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shooting in heavy rain?
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Jul 28, 2018 06:34:51   #
Crombie
 
I need advice re shooting during severe rain. I had a Pentax K20D with their 50-135 and it withstood torrential exposure to rain and would look to Pentax again if I knew one of their shorter zooms could take it but just don't know? Currently I use an Oly EM5mk11 and don't know if this can really withstand heavy rain and if so can the 12-40 also be immune? Maybe I should look to Nikon???

Any advice will be very much appreciated.

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Jul 28, 2018 06:44:42   #
Brucej67 Loc: Cary, NC
 
There is all kind of rain protection gear for cameras and lens combination for heavy rain shooting https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Rain-Capes-Covers-Slickers/ci/3313/N/4075788778 check them out.

Crombie wrote:
I need advice re shooting during severe rain. I had a Pentax K20D with their 50-135 and it withstood torrential exposure to rain and would look to Pentax again if I knew one of their shorter zooms could take it but just don't know? Currently I use an Oly EM5mk11 and don't know if this can really withstand heavy rain and if so can the 12-40 also be immune? Maybe I should look to Nikon???

Any advice will be very much appreciated.

Reply
Jul 28, 2018 07:01:14   #
Crombie
 
Thanks Bruce, could well be the answer.

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Jul 28, 2018 07:15:29   #
StanMac Loc: Tennessee
 
I think Pentax lenses with the letters WR in their model name, e.g., Pentax D FA 24-70mm f/2.8 ED WR, are Weather Resistant lenses.

Stan

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Jul 28, 2018 08:27:07   #
mborn Loc: Massachusetts
 
Brucej67 wrote:
There is all kind of rain protection gear for cameras and lens combination for heavy rain shooting https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Rain-Capes-Covers-Slickers/ci/3313/N/4075788778 check them out.


I agree. I utilize rain gear for my lenses and camera so I can photograph in the rain

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Jul 28, 2018 08:47:13   #
nadelewitz Loc: Ithaca NY
 
I browsed the rain covers at B&H. Looks like a drawstring opening for the lens would require a lens whose front end does not rotate when focusing. True?

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Jul 28, 2018 12:34:02   #
Vietnam Vet
 
https://www.thinktankphoto.com//collections/hydrophobias/products/hydrophobia-70-200

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Jul 29, 2018 08:00:43   #
dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl
 
Crombie wrote:
I need advice re shooting during severe rain. I had a Pentax K20D with their 50-135 and it withstood torrential exposure to rain and would look to Pentax again if I knew one of their shorter zooms could take it but just don't know? Currently I use an Oly EM5mk11 and don't know if this can really withstand heavy rain and if so can the 12-40 also be immune? Maybe I should look to Nikon???

Any advice will be very much appreciated.


I have a Ruggard fabric rain shield that I got from either Adorama or B&H. I would imagine that it was B&H and I got it when they had it in their "deal zone". It is a fabric sleeve with stretchy draw strings (with a push button connector to let you adjust the tension) at both ends and the lens end is smaller in diameter than the "camera" end. There is enough room (I got the large) for a long telephoto lens and the camera to fit in. The camera end is large enough for a D5 or the largest body that Nikon (or Canon) seems to have with some room for new bodies/lenses. The elastic drawstrings are easy to adjust (even with gloves on) and the sleeve protects the entire camera/lens and leaves an open area in the front for the lens/lens hood to stick out and at the back for the photographer to reach in to hit the shutter, focus and see the viewfinder/back screen. It's a cumbersome arrangement but far better than getting your camera/lenses wet. Mine is about 24" long so plenty of room for different lenses but flexible enough that I could manage with a 10mm or 50mm lens if I wanted. It has it's own zippered bag similar to what a rain poncho might have. My cameras are (theoretically) weather sealed but I don't take chances. Also, I do a lot of shooting on the water (Gulf Coast or Atlantic Coast mainly) and I use it when near the water in case of saltwater splash from breakers etc.

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Jul 29, 2018 08:04:01   #
insman1132 Loc: Southwest Florida
 
Hey Crombie, I keep two rain covers in each camera bag. One for my camera, as mentioned already to you above by Bruce, and another a folded poncho, with hood, I get from Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01557ZQ9M/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Then I just go and have fun!!

