Protecting an Epic in the Rainforest/djungle

[AndreasOberg]

I'm planning a one week shoot in Costa Rica filming waterfalls, djungle, parrots etc. Later we plan on adding matte painted ruins, ancient civilizations etc. We will also spend 2 weeks as vacation before that.

Do you have any recommendations on how to protect the camera. Issues I see are:

- rain and moist. It's the dry season but it's the r*a*i*n*forest so... it is often wet
- getting robbed
- stolen from living quarters when noone is home
- air particles/insects coming into the camera

Rain and Moist
I read about some rain protection for the camera. That could work. Also to have plastic bags for all the equipment and bags that have rain protection
Ideas?

Stolen
Insurance
Maybe hiring a carry help that can work as protection.

Stolen from living quarters
Since the camera is heavy we want to be able to not film for a few days. Leaving in a normal hotel feels like a nono. Considering putting it into a bank vault. Maybe exclusive hotels have safe places but we don't want to live too expensive for 3 weeks.

Air particles. Only think I can think of is the rain protection. Maybe duct tejp or similar or some protection around the camera.

I'm also thinking about having a little "trolley" with big wheels that I can drag the bag after me even in the forest with equipment. 15-20kg of camera equipment is a bit too heavy to carry for me.

Anyone has experience with similar situations or has some clever ideas?

Going to be extremely cool but want to prepare it as much as possible!
Thanks for any help
/Andreas

 

[Nicholas Teixeira]

I'm planning a one week shoot in Costa Rica filming waterfalls, djungle, parrots etc. Later we plan on adding matte painted ruins, ancient civilizations etc. We will also spend 2 weeks as vacation before that.

Do you have any recommendations on how to protect the camera. Issues I see are:

- rain and moist. It's the dry season but it's the r*a*i*n*forest so... it is often wet
- getting robbed
- stolen from living quarters when noone is home
- air particles/insects coming into the camera

Rain and Moist
I read about some rain protection for the camera. That could work. Also to have plastic bags for all the equipment and bags that have rain protection
Ideas?

Stolen
Insurance
Maybe hiring a carry help that can work as protection.

Stolen from living quarters
Since the camera is heavy we want to be able to not film for a few days. Leaving in a normal hotel feels like a nono. Considering putting it into a bank vault. Maybe exclusive hotels have safe places but we don't want to live too expensive for 3 weeks.

Air particles. Only think I can think of is the rain protection. Maybe duct tejp or similar or some protection around the camera.

I'm also thinking about having a little "trolley" with big wheels that I can drag the bag after me even in the forest with equipment. 15-20kg of camera equipment is a bit too heavy to carry for me.

Anyone has experience with similar situations or has some clever ideas?

Going to be extremely cool but want to prepare it as much as possible!
Thanks for any help
/Andreas

i would suggest you to use the Grid Filter for protection of dust and small particles that could damage your camera...
http://www.grid4red.com/grid-filter/

 

[AndreasOberg]

Thanks Nicholas. That seems like a good idea. I like your products. What do you think about the moist in the djungle? I think I could protect the camera from rain with plastic bags when it's raining, but the general moist of the djungle will get into the camera I can imagine. I know a Canon DSLR would be fine but dont know about the Epic.
Is it very sensitive?

Thanks!
Andreas

 

[AndreasOberg]

Does anyone have experience with humidity and the camera.
I know the Canon cameras deal pretty well with it, but Red feels more like a computer with a fan.

I plan on putting it in rain cover and have plastic bags and maybe not bring it to the more moisty areas of the forest.

Any thoughts would be great!

 

[Randall Brown]

Hey Andreas, we shot in the jungles of Guatemala with no problem is major humidity and rain storms. We used umbrella and simple covers to keep the camera from being drenched. The electronics are sealed from the open vents, so water just may break the fan, but shouldn't short the electronics. The camera was flawless for us during the shoot. Don't go in and out of AC areas if possible.

 

[Andy Jarosz]

Also check out our backplate to protect the other end of your camera too, for storage or shooting:

http://www.madlyfins.com/product.php?id_product=25

 

[AndreasOberg]

Thanks for the replies guys. Fantastic to hear that the baby should be ok in more excotic areas of the world.
Looks like an interesting backplate you have there Andy! Maybe I will pick one up.

Another topic I'm worried about is security. Ideally I would not like to carry the camera with me every day, for example if I take a break or going out for dinner, and we are not a big crew.
How do you deal with such expensive equipment as the Epics on trips like this where you live in normal hotels.
With my DSLRs I bring them almost wherever I go or have them in a hotel safe.

I'm thinking about using a local bank to put the camera in if I'm not using it for a few days.
/Best