I'd dab a lens-cleaning cloth that's moistened with distilled water to get the crusties off, and after being sure I'd done as well as I could with that, I'd clean with a normal lens cleaner. Dab, meaning, don't rub until you're sure the salt's off. And I'd throw that first cloth away after use.
Salt can corrode the rest of your gear, too, so you're going to have to find a way to desalinate everything.
Good luck, I'll be reading to see what others say...
Salt water is one of those things I use a filter to protect against, because, as you're experiencing Gus, it is a pain to clean up.
First, I might try a rocket blower to see if any of the crystals will disappear with a gust of air, but I would not expect much effect. Then, I would use distilled water on a soft cotton cloth and GENTLY soak the salt deposits until they dissolve and move into the cloth. Once the deposits are gone but the lens still looks smeary, I would clean the lens with distilled water and alcohol solution ( ~10% isopropyl alcohol ) again with a soft cotton cloth or a lens cleaning cloth. This should do the trick, and if you are careful it won't harm the lens.
Be careful, you do not want salty water or alcohol to run past the edge of your lens where it can then pass behind the lens element. If you get salt deposits on the back of the front lens element, the lens is going back to Canon Factory Servce for disassembly and cleaning.
If I was going to shoot in a salt spray environment, I would put the camera in a SCUBA diving housing first to prevent getting salt mist inside the camera body and the lens body.
If you get salt spray on the mirror in your SLR, you will be in deep doo doo. The mirror is a front surface mirror, and the silver WILL corrode with the NaCl to form silver chloride - AgCl2 - this won't wash off.
Your pictures were outstanding, I envy you them, but salt water is really hard on fine camera equipment. I'd rather pour sand over my camera than salt water. Good luck, gus. You got your pictures!!
Glad to hear it cleaned up nicely. I applaud your desire to capture the whales, gus. Ride it, don't trailer it. I wholeheartedly agree.
I read somewhere that a photog would freak people out because everyday after shooting on the beach he would stop by the shower and shower his camera. Best I recall he was shooting a 1 series (sealed body) with L lenses.
Greg "Tis better keep your mouth shut and be thought of as an idiot than to open your mouth and remove all doubt"
1 Series cameras are weather-sealed, but I don't think I would give mine a shower deliberately. The seals don't look that secure to my eye. I do not want to give people the idea of showering with their cameras. The 30D, 20D D70 et al are not even weather sealed as I recall.
I'd rather try to keep the salt and sand off in the first place by judicious use of a plastic bag or something myself.
Comments
I wouldn't spray anything on the lens.
I'd dab a lens-cleaning cloth that's moistened with distilled water to get the crusties off, and after being sure I'd done as well as I could with that, I'd clean with a normal lens cleaner. Dab, meaning, don't rub until you're sure the salt's off. And I'd throw that first cloth away after use.
Salt can corrode the rest of your gear, too, so you're going to have to find a way to desalinate everything.
Good luck, I'll be reading to see what others say...
Dgrin FAQ | Me | Workshops
First, I might try a rocket blower to see if any of the crystals will disappear with a gust of air, but I would not expect much effect. Then, I would use distilled water on a soft cotton cloth and GENTLY soak the salt deposits until they dissolve and move into the cloth. Once the deposits are gone but the lens still looks smeary, I would clean the lens with distilled water and alcohol solution ( ~10% isopropyl alcohol ) again with a soft cotton cloth or a lens cleaning cloth. This should do the trick, and if you are careful it won't harm the lens.
Be careful, you do not want salty water or alcohol to run past the edge of your lens where it can then pass behind the lens element. If you get salt deposits on the back of the front lens element, the lens is going back to Canon Factory Servce for disassembly and cleaning.
If I was going to shoot in a salt spray environment, I would put the camera in a SCUBA diving housing first to prevent getting salt mist inside the camera body and the lens body.
Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
Your pictures were outstanding, I envy you them, but salt water is really hard on fine camera equipment. I'd rather pour sand over my camera than salt water. Good luck, gus. You got your pictures!!
You may get to use your insurance yet!!
Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
Now that's the spirit. A camera is built to take pictures, not to be fondled.
Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
I read somewhere that a photog would freak people out because everyday after shooting on the beach he would stop by the shower and shower his camera. Best I recall he was shooting a 1 series (sealed body) with L lenses.
"Tis better keep your mouth shut and be thought of as an idiot than to open your mouth and remove all doubt"
I'd rather try to keep the salt and sand off in the first place by judicious use of a plastic bag or something myself.
Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin