Paul_K Offline Upload & Sell: Off
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Hope I can chip in despite being a Nikon shooter
In the pre digital/film age shot quite a bit of fashion/models on the beach, and getting sand inside the body, causing scratches on in the worst case the full length of the film, was the big nightmare in those days. Learned my tricks for protecting my gear on the beach back then
Have been abusing my (digital) equipment for years shooting surf (started somewhere in 2006) from piers and beaches. Never used a special rainprotection on neither camera nor lenses while doing so (a bit stupid in hindsight) catching the full load of salt water spray (up to the point where I constantly would have to clean my front lens from caked salt to regain a clear image while shooting), sand and rain.
Always had a UV filter on the lens for protection though, if possible didn't change lenses on location, and if, in the rare occasions I did so, kept the camera mount always face down, closing it with the body cap while swapping the lenses, and of course in the mean time, protecting it with my body/jacket from the wind while turning away from it.
When at home, to begin with, first with a brush got rid of any sand on the outside of the body (and lenses), especially near the lensmount.Then wiped of it any salt with a moist (fresh water) towel or piece of cloth, and just to be sure blew out any dirt of gunk from the inside of the mirror housing with a Giotto air blower before switching the camera on or even touching the shutter release.
Never had problems with stuff on my sensors (although shooting nearly always with fully or near open lens may also play a part in that) and only had my sensors cleaned once a year as part of the service Nikon offers NPS members for free (gave me a reason to go those meetings).
Only real damage I suffered in all those years is that at one point my image stabilization started to perform in a jumpy way, probably due corrosion on some of the contacts inside the lens after prolonged unprotected use in the rain and under salt water spray. But as I don't use it and basically always have it shut of anyway, that wasn't a problem. Recently sent in the lens for repair (at last) but had it prematurely returned since it took too long (more then the standard 48 hours) while I needed it for another shoot. In the meantime they had it dismantled, and rebuilt again, although not officially repaired (swapping new parts etc), and and to my pleasant surprise now it works as new again (probably the corroded contacts got somehow cleaned/reconnected during the dismantling/rebuilding).
So IMO taking and using your gear on the beach, especially if using common sense while on the beach, and careful cleaning when it home, should be a non issue. Enjoy your shoot at the beach.
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