I'm a bit unsure whether to take a dSLR and risk trashing it with sand, or to try and make do with a compact camera. Or I could take my old 450D and kit lens, which is a bit more expendable. Does anyone have any advice on this? We will be camping.
In reply to Dan Arkle: It'd seem silly not to take a decent camera to me. If you don't want to buy a new one then yeah, the 450D would do. Take a plastic bag, cut a hole in it for the lens and strap an elastic band to it. Instant weather sealing for free (or 5p from your local M&S).
I took a Nikon FM2 with a 35-135 Nikkor lens on one of my trips and even doing my best to protect it and keep it clean, the mechanism did get some grit in it. Other trips I've had no problem at all.
Obviously a lot depends on how windy it is and hence how much dust, sand and grit are in the air: sometimes it'll be clear, but you can get pretty substantial sandstorms, and sometimes there'll just be a lot of dust hanging in still air (as in this image: http://www.ukclimbing.com/images/dbpage.php?id=195755). And the risk of dust ingress is greater in the valley than high up.
Having said all which, it is a great place for photography. I hope you have a good trip.
In reply to Dan Arkle:
I took the same camera (35mm compact with slide film) to Wadi Rum 3 or 4 times before it finally stopped working properly. It always seemed to me that no matter how careful I was, sand would get everywhere.
You should take DSLR and a compact... My 400d survived without any issues, but my new at the time Panasonic compact did suffer the rest of its life with a gritty lens cover.
Incredible potential for night time shots, so the DSLR will come into its own.
Enjoy it and start early on anything big. We were up at 4:00am to do the Pillar of Wisdom, but meant plenty of time to negotiate the summit and get down in daylight - despite our third visit to the summit plateau, we still got lost for 40 mins - incredible place!
