Keeping Your Digital Camera Safe on an Off-Road Trail

Off-road trails are a great place for friends and family to get together and share the outdoors. They are also a great opportunity for photographs - and where you find photo opportunities, you will find the digital camera.

Very few of us use conventional 35 mm film anymore, largely because the digital camera has become an affordable alternative. The ease in which images are loaded onto our computer is far more satisfying to many of us than taking our roll of twenty-four exposures to the drug store and waiting three days or more so we can see the pictures.

However, when using a digital camera in pavement-free areas of our wonderful planet, certain precautions are necessary to protect our digital cameras from the elements.

Plastic Bags

Keeping your digital camera in a sealed plastic bag is a great way to ensure that dust and moisture do not find their way into the intricate workings of the camera. I have even tried shooting pictures through the bag itself, but the images came out fuzzy and opaque. Simply remove the digital camera from the baggie when you wish to use it, and then replace it afterward. While this method does not protect the camera from shock, it will do a heck of a job in keeping the elements out.

Camera Bags

A more expensive, but sometimes safer, alternative to the plastic baggies are actual camera bags that can be purchased. These bags are designed to securely and safely store your digital camera while not in use. Some camera bags are offered for specific models, and others are more "one size fits all" applications. These handy gems even come with a place to store extra batteries and memory cards for your digital camera.

Glovebox

While the glove box is not the best alternative, it will provide adequate protection to your digital camera in most instances. It is better than just laying it on the seat, of course, but there are still chances of it jostling around and becoming damaged in the glove box. A good idea is to combine the camera bag and the glove box for maximum camera protection.

Backpack

If you are hiking about in the backwoods and wish to have your digital camera with you, it is always recommended to bring along a backpack, preferably one with multiple pockets. This way, you can bring some water, a first-aid kit, some survival tools and the digital camera, all in the same place! Even the cheapest backpacks will offer far more protection than a simple wrist or neck strap for your digital camera, so this is an option worth considering.

Other Methods

I have seen folks implement ammo-boxes full of foam for digital camera storage inside their vehicles, and this idea worked wonderfully! They seal watertight, and the smaller ones are very easy to carry around with you. Another trick I have seen is to mount the camera to the dashboard, kind of like the police do with their dash-cams. This way, when you want to cross that gnarly stream, or climb that impossible looking hill, your digital camera is highly accessible, and with the touch of a button the camera can record the event.