Caring for Photography Gear in Changing Climates

The weather is officially changing for the summer, and there are some important rules to remember when managing your gear during changing climates. Between going from a nicely heated cabin to the wintry outdoors or from a humid area into a dry, air-conditioned house, there are a few critical steps to take to ensure that your gear functions properly. But there are also a lot of important steps that you should take when shooting in various environments, so this article is meant to serve as a guide on how to care for your gear in a variety of shooting environments to ensure that it doesn’t get damaged by any of the elements.

When you do a Google search on taking care of gear, you’ll likely be fed a store post for a big, expensive dry box where you can store your camera and lenses. Now, if you want to spend entirely too much money on something that isn’t really necessary (unless you have VERY old lenses), then by all means, go for it, but the need for one of these isn’t essential. Most modern lenses are well sealed, so it’s doubtful that mold or other elements will develop in the lens, and if that is your worry, a decent dehumidifier can be bought for 1/10th the cost of those dry boxes and do the same thing.

Checking Condensation Levels Using the Dew Point

When planning for weather at a destination, forecasts offer more than just predicted highs and precipitation chances. A critical, yet often overlooked, metric is the dew point temperature. Available on most weather websites and applications, the dew point reveals the exact temperature at which air moisture will condense into liquid. This figure holds practical significance. The common experience of eyeglasses fogging when moving from cool air-conditioning into warm, humid air illustrates the same physical principle. Camera lenses and equipment are similarly susceptible.

Understanding the dew point allows for proactive preparation against condensation. For instance, if the outdoor air temperature is 70 degrees with a dew point of 67 degrees, equipment cooled in an air-conditioned environment below 67 degrees will inevitably experience fogging when brought into the warmer exterior environment. While the dew point is always lower than or equal to the air temperature, the gap often narrows in cooler conditions compared to warmer climates. Most weather reports will offer dew point information, and it’s essential to check, especially in humid conditions.

If this concerns you, keeping your camera in your bag until entering the outdoor climate is recommended. Most bags are well insulated and will help compensate for the changes in humidity from one environment to another. And if, by all means, you are getting fog or condensation developing on your lens, wait it out and do not pull the lens from your camera unless, of course, you want to test your sensor durability by implementing condensation in the body of your camera (you don’t, trust me).

Dealing with Extreme Cold

Aside from the condensation levels, cold weather can also wreak havoc on your gear in other ways. For one, if you’re in a cold environment with ice and snow prevalent, then you’re in an environment where you need to take the necessary precautions that you would when dealing with water, because after all, that is what you’re dealing with. If you’re going to be in the elements, getting yourself a waterproof case isn’t a bad idea at all, and is the only surefire way to protect your gear from the ice and snow. However, if that is less of a concern, a plastic bag with a hole cut out for the lens can also help protect your gear a reasonable amount.

The other big concern when shooting in an extremely cold environment is that your battery life will suffer. Depending on the temperature, batteries can lose up to 40% of their capacity in cold weather, so it’s important to have spares on hand if you’re planning on shooting all day. If you have those spares, it’s recommended that you keep them in a warm place — either an insulated camera bag or even in your jacket pockets.

Water and Sand

It’s no secret that water and electronics don’t play well together, so when working in a wet condition like a beach, you’ll want to protect your camera gear at all costs — especially if that beach has salt water. The same tips apply: keep your camera out of the water as much as possible, use a waterproof case for your camera if you can, and don’t swap lenses if you can help it. The same precautions apply to sand. Sand can get into your camera and lens, and cause significant damage to your gear very quickly. If you’re shooting in a place with sand, it’s important to treat it as if it’s water, and I’d also recommend having a rocket blower in hand to clean off your gear as regularly as possible.

These are just a few tips on how to keep your gear safe from the elements. If you do get some water, sand, or dirt into your camera, we have a pretty extensive guide on inspecting and cleaning your gear that might be helpful. Have you lost some of your gear to the elements? Feel free to share your horror stories in the comments below.

Author: Zach Sutton

I’m Zach and I’m the editor and a frequent writer here at Lensrentals.com. I’m also a commercial beauty photographer in Los Angeles, CA, and offer educational workshops on photography and lighting all over North America.

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