Pangur Ban Posted July 13, 2012 Share #1 Posted July 13, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm off to photograph the J-class yachts on the Solent next week and have hired a RIB for the day to do so. I'm now thinking about what camera to take and I'd like to use my M8, but the conditions could be wet: if it's a calm day then there could be spray kicked up by the rib and if typical for this damp, cool summer then rain as well. How would you suggest I go about protecting the M8 in such an environment? I'll probably take my M2 as well but guess that won't be as vulnerable, though clearly needing protection from salty sea water. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 13, 2012 Posted July 13, 2012 Hi Pangur Ban, Take a look here Protecting an M8 from sea spray. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
pgk Posted July 13, 2012 Share #2 Posted July 13, 2012 RIBs can be VERY wet depending on conditions and how they are driven! Its very difficult to keep cameras thoroughly dry on board them and as the M8 is not sealed it has to be kept saltwater free (because salt will not dry and can cause damage in the future unless totally removed). Personally I'd use a cheaper or sealed dSLR for such photography (although I do use my Ms on boats - generally hardboats - I do so only when its dry enough to do so safely - otherwise I use housed Canons), because trying to effectively seal an M and leave it usable is difficult. You could resort to plastic bags and gaffer tape (works fairly well but isn't entirely waterproof) or look at Ewa Marine bags (I'm not a fan and they make cameras more difficult to use). Otherwise keep you cameras in dry bags (a few £s from outdoor shops) and use them only when it is dry enough to do so - make sure that you take a towel in a dry bag too so that wet hands don't transfer saltwater onto the cameras. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted July 13, 2012 Share #3 Posted July 13, 2012 I would simply not risk it Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted July 13, 2012 Share #4 Posted July 13, 2012 If the photos are for your own consumption (i.e. just a record of the day and not likely to be published etc.) then why not buy a cheap weatherproofed P&S camera? Various models are available for about £100, you can use it without worry and if you did drop it in the sea and lost it, well it's not that much to lose! You can also buy those disposible cameras encased in plastic but maybe that's a bit too 'Lomo'. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgk Posted July 13, 2012 Share #5 Posted July 13, 2012 The Fastnet Rock lighthouse taken with an M9 from a 10m hardboat - Ms are perfectly usable at sea - but only in the right conditions and from an appropriate platform. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted July 13, 2012 Share #6 Posted July 13, 2012 I'm off to photograph the J-class yachts on the Solent next week and have hired a RIB for the day to do so. I don't see a problem if you are in charge of the RIB (and a force 9 gale isn't blowing) but I wouldn't take my M cameras on board if you have some nutter driving who wants to do their own thing. If you are really unsure you might consider hiring a DSLR and a lens or two for the occasion? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted July 13, 2012 Share #7 Posted July 13, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have a Pentax K-5 (for my wife, in theory) that is good for such occasions. Both the body and many lenses (even the kit zoom) are well weather sealed, and can be rinsed off after such exposure. The image quality is really quite good. The price has dropped a lot this year, probably for a new model intro this fall. It's not like using a Leica, but the risk is lower. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pangur Ban Posted July 13, 2012 Author Share #8 Posted July 13, 2012 I can see the sense in your counsel. I do have an old Nikon D70 that still takes good photos so that might see some use that day rather than the M8. I have a rain-sleeve for it and will have a dry-bag on board. I also have an Olympus waterproof p&s as well but really wanted something with more control (and a quicker shutter response). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Printmaker Posted July 13, 2012 Share #9 Posted July 13, 2012 My old M8 (with a few CV lenses) survived several months at sea with any serious problems. It was splashed a few times and got wet from fog and rain. It always functioned though I did have to pull the battery a few times to restart the camera. However, given the choice, I would not take it again. I was shooting from a 40 foot yawl while making a crossing and not a RIB. On other occasions, I have shot on the lee side of the island from a 28 foot chase boat with both my M8 and M9. The problem is not so much the durability of these cameras as the limited lens choice, lack of auto focus, lack of image stabilization and slow write speeds. A cheap used Nikon D2x and a cheep 70-300 would be a far better choice for shooting racing boats at a foot or two above sea level. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IkarusJohn Posted July 14, 2012 Share #10 Posted July 14, 2012 Do you anticipate taking pictures on the move? If so, the risk of getting wet is high, and I'd have thought an M is not the best choice. Conversely, if you're stopping, or motoring slowly to photograph the J's, keep your camera in a dry bag, and only take it out when the risk of getting it wet is small. A thorough wipe down at the end of the day should be enough. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.