Sea air and RED ONE

[Brandon Fraley]

I just spent a couple days out shooting sea lions from a Zodiac and am wondering what kind of maintenance my camera might require. I taped up all the open ports before hand, and the camera suffered no splash and little to zero spray.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[Vance Colvig]

My suggestion is to completely wipe the camera and accessories down "over and over and over and over and over again" with multiple damp wipes that have been moistened with distilled water (preferably de-ionized). This is for any equipment used or even stored in proximity to salt water or salt air for even brief periods of time. I don't know what you can be do about the interior of the camera and it's electronics, other than send it to Red for a thorough cleaning with an explanation of why it is being sent it in for cleaning. Salt air is incidious and will turn any exposed aluminum or magnesium (used in fluid heads) into alka seltzer sooner or later unless properly cleaned. It is especially hard on connectors.

 

[Johnny Friday]

I don't think you need to be overly concerned. My red is constantly on and around the water on a regular basis.....in salt air, within an underwater housing and camped on a beach or on a boat for weeks at a time. I wipe it down usually once after an entire shoot on the water and that's it---not that i am lazy or don't take it serious, but after having several cameras and the same conditions, unless you obviously got sprayed by salt water in the air or exposed your camera to what you would call harsh conditions, all you can do it just wipe it down. My camera has been back to red for serveral uprgades etc....and it HAS been cleaned with no mention of salt buildup or corrosion....and i did ask. That's two years in the field with my red. But proper care is important--i'm not saying you dont have to care for it, but i would not get to excessive with wiping it down hourly or such...but only at end of day at the most, but of course don't leave it outsided exposed either.

 

[Vance Colvig]

The fan on a R1 pumps outside air into the camera. If the air is salt laden, that salt air comes in contact with all of the electronic components it was intended to cool, as well as everything else in its pathway. Salt deposits disrupt and change the electrical characteristics of connectors, switches and other components and are frequently not visible to the naked eye. The U.S. Navy and even the U.S. Army know this and have preventative maintenance programs with respect connectors on aircraft as well as engine and airframe corrosion control. As a professional helicopter pilot of over 30 years, I have seen turbine engine performance degredation when flying below 300' over the ocean for 45 minutes due to salt build up on the engine's compressor blades. The salt buildup is barely visible to the trained eye, yet a fresh water rinse restores the affected engine to pre salt air ingested perameters. I have seen the effects of salt air and salt water contamination and it's effects on engines, airframes, and avionics. I am a beleiver. Probably a good idea to run this by the Red Team about preventitive maintenance and possibly any warranty issues. Corrosion takes time, can go unseen for a period of time, and after all, R1s havn't been out that long. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Brandon Fraley]

The fan on a R1 pumps outside air into the camera. If the air is salt laden, that salt air comes in contact with all of the electronic components it was intended to cool, as well as everything else in its pathway. Salt deposits that disrupt change the electrical characteristics of connectors, switches and other components are frequently not visible to the naked eye. The U.S. Navy and even the U.S. Army know this and have preventative maintenance programs with respect connectors on aircraft as well as engine and airframe corrosion control. As a professional helicopter pilot of over 30 years, I have seen turbine engine performance degredation when flying below 300' over the ocean for 45 minutes due to salt build up on the engine's compressor blades. The salt buildup is barely visible to the trained eye, yet a fresh water rinse restores the affected engine to pre salt air ingested perameters. I have seen the effects of salt air and salt water contamination and it's effects on engines, airframes, and avionics. I am a beleiver. Probably a good idea to run this by the Red Team about preventitive maintenance and possibly any warranty issues. Corrosion takes time, can go unseen for a period of time, and after all, R1s havn't been out that long. Just my 2 cents.

unless I'm wrong, the RED ONE blows hot air OUT, not in. And that air comes from the heat sinks, which are sealed off from the rest off the electronics.

Again, i might be totally wrong but that was what I had heard.

 

[Vance Colvig]

The R1 sucks air in on the botton left side of the camera (all those little holes), and blows air out the bottom right side (all those little holes) and also out the cf card slot if cf adapter in installed. In goes the ambient air, out goes the hot air. You can check this out by taking something that is smoldering such as a stick of incense or cigar and waiving it near these ports.

 

[Eirik Tyrihjel]

The R1 sucks

:yikes:

I am just quoting...




(sorry couldn´t resist, and I beleive you´re right, I wouldn´t use the word sucks like that, "air intake" is more safe for misquotes.)

 

[Vance Colvig]

Opppppps.......crossed metaphores.....aviators often refer to turbine engines as "suck and blow machines". Forgot the audience for a moment. I agree with you completely, there is nothing about the R1 that sucks, and thanks to the Red Team, it just keeps on giving, and giving, and giving more and more every day.