Thought of getting suggestions or ideas. I am going to a very remote place for 3 weeks in the Sulu sea. Most of the fresh water we will be bringing would be allocated for cooking, drinking and general hygiene (we get something like 10L of freshwater a day for bathing, toilet flushing is sea water).
The question now is how do I rinse and maintain my camera and strobes? My thought right now is to keep it soaked in sea water, then at the end of the day when it is time to clean I have one of those laboratory wash bottles to squirt water and flush the sea water from the buttons and surface of the camera housing. Another option is to soak my camera in my bathing water before using it for a bath. My last thought is would it even be necessary to give it a rinse or a soak? I mean after 3 weeks the camera should still be okay.
Thanks,
P
The issue is actually allowing salt crystals to form. If you keep the housing and strobes wet, even in sea water, this should not happen...
I would keep it sealed in a bucket, without the camera in it and try not to let it dry out.
Adam
I deal with this often and have found a small pump weed sprayer a very water efficient way to clean camera gear.
I usually use less than 1 liter of water to really clean it well but you could probably even use less.
An option is to use sea water for hygiene and bathing and save the freshwater for the camera. I have owned a sailing boat with limited freshwater reserves for 12 years and was using just sea water for (frequent) cleaning of the body, often for weeks. Other than expected by many, the skin is not irridated or inflammated, but becomes velvety and smooth from such a sea water cure. No need for freshwater on the skin...
Wolfgang
I would also just keep the housing wet in sea water - inadequate washing in fresh water doesn't help it needs to soak and work the buttons. If it stays wet you won't get problems. You could give it a good long soak on the last day in your bathing water for the trip home.
You can dry off the exterior to allow you to open it up change cameras batteries etc and seal up again and put it back to soak.
You only need the 1 bucket of fresh water for rinsing. You can put a lid on it and use it again day after day. The small accumulation of salt will be negligible.
As for filling the bucket in the first place, if you can't spare enough to fill it once with clean water, consider reusing your wash water as long as you don't use too much soap.
