How to Protect Your Camera at the Beach
Cameras don’t belong at the beach. The sun can make them overheat, sand can scratch the camera body or (gasp) lens, and water can wreak havoc on electronic components. So, as a responsible travel photographer, you leave your camera back at the hotel room, safely locked away in your travel camera sling. When you eventually roll up to the beach, press your feet into the sand and gaze around at the epic sunrise, turquoise water and, depending on your location, mountains and volcanoes rising above the horizon, doubt starts to sink in. You try to snap some photos on your iPhone, but you quickly realize it just won’t capture the beauty of this particular beach. As you slump down into the sand and watch the waves thunder onto the shore, you start to think, maybe I should’ve risked bringing the camera to the beach after all.
I, too, have struggled with this particular dilemma on a number of trips. The risk from sand, water or even theft sometimes seems too great on the beach. But, after I experience a beach without my camera, I always end up coming back with it at some point during the trip to try and capture the magic of the waves, sand and sun. Why? Because that’s what travel photography is all about.
When deciding whether or not to bring your camera to the beach, you need to consider a few things. For one, cameras are expensive investments that can be easily damaged in that environment. On the other hand, cameras are meant to be used - especially when visiting a beautiful location. The key to safely using a camera on the beach is to ensure you understand the risks from the start and prepare properly.
At the end of the day, it’s totally up to the photographer and their comfort level. If you don’t feel comfortable bringing your camera to the beach and the stress of watching your bag while you’re in the water is overwhelming, leave it at the hotel room. If you follow a few practical tips for how to protect your camera at the beach and are pumped to take some epic photos, however, then bring it with you for a little bit and snap some epic beach shots.
If you do decide to bring your camera to the beach, just know that there is no way to fully mitigate the risks. For instance, you could take all the precautions in the world, and then a gust of wind could blow sand into the lens. Not fun. But, if you are really hoping to snap some epic beach shots on your next trip, here are a few simple ways you can protect your camera at the beach:
Bring a Case or Make One
When bringing your camera to the beach, the first thing you want to do is make sure it’s adequately protected from two things: the elements and theft.
If you have space in your camera bag, you could bring a small camera case specifically for trips to the beach. A small camera case will not only keep your camera protected against sand and water, but the built-in padding will also keep your camera safe if it’s tossed into a beach bag with your sunscreen, sunglasses and beach towel.
Now, I typically recommend travelling with a compact travel camera set up to make lugging your camera equipment around easier, so bringing an extra camera case isn’t ideal. And, if you’re only planning on bringing a small travel camera sling, you won’t have space for an extra camera case anyways.
If you still want to bring your camera down to the beach, but you don’t have a small camera case, I would recommend wrapping your camera in a (clean) t-shirt, and then placing in a ziplock / waterproof bag. The t-shirt will provide a small amount of padding, and the ziplock / waterproof bag will help keep water out.
I don’t suggest bringing your entire camera bag to the beach, however, as a large camera bag can draw unwanted attention. This may not be a problem if you’re going to be sitting on your beach towel all day. However, if you’re planning on going for a swim, you definitely don’t want to leave a camera bag on your towel for all to see.
Use a Protective Filter on Your Lens
Protective filters for camera lenses are a controversial topic. Some people think they lower your camera’s image quality; other people won’t snap a photo without them.
No matter what your sentiment is towards protective lens filters, when snapping photos at the beach, you should use one. Why? Because if sand gets kicked up into your lens or if you drop your camera into the sand, you’ll be glad you have one.
Sand is highly abrasive, and even a small amount of sand can scratch your lens. Considering most lenses cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, while protective lens filters can be purchased for less than $20 dollars, I’d rather scratch the protective filter and replace that as opposed to my lens.
In all honesty, I’ve never noticed any reduction in image quality when using a protective lens filter. Sure, if you really zoom in and compare your photo with another photo where you didn’t use a protective filter, you may notice a very, and I mean very, slight difference. But most photographers won’t be able to spot a difference at all. And, considering social media platforms like Instagram compress your photos when you upload them anyways, having a minutely sharper image right out of camera isn’t all that important.
So, before you head to the beach, do yourself a favour and purchase a protective lens filter for your favourite travel photography lens.
Bring a Strap and Avoid Rough Water
One of the easiest ways to ruin your camera at the beach? Dropping it in the sand or the water.
Sure, camera straps can be a pain to pack and wear (especially on warm beach days). But, if your hands start to get slippery from sweat or you simply stumble in the sand or waves, you’ll be happy you have one.
The good news is that there are tons of compact camera straps specifically made for travel. My favourite is the Peak Design Leash Camera Strap. It’s made of super durable material, but it’s also really thin, so it’s easy to roll up and toss into my camera bag. I also like to use the Peak Design Cuff Camera Wrist Strap - especially on the beach. A camera wrist strap is super small, so there’s not excuse not to pack it, and it still provides an extra layer of protection, preventing your camera from falling to the ground if you accidentally lose your grip.
Limit the Amount of Time You Use Your Camera at the Beach
If you really want to protect your camera at the beach, keep it safely packed away for the most part. Again, the beach presents a lot of potential risks to cameras, and there’s no way to truly mitigate them. So, if you do want to take photos at the beach, snap the shots you want quickly, and then put your camera back in your bag and enjoy your time in the sun.
Limiting the time you use your camera at the beach will not only minimize the amount of exposure it has to the elements, but it will also help you draw less attention towards your pricey electronics. Leaving your camera alone on the beach while you go for a swim can certainly result in someone potentially taking it. However, displaying your camera openly or constantly using it can increase the unwanted attention on your device, further increasing your chances of having it taken from you when you’re not looking.
If you want to truly keep your camera as safe as possible, simply walk down to the beach when you want to snap some photos, capture your shots, and then walk your camera back to your hotel room. That way, when you go back to the beach later, you’ll be able to fully enjoy swimming in the saltwater, knowing that your camera is safely resting in your camera bag back at the hotel.
Conclusion
The beach presents a number of risks for your camera, including damage from sand and water, or even theft. While leaving your camera back at the hotel is likely the safest option, there are a few ways that you can mitigate the risk and capture some epic beach photos. First, bring a small camera case or make one using a clean t-shirt and a waterproof bag. Next, install a protective lens filter on your lens to stop sand and water from damaging your gear. When you start actually snapping photos, ensure you use a camera strap so that you don’t accidentally drop your camera into the sand or water. Lastly, limit the amount of time that you actually use your camera at the beach to lower the risk of dropping it or drawing unwanted attention.
Your best bet for safely snapping epic beach photos? Walk to the beach with the purpose of taking photos, snap a few, and then bring your camera back to your hotel room.