Toronto Photography Meetup Group

Need advise. I have D5100 with 18 - 200 lens, I will heading to Africa Safari. As I was told from Friends who traveled to similar location, some of their dslr are broken down due to extreme dust. So is there anything I can do to prevent dust into the sensor and lens?

As long as you dont change lens while youre out there and have filter over your lens, you shouldnt have to worry much. Also, keep your camera in your bag when its not in use.

When I zoom, will it draw air into the lens? and draw dust into it?

i don't think the 18-200 has full weather sealant, but the actual lens components should be pretty air tight.

You might want to consider this item from Think Tank:
http://www.thinktankphoto.com/products/ ... cover.aspx

African Lion Safari or actually Africa?
If it's the African Lion Safari, then there is no need to worry since its not a desert.

African Lion Safari or actually Africa?
If it's the African Lion Safari, then there is no need to worry since its not a desert.

That's so funny you said it twice!!

hahah.. Actually Africa in Kenya, and Tanzania. Going to Hiking Kilimanjaro too.. My Friend's DSLR die on the third day, i think is due to dust on sensor or something.

it's a good question, and it's your lucky day as I used to live in this area and spent some fun times in Tanzania Serengeti.

Yes, it is dusty. Most of Africa is, certainly around the equator Africa is a beautiful umber red, alternately very dusty or in rainy season, bloody muddy. But not dusty like the khamsin, scirocco, desert storm. No more dusty than driving down an unpaved road in Ontario, dusty yes, but not objectionable.

Most of the time.

Generally, beginning of rainy season or just when the rains end is best: everything blooms and fruits, animals go crazy, new rivers appear overnight. In equatorial Africa this is October - December/January.

Scares aside, your friend's with broken dslr's are either stretching their story, had very bad experience with questionable camera's or treat their camera's like The Crown Jewel's. I went several visits over several years in Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Hwange, Chobe, Luangwa, , Manyara, Mara, Olduvai, etc. with one camera and one lens, no problems, with reasonable care, nothing special.

Having been to both Mali and Morocco twice (including the big bowl of dust and sand called the Sahara) as well as southern Ethiopia, I'd say it is dusty but not camera threatening. I changed between 3 lenses constantly. I think your friends overexagerate the problem or simply had no idea of proper camera maintenance. I certainly didn't need a spoon to clean out the sensor every evening.
Bring a rocket blower to clean the sensor every evening and periodically when you are in a less dusty than average place. It's usually too hot to do much in the midday (and the light is too harsh) so there's down time then as well to blow dust off the sensor, lenses and body as well.

The only time when I was in a seriously dusty place was during intercity travel in a beat-up old Peugot bush taxi that was missing flooring. Dust from the road shot up in to the car cab. I had my camera in my bag and it was protected.
Bring a rocket blower...bring a rocket blower.

so recap, daily cleaning the body and lens first, then sensor in a less dusty area. Anything else I should do? I know if I don't change any lens, then I am ok, but I am debating should I rental a 400mm F4 to go? if so then i will need to change lens couple times...

thanks for all the input.