How to use a tripod on the beach without damaging it?

Question

The site already has a good example of what to consider in regards to camera and lenses around sand, but I specifically am wondering what considerations to make when using a tripod near sand. Many years ago I took a cheap tripod with lever style legs, and sand really wrecked the entire tripod. I am hoping this time to avoid that issue. Is there a style of tripod that might be better, and how can I use it in such a way to limit any long term damage?

I don't have any specific shots in mind, just likely some long exposure night shots of the beach resort, and I might get it out in the day time for some self portraits.

Asked by dpollitt

Answer

In addition to @Itai's answer, I'd like to add, if you don't want to spend 1200$ on a tripod just to protect it from sands, you can use a little care, or on extreme situations, alternative DIY methods.

I also wrecked a tripod (not totally wrecked, but the sands kind of jammed the levers on the legs) by using it near a beach on a windy day. The next time I took some plastic (polythene) bags, cut them into long pieces (3" width) and adhesive tapes to put them around the leg lever joints like bandages. Worked like a charm. The only problem is, once you tape them in, you lose the ability to adjust the tripod height by extending the legs, otherwise this is good enough if you're not planning to go all out beach shooting. Adjust the tripod height before applying the tapes and you're good to go for that day.

And after the shooting, get to a safe place and use a rocket blower to blow off any accidental remaining sand particles near the lever joints just to be on the safe side.

DISCLAIMER: This method doesn't look pretty.

Additional Tips:

• Accept the fact that a tripod is a tool, it's OK if it gets dirty. Metal tripods will eventually corrode if you expose it to salt water on a regular basis. Get a carbon fiber tripod to prevent corrosion.
• Make it a practice to always extend the lowest section to keep the joints out of the sand.
• A broad sand "shoe" is useful in both sand and mud to keep the leg from sinking.
• If the tripod gets dirty, keep it extended until you can clean it.
• Any decent quality tripod will take many, many years to corrode to the point it really matters with occasional exposure to sand/salt water. So, open up all the legs, wash and rinse it thoroughly using clean water and wipe it dry before storing it.

Answered by ShutterBug

Check more discussion of this question.

What lenses will work best for desert landscapes?

Question

I'm going to be travelling to the Middle East soon and was wondering what the best setup for photographing desert landscapes would be. Here's what I have:

Canon 7D

EF 50mm f/1.8 II

EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

It turns out the above lenses are not weather-sealed. I can probably go to a lens rental service. In this case, what are some good Canon (or any EF-mount) lenses that are weather-sealed and good for desert photography?

UV Filter

Tripod

Also, does anyone have any general guidelines/tips for photographing in the desert?

Answer

Those lenses will die in seconds in the desert if there is wind. Actually I saw another non-weathesealed Canon lens stop working in less than 10s while in the Peru desert. In Egypt we had more luck but still a lot of people in the group had sand infiltrate their lenses. This is a good time to use a Clear or UV filter too as even a weather-sealed lenses get scratched, the filter will be ruined after that. I had an expensive polarizer damaged on the first sand-dune, luckily nothing happened to the weather-sealed lens I had.

Fortunately you have a weather-sealed camera and you shout match it with weather-sealed lenses. There are plenty for Canon mount. Normally for landscapes people go with something on the wide side but a medium telephoto is good to compress perspective which renders desert photos more interesting. The 17-40mm F/4 or 24-105mm would both make great choices. On the 7D the 24-105mm does not give you wide-angle, so you probably want a wider lens for monuments and such.

Check more discussion of this question.

How to remove sand from the lens cap?

Question

I was shooting at the beach and the lens cap fell into the sand twice. I brushed it clean, but there is still sand in the opening mechanism. I can press it to remove/place it, but I feel the strong grinding.

• Is there a way to clean this sand?
• If I use it with the sand, is there a risk to transfer sand to the lens? I think that the major problem would be sand in the rings of the lens, not on the front glass where it can be brushed away. The lens is not protected by a filter right now, because I will shoot in low light tonight. So the cap will go on the lens itself.
• Is using a slightly sandy lens cap riskier than shooting on the beach and carrying the camera around with no cap at all?

Answer

What kind of lens cap?

A lot of Canon lens caps can be taken apart very easily, which is really the most effective way to clean it.
Some Nikon caps (and all center-pinch caps) are more involved to disassemble.

Regardless, disassembly is really the way to go. Take it apart, clean all the pieces individually, and reassemble.

If you do not feel up to disassembling it to clean it, I would just buy a different cap. I would not use water, as most center-pinch caps have springs in them, which will rust.

The thing I would be most worried about is getting sand in your camera-bag, as it could then migrate to other parts of your camera, get in the mirror-box, etc...

---

Here is the construction of a Sigma Center-pinch Lens Cap.

As you can see, it has two steel springs, which would likely rust if you get it wet.
Disassembly is quite simple. The clips on the two removed tabs are what hold them in. I simply nudged the clips with a screw driver, and they popped out.

Check more discussion of this question.