grand canyon rafting trip and Nikon D500: One Idea is to head west this year. Any suggestions on how to protect the camera and my 18 to 300 mm lens. What case or pack to use? It has...

home brewer Loc: Fort Wayne, Indiana

One Idea is to head west this year.
Any suggestions on how to protect the camera and my 18 to 300 mm lens. What case or pack to use? It has been suggested that I get a dry bag and a padded lowepro sling bag.
How rain proof is the camera and lens? I know I do not want it to go swimming.

Bill_de Loc: US

I used a dry bag for years in a kayak. In your case I would see if the rafting company has any advice.

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Dave327 Loc: Duluth, GA. USA

I agree. Talk to the rafting company about what your allowed or recommend to take. A small hard / waterproof case (pelican) would be best on a multi day trip where your loading & unloading and bouncing down big rapids. Beyond that I question having a lens out to 300mm. In all my trips to national parks (I have a 70 to 300MM) I rarely used it. I shot mostly with a 28mm or 50MM. The vistas are so great you want to get it all in. Outside of prime(s), I would go with a 18 to 85mm. Just my thoughts.

10MPlayer Loc: California

Agree with the short lens suggestion. You're not going to be shooting wildlife in a moving raft. It'll be closeups of the other people with you and shots of the grand vistas. We took a raft trip down the Snake River in Wyoming a couple of years ago and I used my everyday 18-200mm zoom. It was fine. Plus it's the kit lens and not a super expensive Canon L lens.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

I’ve kayaked with drybags. The problem, of course, is that you have to remove the camera from the bag to use it. I’d just get something like the Olympus TG-5 and leave the D500 at home.

Dave327 Loc: Duluth, GA. USA

I agree with the Oly TG-5! I’m bit old (71) for the rigors of a raft trip down the canyon now, but if I was I’d spend the $ and take that! Years ago it was a pain keeping the camera dry. Most of the shots were after we had stopped to set up camp for the night. Just keep in a zipped pocket in case one gets dumped LOL.

DMGill Loc: Colorado

I spent 14 days on Colorado Rivers in an open canoe last summer and did most of my shooting with the 28-300 on a Nikon D500 but occasionally used a 200-500mm. I also used a TG4 for times when I wasn’t willing to take the D500 out of it’s Pelican case. I agree with the statement that you should start with a talk with the rafting company to see what is allowed and what works in their experience.

mikedent Loc: Florida

I did such a trip in Sept. I had the D7100, 18-200, and 10-24 wrapped up in a 10 or 15L dry bag. Worked great, no leakage. I had wrapped some foam around the lens and body and also placed them inside a big sandwich bag for more protection. I did not use a Pelikan-type case due to size and weight issues. You won't want to use the big camera on the rapids, it will get soaked. Most of the river is slow and calm. For the rapids many people use a go-pro type unit, I had a Nikon AW130 waterproof one that was perfect. I pulled out the dry bag with the big camera after we got to camp and used it for scenery and star photos. Amazon sells many types of dry bags of various capacities. Maybe include a dust blower to keep lens/body cleaner. Bring moist lens cleaning wipes, Zeiss at WalMart or Sam's Club. It's a great trip!

DMGill Loc: Colorado

If you opt for a dry bag, look at the Watershed Ocoee dry duffel. That are heavy duty and you need to keep the seal clean, but they work well. As one experienced Paddler said in a seminar on how to pack a canoe for a multi day trip, “Remember, inside every dry bag is a wet bag trying to get out.” NRS.com are Raft, Canoe, and Kayak specialists and have a wide range of products.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

home brewer wrote:

One Idea is to head west this year.
Any suggestions on how to protect the camera and my 18 to 300 mm lens. What case or pack to use? It has been suggested that I get a dry bag and a padded lowepro sling bag.
How rain proof is the camera and lens? I know I do not want it to go swimming.

I have been on a rafting trip. If your trip includes rapids forget about taking a sharp picture. The motion of the raft and the spray will not allow it. Calm water is another story.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I did that trip years ago. I took a Bronica C with me. I used a military surplus .50 cal. ammo can. It worked quite well.
--Bob

home brewer wrote:

One Idea is to head west this year.
Any suggestions on how to protect the camera and my 18 to 300 mm lens. What case or pack to use? It has been suggested that I get a dry bag and a padded lowepro sling bag.
How rain proof is the camera and lens? I know I do not want it to go swimming.

jcboy3

home brewer wrote:

One Idea is to head west this year.
Any suggestions on how to protect the camera and my 18 to 300 mm lens. What case or pack to use? It has been suggested that I get a dry bag and a padded lowepro sling bag.
How rain proof is the camera and lens? I know I do not want it to go swimming.

There is a lot of quiet water, and a lot of photo opps when the rafts are landed and you hike about. I used a dry bag to keep my larger camera dry but easily accessible.

For the rapids, you will want to shoot stills and video. A lot of folks get a waterproof point & shoot. Great for snapshots. However, I wanted better quality, so I invested in an underwater case for my smaller camera. Keep some chamois to dry the front off after you get splashed. I also used a hoodman loop to look at the LCD (it is very bright on the river) while shooting.

Dennis833 Loc: Australia

I have successfully used dry bags on many trips. On my last five day paddle I mounted a waterproof pelican case on the font deck of my Kayak. It was a little harder to open but I felt a lot more comfortable moving the case in and out of the Kayak. My advise is don't ever take your camera out in fast moving water and never put the camera strap around your neck.