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How to protect your digital camera at the beach

by Amy Chen (RSS feed) on May 31st 2010 at 2:30PM

If you'll be tanning at the beach this summer, make sure your digital camera doesn't also end up getting toasted. Though many camera manufacturers now make waterproof digital cameras or accessories, not everyone can afford to buy new gear just for a beach trip.

I checked in with Lindsay Silverman, Nikon's senior technical manager, for advice on how to protect your digital camera while at the beach.

Whether you own a SLR or a point-and-shoot, these five tips can help make sure your camera survives a day on the sand. Best of all, none of Silverman's tips require buying a lot of fancy accessories.

What should you do if you get sand in the camera?

Use a blower device, like the ones that you would find in a pharmacy for getting mucus out of a baby's or child's nose. It works great for blowing off moderate amounts of sand. If the camera really took a "dusting," send the camera in for servicing and let the experts take a look.

What do you do if the camera gets wet?
If it's a moderate amount -- let's say from a drizzle of rain -- I would just wipe the camera clean. If the camera has severe water damage, send it in for servicing.

What do you do if just the lens gets wet or gets sand on it? How do you wipe it without scratching anything?
Same as above; try using a blower to remove grains of sand.

Should you store your camera under the shade of a beach umbrella? What if you put it under a towel? Is that good because it's out of direct sunlight, or will it overheat if it's also in a bag?
Leaving the camera exposed on the beach can make the camera really hot. Not only will the camera get hot, the battery will also get very hot, so this is not a good idea.

Protect the camera as much as possible. What I like to do is bring a protective bag for the camera, and then I put it in a dry spot in my cooler. If you can't do this, keep the camera in its case and put that under a towel -- anything to keep it out of the sun and heat.

Should you leave your digital camera at home and take a cheaper one to the beach instead (or just use your camera phone)?
Leave a camera behind? Never! Just use common sense, and have a good time.

[Image Credit: Amy Chen]

Filed under: Gear, North America, United States, Budget Travel

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

BrianM May 31st 2010 3:02PM

I bought a camear waterproof bag that had a hard plastic lense ring for my pocket digital camera even take it snorkeling now it was only about $20 on that auction site and even works with the zoom etc. Now they even seem to have cheaper models. Still it is great to not worry and still have the camera.

ROBERT BOCK Jun 5th 2010 3:52PM

JUST USE A ZIP LOCK BAG , THEY COME IN MANY SIZES . AND THERE A CHEAP WAY TO KEEP THINGS FOR THE BEACH DRY

Smitch Jun 5th 2010 4:44PM

I bought a Canon PowerShot D-10 because I do a lot of boating. It's waterproof down to 10 meters, shock-proof when dropped from 5 ft. or so, and freeze-proof. Sand shouldn't bother it either.

Kath Jun 5th 2010 5:47PM

"Use a blower device, like the ones that you would find in a pharmacy for getting mucus out of a baby's or child's nose."

What the heck is he talking about? Those baby syringes are meant to suction mucous out of baby's nose, not blow it out. Don't think this would do much for sand stuck on a lens.

GC Jun 5th 2010 6:03PM

Like other AOL readers, I have to ask. Where do you get these writers? What kind of research do they do? Over half this stuff they write is a crock, therefore certainly not helpful or informative.

Carolyn Jun 6th 2010 10:25AM

I couldn't agree more. I thought the information on Animal Planet was correct but even that is a crock. They said animals don't do revenge. Where or what animals have they been dealing with. Same with a story about the Amityville Horror House. Ronald DeFeo was a drugie out & out. He killed his whole family. END of story. In the movie there were 3 different houses IF you paid attention NONE of which were the REAL house. AND the rest of the story is all MADE UP to sell to Hollywood to make $ to be able to buy that house which didn't work for the first people after the murders. I live in Amityville. If you doubt it go to the town hall for info. Maybe the people that write these things for AOL should go to Town Hall as the info they get & post is more often a crock. Same as answering here also. A lot of times I type something & never get a confirmation so these things work when & if. What a way to run a railroad.

Kimo Jun 5th 2010 11:06PM

I wonder about some of you making these comments. Neither do you know a lot about camera's and care. To keep your camera protected, clean and dry at the beach, a gallon ziploc bag is the best. Lots of room. Sand gets in camera bags and cases. Stick it under a towel in the shade in that big bag too. A baby syringe works great with sand unless you are burying it in the sand. You are blowing the sand off not sucking it out dummy. As for cleaning the lense, that is what lense covers are for that comes with good cameras. You can also buy moist lense tissue. Like anything eles, you have to be careful when cleaning delicate things whether it be cameras, babies or ladies. I cary my cheapest camera $775.00 Nikon D50 SLR alone under my vehicle seat 24/7 365 says a year. That gallom ziploc works great there too. I have been taking pictures for fifty years and even self portraits before automatic timed cameras were thought of. Hey guys, use a little common sense.