Switching Lens in Field

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nikonlion

Senior Member
Hello,
I asked this a second question on another thread, but it probalby deserves its own post.

Any advice for changing lens in the field? I'll be doing some backpacking and will have two different lens with me. I'm real new and I'm afraid of getting dirt in there as I've never dealt with cleaning it up before. Any advice to help mitigate this? I'll be away from my car alot but I'll have a tent. Not ideal I know.

Let me know what you think

Thanks
 
D

Don Kuykendall_RIP

RIP :(
A lot of how you change the lenses depends on what kind of camera bag you have. I have a backpack and it swings around to the front so that I can change the lens or get out the flash without having to set the bag down.
 
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Akiviri

New member
Myself - I have the body cap in one hand along with the rear lens cap: Remove the lens put body cap on, then put lens cap on (easier to blow out the back of the lens than the sensor) then I get the new lens out: remove lens cap, then body cap, apply lens. All of this is done facing away from the wind, preferably behind a tree or building or in a doorway etc. So far so good - I've never had any trouble, other than a stray bug getting in there but he was easy to get back out. Lakeflies are a real pain up here lol.
 
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§am

Senior Member
It will depend a lot on the conditions in the environment around you at the time.
A windy dust free day might be doable, but a dust cloud blowing around you may not even want to take your camera out.

Same goes for rain etc.

If the conditions are ideal (and I'm guessing as you're hiking you'll get time to rest), then change your lens when stationary. Nothing says "I'll drop this lend any moment now" whilst walking and trying to change a lens.

As your kit is in a bag/pouch inside your main rucksack, I would suggest, have the replacement lens ready with the rear cap loose, then remove your current lens, place it next to the one you put on, swap the rear cap to the first lens and then attach the second lens to your camera body.
Once you've done that, tighten up the rear cap on the other one and put it away :)
 
Marcel

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
If someone's going to be afraid of changing lens on a DSLR, then maybe they should have gotten a point and shoot. The main advantage of a DSLR is the interchangeable lens and the sensor size. For those who say "just use a zoom", I'd like to say that most zooms breathe (when they go longer, some air is sucked in), so that won't prevent dust to get inside. Let's face it, dust gets into everything. I don't think we can avoid it. Sure, it's a good thing to be careful when changing lenses, point the camera down etc. Some say do it very quickly, while some say take your time as when you remove the lens too quickly it can make a small vacuum and suck some particles in. But one thing that is seldom mentioned, is that you should NEVER store your camera with the sensor laying down when you travel because then, if there is any dust inside the chamber, it will be shaken down right on the sensor.

Cleaning should not be considered rocket science and should be performed on a regular basis. And then there is post processing where if you spend a little time you can remove all the spots.
 
BackdoorArts

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
Akiviri said:
Myself - I have the body cap in one hand along with the rear lens cap: Remove the lens put body cap on, then put lens cap on (easier to blow out the back of the lens than the sensor) then I get the new lens out: remove lens cap, then body cap, apply lens. All of this is done facing away from the wind, preferably behind a tree or building or in a doorway etc. So far so good - I've never had any trouble, other than a stray bug getting in there but he was easy to get back out. Lakeflies are a real pain up here lol.
Click to expand...

All good advice. Add to it, mate the body cap and the lens cap when they're not being used (keeps dust and dirt from getting into them, and then into the camera). In windy and dusty conditions it gets tougher, so facing downwind is important. Remember, the open camera is the more critical piece of the equation, so getting a clean lens on it takes priority to capping and stashing away the old lens.
 
RockyNH_RIP

RockyNH_RIP

Senior Member
Marcel said:
But one thing that is seldom mentioned, is that you should NEVER store your camera with the sensor laying down when you travel because then, if there is any dust inside the chamber, it will be shaken down right on the sensor.
Click to expand...

Good point Marcel... I never thought of that (and you are correct, I never heard anyone say that before you)

Pat in NH
 
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nikonlion

Senior Member
Marcel said:
If someone's going to be afraid of changing lens on a DSLR, then maybe they should have gotten a point and shoot. The main advantage of a DSLR is the interchangeable lens and the sensor size. For those who say "just use a zoom", I'd like to say that most zooms breathe (when they go longer, some air is sucked in), so that won't prevent dust to get inside. Let's face it, dust gets into everything. I don't think we can avoid it. Sure, it's a good thing to be careful when changing lenses, point the camera down etc. Some say do it very quickly, while some say take your time as when you remove the lens too quickly it can make a small vacuum and suck some particles in. But one thing that is seldom mentioned, is that you should NEVER store your camera with the sensor laying down when you travel because then, if there is any dust inside the chamber, it will be shaken down right on the sensor.

Cleaning should not be considered rocket science and should be performed on a regular basis. And then there is post processing where if you spend a little time you can remove all the spots.
Click to expand...

Bought DSLR for reason, and it is really just a timing thing. I'm sure in a few months I'll not be as concerned about it just had this trip already planned.

When you say never store it with sensor laying down, do you mean never store it with sensor facing up? In my camera bag the lens points down always and I try to keep it in there as much as possible.
 
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stmv

Senior Member
I use zooms including the old push/pulls,, I found that once I took care changing lenses, that my dust issues were greatly reduced.

I change lenses "often",,

it would be interesting..

If Nikon had one lens that was 18-200 2.8, light weight,, no distortion,, no vignetting, etc,
of course..

but,, physics is physics, and so far,, no magic lens. hence my pile of lenses.
 
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GerardH

New member
nikonlion said:
When you say never store it with sensor laying down, do you mean never store it with sensor facing up? In my camera bag the lens points down always and I try to keep it in there as much as possible.
Click to expand...

I was wondering the same thing and that's exactly how I store my camera -- lens barrel pointing down.
 
BackdoorArts

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
I would have to assume that the "never store" comment is meant to never orient the sensor so that gravity deposits everything on top of it.
 
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Sandpatch

Senior Member
I stage everything with loosened end cap on the incoming lens and simply work the swap as efficiently as I can, holding the camera down like Eye-level does. Most of my photography is outdoors, so I try to use my bag for holding the lenses. Initially I found myself not changing lenses for fear of dust, then thought to myself how foolish that was.
 
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Sambr

Senior Member
It's the DSLR experince to change glass. Just do it! Be careful, like don't change in a windstrom etc. Or if you are still unsure and have lots of money buy a "body for each lens you own. :) :)
 
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GerardH

New member
I do a lot of outdoor photography -- backpacking, canoeing, snowshoeing, hunting, etc. and I always use my body to shield the camera & lens from the wind. As noted by others, I keep the camera facing down and exchange the end cap for the lens as I replace one lens for the other. I never set the camera or lens on the ground while swapping lenses.
 
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