Black Camera Bag in Niger, Africa?

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Trbeattie

Trbeattie

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Good Day All, I have the awesome opportunity to move to Niger for 2 years. I’ve been to very warm places before but not with my camera gear. Any concern with overheating if I have a black camera bag? I know electronics don’t do great in extreme environments and I hope I’m not just sitting in the sun with my black backpack and black Nikon camera and lens but who knows. What am I missing in considerations for my camera equipment while I’m there? I’d rather buy now and take it with me vs ordering when I get there and having to wait on it. Thanks, Tracy
 
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Trbeattie said:
Good Day All, I have the awesome opportunity to move to Niger for 2 years. I’ve been to very warm places before but not with my camera gear. Any concern with overheating if I have a black camera bag? I know electronics don’t do great in extreme environments and I hope I’m not just sitting in the sun with my black backpack and black Nikon camera and lens but who knows. What am I missing in considerations for my camera equipment while I’m there? I’d rather buy now and take it with me vs ordering when I get there and having to wait on it. Thanks, Tracy
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This sounds like quite an adventure, and a wonderful chance to obtain photos of subjects that few of us ever encounter. I am not an expert here, but I will offer my two cents' worth. If it's very hot where I am doing photography I do my best to keep my gear out of the direct sun as much as possible no matter what color pack I am carrying. Black would theoretically absorb more heat than other colors, but probably the difference would only be truly dramatic if compared with a pack that is white, and I would not recommend a pack that is white (gets dirty, is even more conspicuous than a black pack). Camera bags and packs are heavily padded, which means there is insulation that inhibits heat from penetrating deeply into the bag. Finally, if you are concerned about black fabric absorbing too much heat you might carry a white towel, which you can drape over the pack in situations of concern.

If you are concerned about a black lens, you can either purchase a fabric lens cover of some type (like LensCoat) or you can add a "skin" to the lens, such as those made by Alphagvrd.

Doug Greenberg
 
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GrandNagus50 said:
This sounds like quite an adventure, and a wonderful chance to obtain photos of subjects that few of us ever encounter. I am not an expert here, but I will offer my two cents' worth. If it's very hot where I am doing photography I do my best to keep my gear out of the direct sun as much as possible no matter what color pack I am carrying. Black would theoretically absorb more heat than other colors, but probably the difference would only be truly dramatic if compared with a pack that is white, and I would not recommend a pack that is white (gets dirty, is even more conspicuous than a black pack). Camera bags and packs are heavily padded, which means there is insulation that inhibits heat from penetrating deeply into the bag. Finally, if you are concerned about black fabric absorbing too much heat you might carry a white towel, which you can drape over the pack in situations of concern.

If you are concerned about a black lens, you can either purchase a fabric lens cover of some type (like LensCoat) or you can add a "skin" to the lens, such as those made by Alphagvrd.

Doug Greenberg
Click to expand...
Great thought on the white towel. I’ll check out the lens covers and skins.
 
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