Some nifty changing lens ideas in dusty enviroment ?

[dennersten]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hi community. From professional photographer in the 80:s am i starting up as parttime proffessional again this spring. This summer am i going for a job 10 days in the bush. If it's a dry summer its the dustiest place on earth, just competing with Sahara. This makes me a little nervous. It was little problems during my Canon with 17 - 85 mm era. But now with Leica when you are forced to change lenses a lot am i thinking about the dust on the sensor problems.

 

Does anybody have ideas or nifty solutions? I was thinking about a plastic bag solution in my camerabag or something.

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[leicaM8freak]

Since the dust is a problem on its own with the M8, I use the plastic bag solution all the time.

It is the simplest and cheapest of all. A large clear(ish) plastic shopping bag will do. I found a reasonable sized one, of a good quality, and use a lenght of elastic band (used in clothes making) tied to fit, as a sleeve.

It folds down small to fit in the bag.

Works great for me

 

I am sure there will be bags around that might be more " professional"

(read expensive) with seperate elastic holes for acces of hands and a velcro closed bottom to cater for entry of camera and lens

If you have a old film changing bag which you are not using anymore, give that a thought, with a bit of DIY you might alter it to be able to see what you are doing if needed. With a bit of experience one can do it blind.

Only problem as far as I am concerned is that these things tend to get bulky..

[marknorton]

Alternatively, you can run with the lens you have and only changing when absolutely necessary.

 

It's too easy to get into the mind-set of asking "what lens do I need for this shot?" instead of, "where's the best place to position myself with the lens I have on the camera?".

 

I quite like going out with just a selected lens on the camera to see what I can get.

[wattsy]

Best solution is to have an M8 for each lens. Failing that a plastic bag will probably help.

 

When it comes to getting dust (as opposed to grease or other residue) off the sensor, I am a fan of the occasional and very careful use of canned air (I know that some here will have kittens just at the thought).

[wattsy]

Alternatively, you can run with the lens you have and only changing when absolutely necessary.

 

It's too easy to get into the mind-set of asking "what lens do I need for this shot?" instead of, "where's the best place to position myself with the lens I have on the camera?".

 

I quite like going out with just a selected lens on the camera to see what I can get.

 

Couldn't agree more but sometimes (especially if working on assignment) you just cannot avoid having to switch from one lens to another (say, from a 35 to a 90).

[Your Old Dog]

Does anybody have ideas or nifty solutions? I was thinking about a plastic bag solution in my camerabag or something.

 

If you're even thinking of using a bag, you should consider a cine film loading bag such as cinematographers use to loadup film magazines in the field. I know it would be perfect for your use but they are dark bags so you'd have to be willing to work in the dark?

 

Essentially you can think of them as a shirt with a very short tail. Imagine the neck sewed shut and the waiste part also sewed shut. Now you lay it on a table top and work your hands up thru the sleaves (from the outside of the shirt of course). You then do what you have to do by "feel". The "waiste" end of this device has a zipper which is how you get the equipment in the bag. It's been 20 years since I've used one but I think they're called "black bags". We used to load 16mm film magazines outdoors using them on the hood of the car. They are extremely portable and not a burden to have with you.;

 

goodluck...........

[xrogers]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I don't think dust is enough of a problem to change the way you shoot in any substantial way. I keep things clean and do quick lens changes, and have no notable dust issues.

 

Use rear caps always. Every night, check and clean the caps and lenses (the whole lens) if needed.

 

Have a visible dust brush, brush cleaner (in case you mess up the brush), a blower, wet sensor cleaning supplies (these likely won't be needed, but if they are, nothing else will do), and something to clean the chamber. Check your camera every night, wipe off external dust, and clean the chamber and sensor as required.

 

When you change lenses, prepare for the change and move relatively quickly---let the camera hang from the strap, hold the new lens in one hand, loosen the rear cap slightly, and hold it ready to mount. Then with the empty hand remove the current lens, pluck the rear cap from the new, mount the new lens, and cap and bag the old. (Many variations of this approach are equally workable, and are quite easy habits to develop. You'll have the camera open less than a second, and the lenses uncapped for several seconds at worst.)

 

Keep your camera bag closed as much as possible. Inspect the bag nightly, and clean it (inside and out) as required. I've never felt the need, but if you choose to plastic bag items, inspect and clean (or replace) the bags nightly.

 

Keep your hands and lower arms as clean as is reasonable in the situation. They will likely deposit most of the dust in your bag. If your gear is dusty, wipe it off with your shirt/hands/handkerchief before stowing it (to avoid gratuitous bag dust).

 

If it's so windy and dusty that you're getting worried, put your back to the wind and hunch over when you change lenses. If things get really bad, wear an oversized light shirt and change under the shirt. If you're in a true sandstorm, consider what are you doing outside anyway.

 

Use the aperture you need to use, but where it doesn't matter, shoot at wider apertures (espeically if you've noticed dust when reviewing shots).

 

Clyde Rogers

[Riley]

im not all that convinced that bags and things will help

so i would be prepared with a robust contingency plan

 

the desert plays hell with mechanical equipment

in my experience im talking about weapons and vehicles

it is afterall an environment that can stop a tank

 

you may need to cater for sandstorms as well

where the air is so think with sand it is virtually suffocating

[sean_reid]

I've been working with the M8 professionally since September 2006 and don't treat it any differently than any DSLR. I continue to be surprised at the amount of concern expressed about sensor dust on the M8. Its much less of a problem than with the 1Ds or 5D and is simply part of life with most DSLRs and both DRFs. My approach with all interchangeable lens digital cameras is:

 

1. Turn off the camera a couple seconds before the lens change to let the electricity drain from the sensor.

 

2. Loosen the mounted lens without removing it.

 

3. Uncap the new lens, blow the rear element with a blower if time allows (it often doesn't) and mount it as soon as the previous lens is removed.

 

Other than that, I tend to clean the camera sensors once every 2-4 weeks with equipment from "Visible Dust", more often for the FF Canons. I wouldn't make life more complicated for yourself than needed.

 

If the camera itself is dusty when you need to changes lenses, you may want to wipe it down quickly with a damp cloth (if that's possible). Otherwise, use whatever technique you used for your Canon. The changing bag is a neat idea for your very dusty conditions but the danger is that dust on the camera and lens will make its way into the changing bag.

 

Also, at a certain point its important to just get the pictures made and then spot certain pictures in PS if you need to. Just like the darkroom.

 

Cheers,