Equipments going away for service ...

[Wail]

Am not the happiest of photographers today . (A bit of a rant on myself-failing).


Yesterday, after three weeks of being bedridden due to ill health, I managed to pull some strength and get out to do some shooting. I had arranged with some friends to go and shoot sand dunes, typical Saudi stuff, but a change from the camels!

We drive out our desired location. The drive was 2 hours on a motorway and then 14km of soft sand by 4x4. We got to this wonderful location, but it wasn't sand dune territory, it was more like sand mountains. These had elevation of 400m+.

A dream come true. The weather was mid 20C, dry, perfectly ideal, with blue skies (it's usually washed-out white skies here).

I make my way up one of these dunes, with a buddy of mine. The walk, because of the very soft sand, takes us a good 3 hours. Carrying my D700 with 24-70AF-S and my D60 with 70-300 AF-S, both clipped to my camera bag and within easy reach for me to avoid having to open my camera bag and risk getting sand in there.

As soon as we get to the top, a weird sand storm hits us. Visibility was down to less than 50cm in a matter of seconds, sand was getting everywhere; there wasn't any warning!

Back to base, took us about 20 minutes to slide down that dune. I went into my car, made sure all the windows were sealed and waited out for the storm to subside (took about six hours).

Now, my D700 doesn't work, my 24-70 sounds like it's grinding pebbles, D60 has sand in every crevasse; odd though, it's still working well (you'd think the D700 would have survived this better), my 70-300 is also grinding pebbles.

That storm lasted from 5pm until 11pm. Once it subsided we decided to head back home; our initial plans were to camp out overnight. Now, I have been trying to de-sand my equipment, but there's just too much sand everywhere :shake:

To service all this has to go. The aching part is that I am not sure Nikon Saudi Arabia are capable to clean the bodies. I know they don't do lens work here and hence, will be sending my two lenses to Japan (45 days round trip minimum).

What a nightmare of an experience; as for the pictures / results, nothing great at all .

What kept going through my mind all the time; how is it that Arkady manages to shoot in very similar circumstances without such dire consequences? What could I have done to protect my gear better. I'm baffled and very upset at myself, for having to put my gear through such horrid weather situation.


[/rant off]

 

[Richard King]

I feel for you on this, learnt it the hard way too

There are all sorts of tricks you can use. large clear plastic bag and a elastic band(s) and a screw on UV filter are my fave. I keep the bag, the bands in my camera bag. If i know i am in for it, I get everything covered up

Second tactic... Very large bag or two (sealable) that i pop the whole camera bag in. I use a heavier plastic bag with a sealing plastic zip thing

third tactic. Dont ever change lenses

Drop me an e-mail some time, its been a long time!

 

[seriousrikk]

Sounds harsh! I hope they can clean it up for you, should be possible.

I learned the hard way with salt spray. Now I use a camera cover that has elasticated ends with the addition of a second rubber dand round the lens hood to keep stuff all covered up.

 

[Wail]

I feel for you on this, learnt it the hard way too

There are all sorts of tricks you can use. large clear plastic bag and a elastic band(s) and a screw on UV filter are my fave. I keep the bag, the bands in my camera bag. If i know i am in for it, I get everything covered up

Second tactic... Very large bag or two (sealable) that i pop the whole camera bag in. I use a heavier plastic bag with a sealing plastic zip thing

third tactic. Dont ever change lenses

Drop me an e-mail some time, its been a long time!

Hi Richard,

Thank you ; stupid, silly, irrational, all come to mind when I think of what I've put my gear through.

The funny thing is that I carry with me all the items you've listed. Large and Medium sized garbage bags and rubber bands; I didn't use them as I didn't want steam / condensation forming on the equipment and also because it was, initially, great weather.

The UV filter wouldn't have done much, as sand particles got into the barrel and now when I zoom and focus you can hear the sand ginding :shake:

On the email, I owe you a very long and elaborate, and well over due . Let me just get over this shocking experience and I'll get that sorted out

Sounds harsh! I hope they can clean it up for you, should be possible.

I learned the hard way with salt spray. Now I use a camera cover that has elasticated ends with the addition of a second rubber dand round the lens hood to keep stuff all covered up.

Yup, salt sprays were the problems long time ago; but I've learnt, as you've done, the hard way how to get by that. This was a horrible sand storm in the middle of the desert. The thing is, Saudi is just one big desert and this was one of the worst parts of Saudi for fine sand grains.

I sincerely hope they can clean it up here. I am annoyed at this, but it's OK if the lens needs to go away; I guess this is exactly the kind of ass-kicking I need to get myself to use my T/S lenses more. However, if the bodies needs to go to Japan it would mean I'll be using my trusty D40 for some time. Not ideal.