image by flickr user Mrs Logic
There is an epic battle going on, with sand on one side and your camera equipment on the other. Who will be the victor? …Well maybe it isn’t quite that dramatic but they definitely don’t play well together. On one hand sand is awesome because it is not only an integral piece of beautiful beaches that are great to photograph but they are also what we use to make that fine glass that you use to photograph. On the other hand, sand is a pain in the “you know whatâ€. Let us take a look at what to do when you get sand in your camera equipment, what the damage is like and some tips on cleaning your equipment.
The most extreme situation is dropping your camera in the sand. Doing so is bad. Unlike dropping it on concrete or some other hard surface the camera has a much higher likelihood of survival so your instinct is to immediately test the camera out. Do not do this. Refrain yourself from turning the camera on, twisting its zoom, focusing, etc. The more common occurrence is getting caught in a dust storm and having your camera pummeled with sand, dirt and dust. Same thing, stop yourself from trying out the camera. If you do get into this situation, just relax and get your equipment in a safe place until you can take care of it in a safe environment.
What can happen if you don’t effectively control one or both of your urges to either test or take more pictures is you can end up with very cool looking and expensive paperweights. When sand gets into your camera it finds its way into everything. When it eventually gets into the moving parts it is all downhill. Sometimes it may not even feel broken but what the sand is doing is wearing down parts and damaging important components.
So what do you do when sand gets all up in your busi…camera? Well first of all, do not blow it off with air. Air will just force the sand into your equipment and if you do have sand already inside it will just push it deeper. We recommend using a dry soft bristle brush; a paint brush from the hardware store works quite well. Brush the sand away in a light sweeping motion until your unit(s) appears clear of all debris. Now try using it normally but with caution. If your camera equipment at any point in the next few days shows symptoms of sand contamination take it to professionals right away. The more you use it in that state the more damage will be done. If you catch it soon and refrain from use it will most likely be saved for a minimal cost.