Camping with my EOS camera gear: Precautions and bag recommendations

[ewrankend]

I have an R7 and just bought a 200-800 that's arriving Thursday. I'm going camping this weekend at a great birding spot (with scouts so not explicitly for birding but as an adult leader I can kinda do what I want). I don't think it'll be crazy hot or humid, upper 60s to low 70s. Should I leave the gear at home? I'm not sure what bag I'll take for the camera because I need to see it before I can figure that out. I'll have my car but I feel like that might be worse than the tent

[kvbarkley]

Unless it is sandy with blowing dirt, cameras are made to be used outdoors. 

[ebiggs1]

If you don't take it what the heck good is it? Over my multi decades career I took my gear from blizzard conditions to the great deserts of the southwest United States. My theory if I can stand it my gear can stand it. Most of the time I used a Tamrac Pro 12 bag. Nothing more.

[ebiggs1]

" I'll have my car but I feel like that might be worse than the tent"

Would you like to spend the time in your car. I doubt it so neither does your gear. Matter of fact leaving it in a car or worse in the trunk of your car is a horrible idea.

[LeeP]

Unless it excessively hot, wet, or dusty there's no reason NOT to take your equipment.

The real question is security. How will you protect your equipment from theft?

Leaving your equipment in your car is fine so long as the car does not heat up unduly on the inside due to solar gain and you take precautions. If it's relatively cool outside assume the interior will be at last 20 degrees hotter. Summer sun? Assume at least 40 degrees hotter inside. You obviously do not want to park in direct sunlight.

Having done photography at the Salton Sea in California in the summer, a cool day there is 110 degrees, but 115-125 degrees is not uncommon and actually rather usual. I was there once where in the shade the temperature was 117 degrees and in the sun it was 127 degrees. I kept my equipment in an ice chest--the double-wall kind--without ice of course and kept the chest covered with a blanket inside my while I was out shooting because there was no alternative. The temperature inside the chest was 80 degrees. My car was in the shade most of the time.

When I returned to the air conditioned comfort of my hotel room in Indio, I brought the entire ice chest into my room, but I left it shut rather than putting the equipment in the flow of cold air flow. 

Just use some common sense and think things through and you'll be fine.

Even when I shoot in the summer heat in Bakersfield, I keep my cameras covered with a blanket to keep them from being in direct sun.

[wq9nsc]

I completely agree with Ernie on this, what good is owning the gear if you are too cautious to use it in situations where you really want a camera?  I have done some pretty crazy hiking and climbing with my 1 series bodies and L series lenses, shot football and soccer in the snow and rain, driven and flown thousands of miles with them, and never regretted taking a camera with me.  There have been numerous times when I certainly regretted NOT having a camera along!

A couple of years ago I was making a short trip to a nearby town to pick up some stuff and I took a rural route and a gorgeous bald eagle was sitting on a fence post like a king on his throne.  I have photographed eagles in multiple locations but never had one pose like this and I REALLY don't like using my iPhone for any semi-serious photography.  I bought a tiny Canon M6 Mark II several years ago specifically for light travel and I really wish it had been in the Corvette that day.  

It would be a good idea to wipe the body down carefully, especially around the controls, before you set out.  Oil and salt from your skin can get into camera bodies that aren't tightly sealed from condensation buildup or light rain.  When a hot camera cools off it will pull in outside air to equalize the pressure drop and you don't want it pulling in conductive chemicals with any moisture.

If I was going to buy a camera to sit on the shelf just to look beautiful, it would be a classic Hasselblad film body.  Canon has made some great gear but I don't consider any of them suitable for shelf display as art pieces, they create joy through use.  Take the camera, capture some great images, have fun and don't worry.  If the worst thing that happens in life is a broken or stolen camera, you have led a truly blessed life 🙂

Rodger

[Waddizzle]

“ 

Unless it excessively hot, wet, or dusty there's no reason NOT to take your equipment.

The real question is security. How will you protect your equipment from theft? “

This was also my first thought.  Harsh environment and security.  Storing your gear in your car overnight shouldn’t be an issue when the sun is dow. I would be careful about witnesses when storing your gear.  It you have a bag that looks like camping gear, then you should be okay storing gear in the car.  I would stow the gear, and then take something out and carry it away.

Enjoy your trip.

[ebiggs1]

" If the worst thing that happens in life is a broken or stolen camera, you have led a truly blessed life "

Amen.

[SignifDigits]

For bags/protection I like Think Tank Mirrorless and/or Think Tank Turnstyle.  For slings and straps I use Op/Tech (made in USA, low cost and very functional) and SmallRig.

A very nice 200-800mm bag is the JJC bag listed as: "Extra Large Thick Camera Lens Case Bag for Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS for Nikon 180-600mm/600mm F6.3 for Sony FE 200-600mm Zoom 400-800mm F6.3-8 G &Teleconverte,Fits Lenses Below 5.5x14.6"(D x L)"

If I'm carrying multiple lenses and a tripod on my Think Tank Photo Streetwalker Pro, I can carry the 200-800 on my belt in the case above. 

Carrying just the 200-800 dedicated I have a very nice Camelback Cloud Walker 18 that the 200-800 and camera fits nicely into for carrying in the field when I don't want it on my sling.

[TomRamsey]

Why have a great lens like that and not take it to great birding spot?  Well, I doubt that you will find a a bag between Thursday and the weekend, hopefully you have something that will work.  I have the 200-800 and an R6II, I wanted a bag that will handle the whole thing together, without reversing the hood.  I found the Ruggard Alpine 600 backpack does just that, the camera is suspended inside so it doesn't rest on the bottom.  But, the backpack is HUGE and there really isn't a lot of room for anything else.  There are a couple of pockets that I use for batteries, binoculars, etc.  And it has the right straps to carry the large tripod that I have easily.  There is a little shelf that can sit above the camera, but when you open the bag you would see stuff fall out if you didn't remove what was on that shelf first.  It really does protect the gear well and is great for hiking, but is just a bit awkward for non hiking use, and being a backpack, quick access is not realistic.  The combo is 18" long with the hood.  I also have an 17 x 11.8 x 6.4 Nanuk case that fits the camera with lens mounted but the hood separate that I use for water travel.  It is actually easier to use than the backpack for getting the kit out.  I am thinking of getting a duffle bag and padding it for transport in my truck, where it is protected and can be taken out quickly.  

I would not leave the gear in my car overnight, I want it near me.  Just have plenty of silica gel packets in the bag, with some fresh replacements sealed up in case it is more humid.  Good luck and hope you get some great pics.