025 - 10 Tips for Protecting your Camera at the Beach

It’s Summer! The sun is out, the water is inviting and that means lots of time out on the beach and in the water (or at least that’s what it means for me). I’ve taken my camera gear to a lot of beaches over the years, and it’s one of the places I worry most about what may happen to my gear. There are so many things that can happen because of the sand, and the water, and the heat. You need to be extra careful with your camera on the beach. BUT, those summer snaps of kids building sandcastles and running on the beach, people out canoeing, and sunsets on the water make such amazing photos that you NEED to risk the damage to get some great shots.

I’m giving you ten tips to protect your camera while at the beach. Most of these will be applicable to any camera, DSLR, mirrorless, phone or anything in-between.

Tip #1 - Keep your Kit somewhere Water and Sand Tight

Sand and water can get in EVERYWHERE! I’ve found sand stuck in tents months after being on the beach and in my camera bags until I vacuum them out. So make sure you bring something to put your camera into that will help protect it from the surf and from the sand.

I would look for something that, at the very least, seals with a zipper. These can be the internal camera units some companies are using in their backpacks or even just your camera backpack itself (as long as it seals up). Just make sure you keep the zipper closed AT ALL TIMES. Grab out your camera and zip it closed again right away. You want to avoid sand getting into the camera bag and on your camera as much as possible.

You can also use water-tight zip-lock bags (these are great for phones and smaller cameras.) I’ve got an excellent, long-lasting one from Coghlan’s that has better durability and a better zipper than standard zip locks.

Something akin to waterproof zip locks are the waterproof sacks that you can get for backpacking and the like. You can slide your camera in one and it will be fairly protected. Just be careful, because in the sun these bags really heat up on the inside and you make unintentionally end up cooking your camera. 

You could go a step further and get a hard-sided case from a company like Pelican. These cases are water-resistant and some of them can be submerged in a few meters of water. They are also crush resistant, so if a person running by steps on it you won’t have to worry about the gear inside. These are a great option if you will be taking fancy camera equipment onto kayaks or canoes where there is a risk of water getting inside the boat or the boat flipping. Because they are watertight and crush resistant, you can tie them into a boat and not worry about your gear should the boat flip. Always make sure to tie them in though, you don’t want the gear getting swept away or sinking. 

These options all range in prices, from a couple of dollars for a zip lock to hundreds of dollars depending on the size of Pelican case. You need to pick an option that works well for you, the gear you want to bring with you, and the situation you are going into.

In practice, if I’m headed out for a day on the water with the family (to go play with the boat or just go swimming) I’ll bring my gear in my camera bag and make sure to keep it tucked up against my beach chair when not in use. And for those days, a standard bag works perfectly.

For rougher trips or days out on the water, a hard-sided case is the way to go.

Tip #2 - Watch the Temperture

Don’t leave your camera sitting out in the sun. The sun can quickly overheat your camera, which can cause a number of problems. This includes you not being able to take photographs or longer-term problems like camera damage (although this is only in extreme cases). As much as possible try to keep your camera in the shade when you aren’t using it. This keeps the heat down and ensures you won’t encounter any heat-related problems.

You may also encounter some heat problems while shooting video in the sun. Cameras need to be able to disperse heat when shooting heavily, especially with video. Cameras can overheat when shooting video in neutral environments, but in the heat, on the beach, your camera may overheat. Keep an eye on how hot the body is feeling and watch for any overheating indicators on the camera. 

Tip #3 - Keep a Clean Towel or Two Handy

Have a clean microfibre towel or two on hand to clean sand and water off your camera. This is especially important if you are on the ocean, as seawater can quickly corrode your gear. If you get saltwater on your camera, you are going to want to clean it off as soon as you can. The salt can eat away at your camera very quickly and cause extensive, long-lasting damage. If at all possible, use a towel dampened with fresh water to get as much salt off as possible. You’ll also want to clean sand particles off your camera as much as you can. This is to keep them from getting into your camera itself. 

