How do you protect your camera at the beach?

Learning to protect your camera while at the beach is a relatively logical procedure. Sand and surf can do a tremendous mount of damage. Here are a few simple tips you can follow:

A Plastic Sandwich Bag?
There is the sand you can see, and the sand that you can't. Micro particles of grit and dust can cause havoc and tremendous damage to your camera. They can penetrate the gears and lens system, and even destroy the threads on the end of the lens. One simple tip to protect your camera from these particles is to bring along a clear plastic sandwich bag. While you are in the hotel, before you even go to the beach, place your camera inside this bag, and securely fasten it by a twist tie. Cheap and simple, and yet you will have access to all the controls, and save your investment as well.

Disposable Cameras
Another protection option is to take on a "I just don't care" attitude. Why not purchase a disposable camera? You can enjoy the beach, snap all the pictures you want, and who cares if your camera gets damaged? It's disposable, so at the end of your trip it is going into the garbage at any rate.

Waterproof Cameras
If you want to take camera protection to the next level, why not consider a water-proof camera? There are basically two types, those that are "water resistant", and those that are "water proof".

Water Resistant Cameras
Water resistant cameras will protect your investment from minor spills at the beach. If you happen to be taking pictures at the beach, and it rains? No worries. If you happen to have your camera beside the pool and it gets a splash of water, don't fret, you are covered.

How Deep Can You Go?
Water proof cameras are the ultimate in photographic protection at the beach. These babies can actually go into the water, allow you to take photographs, and yet still be safe and secure. The key to remember is the maximum allowable depth that the camera can go. Some of the cheap disposable units can go a couple of feet into the water and be fine. Professional underwater cameras can go great depths, and of course you pay for this feature.

At your next creative family beach vacation try out some of these tips to protect your camera. You will save some $$$, and generate some spectacular photographs in the process.

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