World Image issue 07 April 2014

I have been known to have, done a little bit of
travelling, so my camera is destined for some
abuse.
During my escapades my camera has had to
endure sand ingress from the deserts of
Morocco, the searing heat of the Gobi Desert in
Mongolia, the freezing temperatures of a
Romanian winter to the freezing spindrift
ripping through everything on the Cairngorm
Plateau as the winds reach in excess of
100mph.
So it goes without saying that when I invest in
some equipment it has to be “Fit for Purpose.” I
do not care if it does not have street credibility;
or it is the wrong colour or “So last Year.”
Years ago I purchased the Camera Care
Systems range of protection products they were
robust and you could throw you gear around in
relative safety in the knowledge that it would be
protected.
EVEREST CASE - GEAR REVIEW
Kev Sidford FRGS
Unfortunately, those days are long since gone
as time has a habit of changing and CCS has
long since gone. Their products died a death in
2006 and few soft camera care products in my
opinion have been able to cut the mustard.
Ever since I have been looking for a product
that will protect my gear especially from
careless security staff at airports, so it has to be
robust, just in case of a calamity. Equally I do
not want to pay a Kings Ransom, so has to be
cost effective.
Well, I have now found such a product, not the
favoured kit that was being pushed heavily at
the Photography Show but a hard plastic case,
manufactured by Ningbo Everest Enclosure
Tech Co., Ltd.
This Chinese company has gone to great
lengths to insure that the cases meet the
International standards of IP-68. I should of
course take the opportunity to explain what IP-
68 actually means.
The text below is pretty self-explanatory but in
essence the cases are both totally dust proof and
watertight. Assuming the user ensures the
pressure valve is secured or leaves it open to
the elements.
IP rated enclosures undergo a series of tests
before TUVRheinland awards certification.
IP = Ingress Protection
First Digit (Intrusion Protection)
0. No Protection
Single Camera Safety Box
1. Protection from a large part of the body
such as a hand (but no protection from
deliberate access); from solid objects
greater than 50mm in diameter.
2. Protection against fingers or other object not
greater than 80mm in length and 12mm in
diameter.
Website = photosociety.net Page 20 email = magazine@photosociety.net