Kata 702 Raincoat for SLRs

[Tapeman]

I picked up a "raincoat" for my trip to Alaska and played around with it a little bit. I sure hope I don't have to use it.

It's OK on a tripod and not too bad to shoot with on but changing lenses is a PITA and you can't use the shoulder strap to carry the camera when you have it on. I don't usually have the hand strap on my camera but when using the 702 I think it will help a lot.

Does anyone use one of these often? Any tips?

[keenasmustard]

On my trip to the snow, I used a large snaplock bag with a hole cut in the end for the lens to poke out through. It seemed to do the job OK but I'm sure your raincoat will do a better job. There were a few other things I picked up on that trip that were handy:

I bought a little chamois on a leash from a ski shop. This pic shows what I mean:
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5992/898/1600/IMG_0939.0.jpg
This came in handy for when I did manage to get some snow on my camera or lenses.

My backpack I carried wasn't waterproof, so I carried a big garbage bag that I could dump everything into if the snow started to come down hard.

I came up with an awesome method for shooting and keeping my hands warm (ish!). I had a pair of woolen gloves that are fingerless (you've probably seen these before), but then have a mitten part attached on the back of the hand. When you want to cover your fingers up you fold the mitten part down over the tips of your fingers. Anyway, I put a hand warmer in the end of each mitten section; then I'd keep my left fingers covered (in their heated cocoon) while shooting and my right fingers exposed. Then when I had a chance to review my shots, I'd cover my right fingers to warm them up and expose my left fingers to use the controls. Obviously if there was any lull in activity, I'd have both hands all covered up! In addition to this, I also found some special wrist bands that hold a hand warmer against the pulse in your wrist. The concept is to warm the blood as it pumps into your hands and fingers. It all seems a bit over the top... but I'm a wimp when it comes to having cold hands!!

Good luck on your trip! I'm extremely jealous. When are you going? Is it on a cruise? I have a friend who's about to go on one. It would be funny if you were on the same one.

[Tapeman]

We are leaving on May 31st and return June 17th. Our trip includes two short small ship cruises, (4 day & 2 day) time in Anchorage and Seward and 4 days in Denali.

We have been told so many times to bring rain gear that I'm wondering if we'll ever see the sun. It is sunny in the flyers! Rain or shine I'm not sitting in my room or cabin.

[jd9600]

I use the Kata 702. I mainly have it on a monopod or tripod. That way I have another way to carry the camera. You might want to get the covers for the lenses also. I think the number is 704 Kata this is a lens sleeve kit, I use the lens sleeves when I use our zoom lenses.

[Jon]

If you have the POTN strap or similar, it's simple to run the strap through both hand openings. Otherwise, sling it out just one of them. But you're going to have similar issues with most camera rain gear.

[cruzyn56]

I used the Kata 702 on a trip to Alaska. Didn't try to change lenses with it, but was ok with the overall functionality of it when faced with wet weather where I wanted to still shoot. That was last June and although I have taken it on other trips, I haven't had to use it.