M8 and Humidity , Rio de Janeiro in January

[crist]

Hi,

I'm planning to go to Rio de Janeiro , any advice?

 

[Olsen]

I bought my M8 in Singapore, - also a very humid place. I had no serious problems. What is typical is that all glass on the camera fogs up when you take it from a cold and air conditioned hotel room and bring it to the warm and humid air outdoor. But if you warm up your camera in the sun for a few minutes the fog disappears. No panic.

My Nokia cell phone just gave up during a lengthy jungle trekking in Malaysia once. But my Canon 1Ds III which I carried at the time functioned all right. Try to keep your M8 as dry as possible.

 

[crist]

thanks so much!!!!!

 

[Hephaestus]

I took an M8 to the south of India during the start of the monsoon season, and to Malawi just at the end of their season, and other than the fogging that Olsen describes, I had no problems.

Good luck!

R

 

[samuco]

hi,

i have quite a lot of experience with cameras in rio (hasselblad, M8), in various seasons, from zona sul to deep into the favelas rocinha and maré, but never had any problem with humidity

as long as i use leica (more than 25 years) i wrap my cameras and lenses in chamois leather and put them together in any bag - nowadays in an inconspicuous backpack
the chamois leather will not only protect the lenses when they bump, it also protects them from humidity and takes the grease and sweat from your hands

have fun and don't wear your camera like a piece of jewelry!

sam

 

[Wouter]

Tape up the leica and m8 logos. Put the camera in a bag that doesn't attract attention when you don't use it, but carry the bag up front, not on your back. Try not to walk around alone, but always with a friend. Don't let yourself be talked into situations that you think you cannot control. Don't get drunk or stoned when you're with your camera. Bear in mind that not all robbery is spontaneous and depends on the moment. On the contrary, a lot of it is planned. Avoid letting the camera go out of your hands. If you're being robbed, give the camera and all the rest without resistance or the chance is real that you'll be shot or killed. Security issues are to be taken seriously in Rio, but it's possible to deal with the situation.

 

[crist]

well , besides the humidity, my biggest fear is assault. I thougt about not carrying my camera on this trip, but if I have the camera, I have use it!
thank you very much for your advice!!!

 

[Mephiloco]

I dont think taping the m8 is going to prevent any theft. I went with my now ex and we had a gun pulled on us for her crappy 2 megapixel nikon p&s and about R$20 of our R$800. Just keep it put away if you're not using it

 

[andredossantos]

OK I've never been in Rio but have photographed in other places in South/Central America.

Keep your camera in a crappy looking bag and take it out when you want to take a shot. Of course, this is a pain but a big method of robbery involves someone running by or riding by on a motorbike and grabbing your stuff. Putting it away discourages this somewhat.

Above all, use your intuition and if you feel like you are being watched or are find yourself in a desolate area don't take out your camera even if it means losing a shot.

 

[crist]

i have an idea (anti-theft)

 

[larryk34]

I used my M8 in Cambodia and Viet Nam. Doesn't get much more humid that that. Slip the camera into a zip lock back and seal it when going in and out of airconditioning. Probably shouldn't leave it in the bag after it equalizes the temp and humiditiy. I'll pass on one of the best ideas I heard about on this forum: snatch the free plastic shower caps from hotels whenever you can. They fit in you camera back and when necessary cap itself exactly fits the M8 or M9. Completely wraps around it and overlap next to your body. This cover is easy to take off (even just partially) and put back on during a drizzling off and on-again type of rain. A few drops from a waterfall were easy to wipe off with a cloth. Shower caps, who da thought.

 

[crist]

thanks to everybody