P.S. shooting in the rain can get you come great captures you never imagined possible. Good luck!

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Jul 29, 2018 09:09:20   #
wmurnahan Loc: Bloomington IN
 
mborn wrote:
I agree. I utilize rain gear for my lenses and camera so I can photograph in the rain


I also agree, never wanted to test what weather sealed met.

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Jul 29, 2018 09:34:50   #
mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma
 
I have the same camera and took it to Niagara Falls. It was exposed to a LOT of water at Cave of the Winds and Maid of the Mist. I used the 14-150 II lens that's also water and weather proof. No issues at all. I brought a small piece of ShamWow to wipe down the exterior (not the lens). If you're really worried, pick up an Olympus Tough TG5 which can also be used underwater. If you're really worried, bring a raincoat for your camera.

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Jul 29, 2018 09:42:57   #
Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC
 
"...shooting during severe rain..." Crombie this comes with the territory for shooting league soccer commercially... And is the compelling reason I shoot with a Nikon Pro body and glass... As do many of my competitors... experience is a brutal teacher... shown below are with a Nikon D3 with an AF-S 200-400mm f/4 VR ED absolutely no worries, it simply does the job every time no matter what... I will soon exceed 300,000 ticks on the shutter and it works flawlessly at 9 frames per second. Yes there is something about one's return on investment to consider... enough said.

Need validation? Look in the photographer's pit at any major sporting event or fashion show for that matter... You'll find Nikon heavily represented there...

Hope this helps Crombie or is at least food for thought...
I wish you well on your journey...

Nikon D3 with an AF-S 200-400mm f/4 VR ED
Nikon D3 with an AF-S 200-400mm f/4 VR ED...
(Download)

Nikon D3 with an AF-S 200-400mm f/4 VR ED
Nikon D3 with an AF-S 200-400mm f/4 VR ED...
(Download)

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Jul 29, 2018 11:10:03   #
Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.
 
Crombie wrote:
I need advice re shooting during severe rain. I had a Pentax K20D with their 50-135 and it withstood torrential exposure to rain and would look to Pentax again if I knew one of their shorter zooms could take it but just don't know? Currently I use an Oly EM5mk11 and don't know if this can really withstand heavy rain and if so can the 12-40 also be immune? Maybe I should look to Nikon???

Any advice will be very much appreciated.


Shooting in the rain is a very bad idea, I don't care what manufacturer you purchase.

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Jul 29, 2018 11:36:20   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
Crombie wrote:
I need advice re shooting during severe rain. I had a Pentax K20D with their 50-135 and it withstood torrential exposure to rain and would look to Pentax again if I knew one of their shorter zooms could take it but just don't know? Currently I use an Oly EM5mk11 and don't know if this can really withstand heavy rain and if so can the 12-40 also be immune? Maybe I should look to Nikon???

Any advice will be very much appreciated.


Although I have and have used Rainsleeves, my first choice would be my Olympus Tough.

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Jul 29, 2018 11:45:59   #
SharpShooter Loc: NorCal
 
Crombie wrote:
I need advice re shooting during severe rain. I had a Pentax K20D with their 50-135 and it withstood torrential exposure to rain and would look to Pentax again if I knew one of their shorter zooms could take it but just don't know? Currently I use an Oly EM5mk11 and don't know if this can really withstand heavy rain and if so can the 12-40 also be immune? Maybe I should look to Nikon???

Any advice will be very much appreciated.


Crombie, three things come to mind for shooting in the rain.
One, the shooting style. If you’re immobilized on a tripod and not gonna move I would use something, even just a plastic cover.
If you’re running and gunning, it’s how I shoot rain, I don’t use a cove but I do use common sense. I carry a cotton rag for occasional drying.
Second, as mentioned by Thomas, that’s what pro gear is made for.
I realize not everyone is gonna be using pro gear so some degree of rain mitigation might be needed.
The 3rd component of rain is BAD light. Bad light requires FAST lenses.
My rain set-up is a 1Dx with 200mm f1.8 lens. This lens is IDEAL for rain because it has a very LARGE hood. I tape the junction of hood and lens with electrical tape and NEVER get droplets on the objective lens.
You need to be more careful wth lessor camera’s and lenses.
If you don’t need to shoot in the rain, why do it??
SS

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