers as I feel that they restrict me but I always have a shower cap in my bag for when I want to protect my camera (especially when near the ocean and sea water)
Lens Hoods
Lens hoods are great at protecting the lens surface from water if the wind is in the right direction. Especially with longer lenses.
Attach a lens hood to minimize rain or snow landing on the lens.
Micro Fibre Cloths
I think one of the most important items you can put in your camera bag is a micro fibre cloth. I have never really liked the ones you can get from super markets so last year, with my Son, Sam I decided to make my own. We got about 20 samples from various manufactures and tested them for water absorbency, softness, durability and best size. And came up with the ND Micro Fibre camera cloth.
The ND Heavy Duty Microfibre Cloth (40cm x 40cm, 500GSM)
Packing Your Bag
Line your camera bag with silica gel packs to absorb excess moisture.
Ensure your bag is waterproof or use a rain cover for your backpack.
Organize gear so wet accessories don’t mix with dry items.
Shooting in Wet, Snowy and cold Conditions
When I was shooting in Luskentyre, Scotland in the snow I left my lens hood in the car. In this case it would of really helped keep the lens free of snow.
Rain
Avoid pointing your camera upward or into the win in heavy rain or snow to minimize water exposure.
Frequently check and wipe the lens with a microfiber cloth to prevent water droplets from ruining your shots.
Snow and Ice
Use gloves with touchscreen capability to maintain dexterity while keeping your hands warm.
Brush off snow before it melts on your gear. Use a soft microfibre clothl to gently remove snowflakes.
Near Salt Water
Be cautious of sea spray, which can corrode your camera’s metal parts and degrade coatings on lenses.
Use a protective cover (I often use a show cap) by the sea to guard against salty air and sand.
Bringing Your Camera Indoors
One of the most overlooked steps in camera care is managing the transition from cold or wet environments to warmer, indoor spaces. Warmer moisture condenses on cold surfaces so if you take a cold camera out in your room too quickly it can causes some issues.
Avoid Condensation
Dry your camera and place your it your camera bag or airtight plastic bag (like a Ziploc) before bringing it indoors. This traps the cold air and prevents condensation from forming on your gear as it warms up.
Leave the bagged camera in your camera bag for an hour or two until it reaches room temperature.
Put some reusable silica gel packets in with your camera.
Dry Everything
Once inside and warmed up, remove any covers or filters and carefully dry all parts of your gear with a soft microfiber cloth.
Pay special attention to crevices, buttons, the eye piece, and the lens mount. However, don’t take the lens off until you are sure that the camera has got to room temperature
Cleaning Your Gear After a seawater Shoot
Sea water is very dangerous and can immediately kill any camera equipment. I am always way more careful when around sea water and constantly cleaning any inevitable splashes off my camera.
Dealing with Sea Water
Immediately clean any gear exposed to salt water or sea spray, as salt is highly corrosive.
Use a damp cloth with tap water to wipe down your camera and lens.
Clean the lens surface carefully as sand and salt maybe present microfiber cloth. I prefer to let it all dry and then use an air blower to remove any particles before a final clean.
Additional Tips for Extreme Conditions
Cold Weather
Keep spare batteries in a warm pocket, as cold temperatures drain battery life faster. I like to have a hand warmer that I can use for batteries.
Use an insulated camera wrap on a lens to protect against freezing temperatures (especially when doing time lapses)
Rainy Days
Always carry multiple microfiber cloths to dry off your gear during and after the shoot.
Sandy Environments
Avoid changing lenses on windy beaches to prevent sand from entering the camera body. If you have to then have your back to the wind and try and find some shelter. If you have a camera with a sensor shield ensure that is down.