Digital cameras 101

[ErininNY]

My rebel XT should be here by Wednesday, YaY !

I've been doing a lot of reading on the homepage and came across a problem I KNOW I'll have this weekend (from the 'dos and donts page')---- condensation !!!    

How can I prevent condensation from building up on/in my camera ?  Do I have to worry if its in its case and in my truck ?  Or should I wrap it up in a clean towel and then store it in a case

[Deb]

Hi there ErininNY!

Hiking/camping/shooting (photos that is) is a whole lot of fun! So, if it's humid or I anticipate rain, I carry along ziplock bags. When going from a cooler to a warmer or warmer to cooler environment, I put the cameras and lenses in ziplock bags. The condensation will form on the outside of the bags rather than on the gear itself. You may also want to carry along a bit of dessicant and a soft lint-free cloth.

If you're going to be keeping your gear in your truck, be very aware of its interior temp. It often can get too hot/cold in a vehicle and this can drain your batteries. If the temps are extreme, you may damage your gear as well. In practice, I don't keep my gear in a vehicle. I carry it all along with me. In extreme cold conditions (for the batteries that is), I take them out of the camera and keep them close to my body to keep them warmer otherwise I tote them in my backpack. I strap my tripod to the outside center of the pack. If I'm just out for a dayhike, I carry a camera bag worn with the strap crosswise so as to not have it slip off my shoulder or bang/bounce around causing me to lose balance on uneven/rocky ground. I do the same with the tripod (I added a strap to it as well).

Hope this helps. Have a dandy time!

[ErininNY]

Yes it does, Thank you !!

Ziplock bags, why didnt I think of that ? LOL

Just one more question, what is dessicant  ??

[Deb]

Great!  

A dessicant is a collection of granules chemically suited to absorb moisture. You've probably seen tiny packets of this stuff in packaged electronics. You can do a Google search to find a dealer. Some hardware stores carry it though in large quanities (like for drying out basements, etc.).

Have a great trip!

[ShutterbugGail]

Just one more question, what is dessicant  ??

Here's a bit of more information about dessicant, also known as silica gel.


http://www.digicamhelp.com/camera-care/silica-gel.htm

Enjoy your new digital camera. From all I hear and read, it's a great one.

[ShutterbugGail]

Hi there ErininNY!

Hiking/camping/shooting (photos that is) is a whole lot of fun! ......

Great info, Deb. Never thought about some of this stuff. Very useful.

[Deb]

One other thing I forgot to mention ... when you get back from camping and are doing the laundry, be sure to check your shirt pockets. You DO NOT want to wash the compact flash card hastily left in there.    (Ok, I admit that tip may come from personal experience. Ha, ha!)

[ShutterbugGail]

Oh, how could you Deb? I'm shocked that you would do such a thing!!!!

Gotta go now. Need to check out my Micro Cruzer usb flash drive, which I soaked along with my jeans yesterday, and have it hanging upside down to give it a further drying out.  

btw, a quick check of it yesterday, and it's still working. I'm lucky.

[Deb]

  ... I'll have to tell you about the time I slid a short way down a hillside (off trail hiking gone awry) into a snowbank WITH my camera in hand. Ha, ha!

Glad to hear your drive is working fine!

[ShutterbugGail]

Oooh, sounds like "fun."

Hold off for a while. Within a week or so, I may add a board here on sharing funny camera experiences/goofs. Just to add something lighthearted. In fact, humor is a great way to learn.

Will I dare admit mine?!  

[Mike54]

I'll have to tell you about the time I slid a short way down a hillside (off trail hiking gone awry) into a snowbank WITH my camera in hand.

Ooooh so I'm not the only one. I'll have to find the pic of the trail I got stuck on in the dead of winter trying to get to a waterfall. I really thought I was a goner.

[Mike54]

Here you go. See that little tree about in the middle? I was holding on to that for a while trying to figure out just how I was going to get out without going down, down down!

Don't let the snow fool you, everything was a sheet of ice. Getting in was easy, getting out, not so much.

[Deb]

Hey, whatever it takes right?  

[Mike54]

Hey, whatever it takes right?

Gotta get the shot...

[Deb]

Oooooooooooo, pretty!  

[ShutterbugGail]

Hi again, ErininNY!

I hoped we've answered all your questions. If not, let us know.

Sometimes we moderators can get silly. Hope you don't mind. Our goal here is to be not only helpful but friendly, as I think you can see.