Posted by Rick Lundh on August 21, 2007 at 8:41 PM
This shot was taken from my camera, but I did not press the shutter. I was on the same groups of rocks as 2 weeks previously and got hit by a high tide sneaker wave AGAIN! This time, I was on the ocean side of the rock when the wave hit and it completely soaked me and my camera (which was still on tripod). I mean, my camera got really wet. So much that the water fired off a shutter click. After I regrouped down on the shore, I took a look at my camera. It turned on just fine, but when I pressed the image preview button...it would fire off exposures instead. Well...I just banged it against my other hand a few times (sorta gently)...turned it off...then back on and blam! It was back in business as usual mode. Had this camera been non water resistant...it surely would have bitten the big one, I am sure of that.
I should probably send it in for cleaning now though :)
Posted by Tom Kloster on August 21, 2007 at 8:57 PM
Yes, water-resistant is a good thing! Last summer, I actually caught the death of my last camera (due to water) in a series of slow-death images... I posted them here.
That's what led me to assemble my "ProBrella" setup, a $40 investment that was quite a bit cheaper than buying the more expensive, "water-resistant" camera body!
I'm still pretty nervous about taking my camera anywhere NEAR the surf (and sand, for that matter) - I'm impressed that you guys do that, much less with waves crashing over your head!
Tom
Posted by Rick Lundh on August 21, 2007 at 9:12 PM
lol...Tom, those are great images! Defintely tells a story!
Posted by Tom Kloster on August 21, 2007 at 9:50 PM
...a $650 story, plus shipping, to be exact...
Tom
Posted by Rick Lundh on August 21, 2007 at 10:01 PM
lol... Tom, your a funny dude
Posted by Sean Watson on August 22, 2007 at 2:54 AM
Rick, you're one lucky guy! It's a kinda interesting abstract shot, but I don't think I'll be trying out your technique.
Ever think of getting one of those underwater housings? It's probably more expensive than the body, but not more expensive than 2 or 3 bodies.
I think Nikon charged me $850 to refurbish my camera after I found it floating away from my upside-down kayak. And another $850 to refurbish the 70-200. I was happy to pay that rather than replace the camera. But mine was in fresh water (ok Lake Washington water); yours would've been salt.
Oh man! You guys are crazy! I just smash my stuff onto concrete. That way the camera and lens only suffer a split second of facing their demise.
Now the people at the camera store know to sell me bomb proof stuff! So far, so goodÉ after another concrete collision last weekend and a check up at the repair shop. KlutzÉ
Posted by Adrian Klein on August 22, 2007 at 9:24 AM
I agree with Sean. It's interesting but not something I am going to try and emulate!
I am glad to see this conversation thread though, not that it's good that cameras and lenses are getting damaged! But to see others are out there risking their equipment to get the images they want. It seemed before this that I was in the minority of folks I know putting my camera through the ringer. I take care of it in regards to make sure it's working, but I could careless about the asthetics of it. I buy my stuff to use it no matter how much I spend. Photo gear is no fun keeping it home to stare at and wiping it with a cloth all day. Glad to see you are doing this too Rick.
Posted by Mike Stovall on August 22, 2007 at 11:05 AM
Geez, Rick, that sucks that you got soaked--especially with salt water.
Just yesterday, I dropped my camera in McCord creek... I have the Gitzo 1228 with the sliding center column. Unbeknownst to me, the stop for the center column had unscrewed and fallen out along the trail. When I pushed the camera up to get a higher perspective, the whole assembly (camera, ball head, and center column) lifted up out of the tripod and fell into the water. I still had a grip on the remote release, but it wasn't strong enough to hold it all. Luckily it was only under for about 1 to 1.5 seconds. The 17-40 f/4L luckily, seals to the body with a rubber gasket. There was minimal water inside the body and I'm sure it will be fine. The camera was in sleep mode and it was fresh water. The only things I'm worried about is mineral deposits on the optical surfaces in the lens and body as the water evaporates and the cost of having it cleaned!!
