gwilliams6

Why anyone would risk their expensive camera and lens, rather than protect them with a $10 weather sleeve is just not thinking.

As a pro that has shot in all weather conditions around the world for nearly 50 years, I have had both success and lots of failures with unprotected gear, no matter that it was advertised as weathersealed . Windswept water conditions, length of water exposure are all variables that NO ONE in this discussion can know or guarantee for your trip.

As a professional photojournalist I learned the hard way early in my long career, it is better to be overprepared than underprepared for conditions. That philosophy has saved many a photography assignment and saved an important and award-winning shot, and saved my expensive gear.

Trying to justify NOT using proper weather protection is just rolling the dice with your gear, your money, your photos. No manufacturer's warranty will cover you for weather damage, none.

Yes you may have accidental and total loss insurance coverage on your gear (I always do), but if your camera and/or lens goes down in the middle of your shoot, you have lost your photos right then and forever, and no amount of insurance will bring them back.

Just use you head, spend a few dollars and properly protect your gear and save yourself possible regret later. Just because someone else made it through without proper protection doesn't mean you will be as lucky, even with a D850. .

Cheers and best to you.

starlifter Loc: Towson, MD

Thank You for the advice.

fetzler Loc: North West PA

I have been on the Maid-of-the-Mist several times in my life. Think of taking your camera out in a soaking rain.
Personally, I think this would be a great occasion for a Oly TG-6. Rain protection for another camera would be prudent. Bring a waterproof bag to store your camera as well as paper towels to dry your hands.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Excellent advice.

Brennon

First post. I live about 90 minutes from Niagara Falls. My wife and I visited the Falls at least twice each year prior to the pandemic. We've been on both American and Canadian boat rides. They are essentially the same except they originate from different sides of the border. My observations are: (1) YOU WILL GET WET. Anything outside the ponchos will be saturated. (2) The views are not very spectacular. The cascading water is the most exciting part of the boat rides. It makes for great video but does not translate very well for stills. (3) You will get a unique perspective of the overlooks, skyline and Peace Bridge. It's good to have pictures from many perspectives. (4) The boats are crowded, therefore your shoulf expect several heads to be in many of your pictures. (5) As the boat approaches the base of the Falls, the ride gets a bit choppy. They don't get too close, but you will be aware of the power of the forces coming at you and visibility can become a problem. (6) I've never taken my Nikon D3400 out of it's case while on the boats. I always used my Coolpix camera and gotten good shots.
Having said that, if you can protect you camera from the driving water...go for it! I highly recommend taking the boat trip. It is an iconic ride at Niagara Falls. Just do everything you can to protect your equipment from water if you choose to use it.

gwilliams6

Thanks,

gwilliams6

jcboy3

If you do Maid of the Mist type rides, then you better put your camera in a bag. The mist is more like a shower. Lots and lots of water.

Brennon

Another option might be to take the Cave of the Winds tour before going on the boat ride. The Cave of the Winds is a walking tour to the base of the Bridal Veil Falls. You can choose your exposure to cascading water from zero to forty or fifty percent along the self-guided pathway. If you can shoot from the most exposed platform, you will be able to use your camera on the boat tour. The difference is that you are only a few steps away from the falling water and the boats never get quite as close to the falling water as the walking tours. You will be able the determine the worst conditions you will be willing to shoot. This picture is from The Cave of the Winds tour.
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10207193527381305&set=a.10207193526421281

jcboy3

What is really cool is to take the boat ride; you think you're going to go under the falls it's so wet and wild and the boat engines are whining to keep the boat moving forward and then in place.

And then go up to the top and watch the boats. They don't get anywhere near the base of the falls. Makes you realize how powerful the falls is.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

Cave of the Winds gets you close to American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls but not Horseshoe Falls. I still highly recommend it.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

It is going to come down to what you want to do.

Professionals like gwilliams6 cannot easily afford equipment failure and spend the money for relatively cheap but effective extra protection. I would expect for gwilliams6 to have failures that many of the rest of us will never see.

If I was working as a professional, I would possibly do the same. But I am not a professional, just a enthusiastic amateur that pushes his equipment and holds my manufacturer to his word. The three bodies between my grandson, wife, and myself have now been exposed to all day rains, windy sand dunes, salt spray, and other environmental exposures for a total of ~20 years altogether. No weather failures.

Bill at Burkphoto is also a professional. He, like me, shoots 4/3rds. And he takes his manufacturer at their word too. And he has not had a weather failure either. But this is 4/3rds.

The testing that I have reviewed with the D850, other full frame cameras, and 4/3rds cameras done at the same time, make me inclined to say your D850 should survive such a very wet shoot. But this is still not the final thought. gwilliams6, Burkphoto, and myself cannot not guarantee you, even with the extra protection, that you will not have a failure. Without the extra protection, failure is unlikely. And a failure is even less likely with the extra protection. But not one of us can actual guarantee the future. You just need to decide where to put your faith.

gwilliams6 is correct about one item. Full frame equipment is much more expensive than 4/3rds. I can buy four 300 f4 lenses for the same price as the Canon or Nikon 600 f4 lens (they all have the same angle of view). You may want to make your decision based on that more than the camera's actually ability to withstand weather.