Ocean "Air" and Lens Coatings

[Frank Petronio]

I'm not talking about actually getting salt water splashes on the lens itself, or even being out in a boat -- I'm talking about spending a week by the sea, so to speak. Is there any definitive advice (like from Leica) as to whether simply having a lens in a coastal environment "with salt air" will harm lens coatings and should be cleaned off? Or is it best to actually wait to see some sort of "film" or residue rather than do any sort of preemptive cleaning? I tend to be conservative and not to clean my lenses other than to blow off dust or actual oily smudges....

 

[ferider]

I live at the sea. I take my cameras out for one day only, and there is goop on the lens. The major reason for me to use good UV filters, which I can only recommend. I'm sure a few cleanings and filter less uses don't matter, my message is just about how quickly the glass becomes dirty.

Roland.

 

[35mmdelux]

Near the ocean there is not only salt in the air, there is also micro sand particles in the air. I always wipe off the camera after being near the ocean.

 

[merlin]

Live right off the beach, have for many years. Lens and filter always capped is the smart way to go – and a must in onshore winds. The closer to the beach the more chance of stray sand particles, and when I make sure to clean exposed lenses and bodies that night. Actually, I never wipe anything until I've lightly BRUSHED it FIRST to avoid the risk of often-invisible sand scratching and/or working into places it shouldn't be.

In my case, a sable paint brush works fine, as does the occasional vacuum ... obviously NEVER a blower.

 

[John Elder]

Hey Frank! I've shot an M6 at several beaches on many occasions. I keep a filter on all lens at all times. At the end of the day I carefully wipe down the camera with a moist cloth. If I am on a boat with the M6, I am pretty careful not taking the camera out if there is salt water blowing over the bow. I also keep the camera and each lens in a zip lock bag inside the camera bag when on a boat. The ziplock bag trick I believe actually saved my whole kit in 1995 when riding on the top of a highspeed catamaran traveling from Cozumel to Playa del Carma. Waves of water soaked eveybody on the open top deck and some bags were blown overboard. My Domke camera bag was totally soaked as was I, but the equipment remained dry because of the ziplock bags. I believe in using the equipment even in adverse situatuions, otherwise why have it. I still have the original M6 which has had 2 routine CLA'S over the years. I can't imagine being on Isle Mujeres on the beach and near the coast without my M6. Leica's are tougher than people give them credit for.

 

[Livesteamer]

I love using my M cameras at the beach but just recently picked up a Nikonos III for very little money. It's a fun camera, a little odd, but delivers great pictures with it's 35mm lens. Zone focus but at the beach it's never been a problem. Good in the snow and rain too. Try a Nikonos II or III, they're fun. Joe

 

[peterm1]

I used to own a Nikonos V and on several occasions have been tempted to buy one again just for the pleasure of being able to own and use one of these "brick out-houses" in adverse conditions. When I had one I used it as much on land as under water and found that it was just the ticket for trecking thru rainforest, canoeing down river, bushwalking in the rain and taking pictures at the beach. The standard 35mm lens was a bit inclined to flare when shot against the light but otherwise was well behaved, sharp and contrasty. Lots of fun. I still do not feel comfortable using any other camera at the beach.

PS as regards the coating on the lens. Mine did as a matter of fact have a spot of damage on it. A small circular section where the coating did not "take." It was there from new and always exacerbated the flare problem when shot against the light. I should have taken the lens back when I had the chance. But apart from this the lens never suffered despite many hours of saltwater immersion. Not sure if the same can be said of other lens coatings.

 

[Gumby]

Unlike some of the others posting, I've never noticed a problem from sea air during short (week or less) visits to the seaside. The only times when I've really worried about it was during winds and fog. I tend to not spend too much time in the sand but a lot of time on rocks, jetties, docks. The only camera protection I ever used consisted of a skylight filter... something I never worry about cleaning multiple times. I use "canned air" to clean the body when it gets dusty.