Tip #4 - Don’t Touch the Front of the Lens

One place you NEVER want to physically touch on the camera while on the beach is the front of the lens. This is because you can cause scratches on the lens element with sand grains that you can’t see. A better way to clean the front of the lens is to bring a small blower with you that can blow any sand grains off before you touch it with a cloth.

Tip #5 - Avoid Changing Lenses

If at all possible, pick one lens and stick with it while on the beach. This helps you to avoid a catastrophic situation of sand getting into your camera and onto the sensor while changing lenses. Pick the lens you are going to use and put it on the camera before heading out to the beach.

If you MUST change lenses, never put the lens down in the sand or even on a towel. One person running by or a change in the wind can send sand blowing into your lens and camera. Instead, keep your camera inside your protective casing and change the lens while in there, preferably with the case elevated off the ground (have a friend hold it, put it on a picnic table, something just to keep the camera and lens away from the sand).

Tip #6 - Avoid using Cameras that have Telescoping Lenses

Lenses that move out of the camera body to zoom (such as those you find on most point and shoot cameras) can be destroyed by just a few grains of sand getting into the lens. Don’t use these types of lenses if at all possible on the beach. You are much better off using a camera that doesn’t zoom out such as a prime lens, or a zoom lens that is totally encased. 

Tip #7 - Avoid Touching your Camera with Dirty Hands

This isn’t always possible, I know. I’ve grabbed my camera with everything from snow covered hands to sandy hands. Sometimes a shot just happens. But, as much as you can, try to clean your hands off from water and sand before using your camera. Keeping a towel handy to get your hands clean before operating your camera can help with this. Also, having an option to rinse your hands off with fresh water and then drying them will be even better. This ensures that you aren’t getting saltwater or sand onto your camera.

Tip #8 - Consider Getting a Cover

Rain covers for your camera can be used in so many situations. Obviously for when it’s raining but also for in the snow, in mud and on the beach. These covers can help protect all the little bits of your camera where sand may sneak into. And will protect it from stray spray’s of water from a big wave or from the kids having a water fight.

Tip #9 - In-Water Photography

We all want great photos of people in the water - swimming and playing. But taking your camera into the water with you can be a risky proposition. You don’t want a wave crashing into your gear or to have it slip from your grasp. But, then how do we get great photos of people in the water? There are a few options for you. 

Option 1 is to purchase an underwater housing for your camera or your phone. These housings allow you to completely submerge your camera (although it takes a long time getting used to doing that), meaning you can dive underwater with them and take them snorkelling with you! This is not a waterproof case that I’m talking about here. This is a proper underwater housing that encases your entire camera. These can range in price and features from a hundred dollars for a phone one to a few thousand for one for your DSLR or Mirrorless.

Option 2 is to purchase a camera that is built to go underwater and to get wet. The Olympus Tough series has been a long stand by for this, but you can also look at GoPro, DJI, Nikon, and Ricoh for great waterproof rugged cameras as well.

Tip #10 - Don’t Assume Anything

Things can happen quickly on the beach. One big gust of wind can launch sand into your camera bag if it isn’t zipped up. One stray frisbee can knock over your tripod. One child playing in the water can bump into you, causing you to drop your precious camera into the lake. Anything can happen pretty quickly and easily. And on a beach, one wrong move can mean catastrophe for your gear. So, don’t leave your camera bag open, watch where you put your gear and be careful with it. Also, just because you spent a lot of money on a camera doesn’t mean it is necessarily resistant to the elements. Check out the weather sealing on your camera (the manufacturer will have something on it) to find out just how weather-sealed your camera is. I love my 7D Mark II because it is built to be used in some of the harshest conditions. But I know the Canon 6D isn’t built to the same specifications and can’t necessarily take the same abuse. So, get to know oyur camera and its capabilities for withstanding the elements and don’t just make assumptions because you spent lots of money on something. IT may not be what that camera was built for.

Photography on the beach and in the water can be amazingly rewarding. It’s where some of the most amazing photographs on the planet can be created. It’s where we create so many memories. But, the elements that are there can mean catastrophe for electronics. So be careful with your gear if you don’t want to have to start shopping for replacements. And just be wary of the sand. It can be so so so bad for our awesome cameras.