Rain gear for camera: I was outside in a preserve when a sudden shower gave me chase, with me in a 'T' shirt and 200 yards from the car I did whatever to my new 80D to protect it. It...

GlenBose Loc: NE Florida, formerly Limerick, PA

I was outside in a preserve when a sudden shower gave me chase, with me in a 'T' shirt and 200 yards from the car I did whatever to my new 80D to protect it. It got me to wondering what UHHers use to protect their cameras.
Do you carry some sort of protection? What kind, and how used? Can you continue to shoot under those circumstances?
This might merit discussion since I didn't find any answers on the net other than a grocery bag or serran wrap.
Thanks UHHers
Larry

Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room

I have a Camera Rain Cover RC-702 that quickly slips over the camera and allows me to use up to a 200mm lens and use the LCD monitor as well. Available at Amazon for $15.99.

I admit I don't always carry it, but if I'm going somewhere where it rains a lot, like the tropics, it's a great thing to tote along.

GlenBose Loc: NE Florida, formerly Limerick, PA

Just Fred wrote:

I have a Camera Rain Cover RC-702 that quickly slips over the camera and allows me to use up to a 200mm lens and use the LCD monitor as well. Available at Amazon for $15.99.

I admit I don't always carry it, but if I'm going somewhere where it rains a lot, like the tropics, it's a great thing to tote along.

How is it to hold in handheld mode? Does the rear clear plastic hold up to repeated folding for bag carry?
I did find similar covers with a lot of iffy reviews for usability. The price is cheap but if it is cumbersome, then it doesn't let me shoot but only protect.
Thanks for your reply. I might get one because it is inexpensive.

Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room

Well, it IS made in China...

Truth be told, I find it surprisingly useful for the price. Bundled up, it's a package about 4"x4"x3" -- a bit bulky to stash in a photo bag, IMO, but as you say, for the price, it's paid for itself if it saves my camera gear (and lets me get that cool "downpour shot").

GlenBose Loc: NE Florida, formerly Limerick, PA

Just Fred wrote:

Well, it IS made in China...

Truth be told, I find it surprisingly useful for the price. Bundled up, it's a package about 4"x4"x3" -- a bit bulky to stash in a photo bag, IMO, but as you say, for the price, it's paid for itself if it saves my camera gear (and lets me get that cool "downpour shot").

Yep, I think this is what it is. I'm going to Iceland next year and given my experiance today, I think I will experiment with this cover. It may not be my last raincover but at least I will begin to have some protection.
Thanks again, Fred.

CO

I have a Lowepro Nova and Lowepro Magnum shoulder bag that have a rain cover that pulls out of a zippered pouch and stretches over the bag. I've been caught in the rain also and have pulled out the rain cover. Your camera is really well protected but you can't shoot.

LensCoat make a wide variety of camera and lens covers. Check out the different ones on their website.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

For cheap and light and something you can always have in your bag, look at OP/TECH Rainsleeve.

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

GlenBose wrote:

I was outside in a preserve when a sudden shower gave me chase, with me in a 'T' shirt and 200 yards from the car I did whatever to my new 80D to protect it. It got me to wondering what UHHers use to protect their cameras.
Do you carry some sort of protection? What kind, and how used? Can you continue to shoot under those circumstances?
This might merit discussion since I didn't find any answers on the net other than a grocery bag or serran wrap.
Thanks UHHers
Larry

I have to admit that my first thought is, that's a personal question!! Ha! Ha! I use a plastic bag most often (the gallon food bag worked well recently, with a hole cut for the lens), but have purchased an actual plastic sleeve rain coat that has never been used. I usually head in when it's starting to rain hard, but will work in a slight drizzle or very light rain to finish up a shot.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

GlenBose wrote:

I was outside in a preserve when a sudden shower gave me chase, with me in a 'T' shirt and 200 yards from the car I did whatever to my new 80D to protect it. It got me to wondering what UHHers use to protect their cameras.
Do you carry some sort of protection? What kind, and how used? Can you continue to shoot under those circumstances?
This might merit discussion since I didn't find any answers on the net other than a grocery bag or serran wrap.
Thanks UHHers
Larry

I found the easiest way to protect my camera system was to buy it. All my Olympus bodies and lenses are weatherproof. In Mykonos, I was the only one out in the wind and pouring rain shooting away at the harbor. I was soaked down to my underwear and socks but my camera was still shooting away. All the Canons and Nikons were shutdown and on the tables in the cafes. The only problem one has with shooting in the rain is how to best remove the raindrops on the front lense element. All the salt spray that I had on my camera was easily removed. Once back to the ship, I just rinsed it in the sink with slow running water and towel dried. I'm not sure if it can be done or made simpler than that.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

GlenBose wrote:

I was outside in a preserve when a sudden shower gave me chase, with me in a 'T' shirt and 200 yards from the car I did whatever to my new 80D to protect it. It got me to wondering what UHHers use to protect their cameras.
Do you carry some sort of protection? What kind, and how used? Can you continue to shoot under those circumstances?
This might merit discussion since I didn't find any answers on the net other than a grocery bag or serran wrap.
Thanks UHHers
Larry

If I know it will be a wet shoot, I use my Olympus Tough. Otherwise I'd use a Rainsleeve on a DSLR. In an emergency, I'd tuck it under by shirt/jacket and head for cover.

SteveMcBill

Good information here: http://www.naturephotographers.net/articles0413/ck0413-1.html

Many different ones available from here: http://www.wexphotographic.com/rain-covers/

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

CHG_CANON wrote:

For cheap and light and something you can always have in your bag, look at OP/TECH Rainsleeve.

This makes me think of that line from the Wizard of Oz: "Help me. I'm melting.....".

But seriously, In Oregon, one has to learn to live with rain. On a recent trip to Alaska, it rained every day but one. Sometimes the elements actually become part of the story. (Frankly, I'd rather shoot in some weather than some "fair weather" day.)

I use the Rainsleeve + depend on Weather resistant gear as another Hogger mentioned. But not all gear is weather resistant such as the external flash required for certain macro shots, then just stick in under your poncho and wait it out.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

CHG_CANON wrote:

For cheap and light and something you can always have in your bag, look at OP/TECH Rainsleeve.

Will work or a garbage bag

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

I have a rain shield that hangs on my tripod.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

I know that some of the answers you will get will advise you to buy a "weather proof" camera. What happens if under the rain or a dust storm you have to change lenses? No longer weather proof I guess.
A camera made weather proof have very thin gaskets to make the camera "weather sealed." Those gaskets wear in time. Buttons in camera seldom have weather sealing.
The price of a weather sealed camera is always considerably higher than a camera without it. A non weather sealed camera, and there are thousands of them in use every day can be protected with a zip bag and yes, you can shoot that way under the rain.
I cannot remember the last time I shot under the rain. I look for a dry place for personal protection and I could use the camera from there. Notice I said I could. I could also use an umbrella but that would imply the umbrella in one hand and the camera in the other, not a comfortable situation.
Under heavy rain I do not care to shoot.