Posted by Curtis Knight on August 22, 2007 at 12:09 PM
I like what you're going for here, but the obvious camera shake really takes away from the emotion IMHO... have you considered a sturdier tripod?
Sounds like those Nikons are pretty tough... I don't have that much confidence in my DRebel... I'm sure it would have bit the dust after that. Glad your gear came out ok... I do wonder what that salt will do to it over the next couple weeks though...
Posted by Ned Fenimore on August 22, 2007 at 12:15 PM
I know a good local shop Mike....
You guys are lucky, no doubt. Drenching my 1V the repair was more than the cost of a new camera...
Dang dude, thats twice. You better be real leary of the third time you get hit.
Posted by Rick Lundh on August 23, 2007 at 1:51 AM
Eric, what do they say...third time's a charm? 3 strikes, your out? lol...
Mike, good to hear that your camera is fine.
Catherine, I'm not crazy...just stupid!
I though this shot was kind of funny how you can see the wave just as it was coming over me! I'll post the shot that I took just 20 seconds before as the wave was coming in...
Posted by John Lehmkuhl on August 23, 2007 at 1:19 PM
Whoa. The story is better than the image but considering the fact that the ocean took it, I don't feel qualified to critique it.
Discussion
13 repliesI should probably send it in for cleaning now though :)
That's what led me to assemble my "ProBrella" setup, a $40 investment that was quite a bit cheaper than buying the more expensive, "water-resistant" camera body!
I'm still pretty nervous about taking my camera anywhere NEAR the surf (and sand, for that matter) - I'm impressed that you guys do that, much less with waves crashing over your head!
Tom
Tom
Ever think of getting one of those underwater housings? It's probably more expensive than the body, but not more expensive than 2 or 3 bodies.
I think Nikon charged me $850 to refurbish my camera after I found it floating away from my upside-down kayak. And another $850 to refurbish the 70-200. I was happy to pay that rather than replace the camera. But mine was in fresh water (ok Lake Washington water); yours would've been salt.
Sean
Now the people at the camera store know to sell me bomb proof stuff! So far, so goodÉ after another concrete collision last weekend and a check up at the repair shop. KlutzÉ
I am glad to see this conversation thread though, not that it's good that cameras and lenses are getting damaged! But to see others are out there risking their equipment to get the images they want. It seemed before this that I was in the minority of folks I know putting my camera through the ringer. I take care of it in regards to make sure it's working, but I could careless about the asthetics of it. I buy my stuff to use it no matter how much I spend. Photo gear is no fun keeping it home to stare at and wiping it with a cloth all day. Glad to see you are doing this too Rick.
Just yesterday, I dropped my camera in McCord creek... I have the Gitzo 1228 with the sliding center column. Unbeknownst to me, the stop for the center column had unscrewed and fallen out along the trail. When I pushed the camera up to get a higher perspective, the whole assembly (camera, ball head, and center column) lifted up out of the tripod and fell into the water. I still had a grip on the remote release, but it wasn't strong enough to hold it all. Luckily it was only under for about 1 to 1.5 seconds. The 17-40 f/4L luckily, seals to the body with a rubber gasket. There was minimal water inside the body and I'm sure it will be fine. The camera was in sleep mode and it was fresh water. The only things I'm worried about is mineral deposits on the optical surfaces in the lens and body as the water evaporates and the cost of having it cleaned!!
Sounds like those Nikons are pretty tough... I don't have that much confidence in my DRebel... I'm sure it would have bit the dust after that. Glad your gear came out ok... I do wonder what that salt will do to it over the next couple weeks though...
You guys are lucky, no doubt. Drenching my 1V the repair was more than the cost of a new camera...
Mike, good to hear that your camera is fine.
Catherine, I'm not crazy...just stupid!
I though this shot was kind of funny how you can see the wave just as it was coming over me! I'll post the shot that I took just 20 seconds before as the wave was coming in...