shooting near the sea . . . bad?

[bokenikon]

How harmful is it on lenses to shoot in a seaside environment? I'm not talking about getting anywhere near actual saltwater spray or sand but just being in the general environment, maybe 200 feet from the ocean. Anyone living in a coastal town knows about the humid salt air that leaves a thin film residue behind on a parked car after a couple hours. No lens is completely sealed from the environment . . . I can just imagine that 'sticky air' getting in and leaving residue behind.

 

[kokoshawnuff]

Not dangerous unless you drop the camera and lens in the ocean. Also wouldn't hurt the camera or lens to wipe it down using a towel moistened with fresh water; if that would relieve anxieties

 

[VTHokiEE]

I live very close to the ocean and I frequently shoot on the beach. Most of my cameras are out in the house, but not in rooms that I frequently keep the windows open. They seem to do fine and I really haven't had any issues specifically related to salt spray and humidity. I've had cheap non-sealed DSLR lenses for years that haven't had issues. Its where I live so I really don't worry about it all that much.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Lived 20 yards from the sea in Bermuda in the 60s and 70 yards from the sea in the 90s. No problem either way.

Cheers,

R.

 

[John Bragg]

Lived by the sea in Cornwall for most of my 50+ years and never had an issue.

 

[ferider]

Just use a good filter. That however, I find necessary, always goop on the filters when I clean them after beach outings.

 

[Gumby]

The bigger problem would be if you took your camera to the seaside and then found nothing interesting enough to photograph. I can guarantee you, though, that if you leave your camera at home because of concern for damage... you'll see all sorts of stuff that you'd regret not getting a picture of!

As the others have said, don't worry about it. I follow ferider's suggestion when I'm around salt water.

 

[Michael Markey]

I live two miles from the sea in one direction and less than a quarter of a mile in the other so salt is always carried in the air.
Like others have said , no problem but it is sensible to use a filter as ferider and Ed have suggested.

 

[Addy101]

I would never take my camera out, it might oxidate.... 😱

Don't worry, be happy. A lot of other places are also not that good, but if you don't bring your camera you surely won't get any pictures. Go out and photograph and, most importantly, share your pictures here!

 

[seakayaker1]

I did have an Minolta SLR that I used while sailing and seakayaking. I had problems with the camera and when I brought it in for repair after a decade of use the technician refused to work on the camera when I told him the environment I was using the camera in. He felt pretty strongly about the effect of salt air on a camera.

..... never ended up getting it repaired and eventually moved on to a cannon digital.

I have lived by (and on) water the majority of my life. Shelf life for items used in a marine environment is shorter, requires more preventive maintenance, and if it contains the word 'marine' you usually pay an inflated price for the object!

 

[Doug]

I lived in salt air in close proximity to Puget Sound until my mid-30's and never had any rust/corrosion problems with frequently-used camera gear. However, I gave a new Nikon FG and Tamron zoom to my parents who had waterfront property on the Sound. They never used it much, perhaps that contributed to its demise... After some years the only useful part was the Nikon-Tamron mount for the lens. Salted up, I guess, ruined. OTOH, my Dad often used the Pen FT he got in Japan in the 60's and is still in fine working order.

 

[rpsawin]

It would be a good idea to wipe them down after a day of shooting as a precautionary measure.

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

On the other hand, near the sea in a moist climate will eventually produce fungus on the lenses, unless you keep them in dry storage. A photographer on Maui told me that all his lenses die from fungus after a few years.

 

[Roger Hicks]

On the other hand, near the sea in a moist climate will eventually produce fungus on the lenses, unless you keep them in dry storage. A photographer on Maui told me that all his lenses die from fungus after a few years.

A moist, warm climate, usually with badly stored lenses (in the dark, in a closet). This was much more of a problem in Bermuda (where I lived for almost three years) than the Kent coast (where I lived for ten years). Also, of course, you needn't live near the sea to get high humidity: lakes, swamps, even rivers will do.

Cheers,

R.