Alternative to Storm Jacket ?

[tommykjensen]

Some time ago I bought a Storm Jacket from http://www.stormjacket.com/

I wanted to use it yesterday when it was raining. It was not pouring down but it rained enough that I wanted to protect my 5D + 580 EX + 24-105L IS.

So I tried the stormjacket but found it absolutely useless. Yes it can cover the lens and the body but the problem is operating the lens and the camera at the same time. I found it impossible. So I actually ended up taking a plastic bag, poking a hole in it and putting the lens through it and cover most of the body with it (the bag was not big enough to cover the entire body. This way I could operate the shutter through the plastic and see through the viewfinder and operate the lens. Though other controls were a bit difficult.

So does anybody know of alternatives and have experience with these?

[Anke]

Kata Covers:
http://www.warehouseexpress.com/?PHOTO/Kata/kata_photo/camera_rain_covers.html

Click on this and then its from there to the bottom of the page - loads to choose from:
http://www.warehouseexpress.com/?/binsandscopes/hides/baghides.html#ow

[tommykjensen]

Do you have any experience with any of these?

[Anke]

Nope, sorry, but looking at the weather outside at the moment and thinking of my holiday to the Scottish Highlands next week, I think I will be experiencing one of them very soon.

[steve535]

I like my storm jacket and have used it 10 or 12 times. Ive had no problem operating the lens and the camera at the same time. sometimes i do rush my shots if its raining hard and i get fair amount of OF shots.good luck finding an
alternative.

[Anke]

Would love to hear of anyones experience with any of the weather covers in my links above

[DavidW]

I've got a Kata E-702, which I used when it was throwing it down with rain during an outdoor shoot about ten days ago. I had a 20D, BG-E2 and EF 24-70mm f/2.8L inside; there's no provision for a flash, unfortunately.

It works well. You'd struggle if you wanted to manual focus the lens, because you can't really reach the MF ring, also I found my glasses got a bit horrid from looking through the viewfinder through the clear plastic - but apart from that, I've no complaints, and I got shots I'd otherwise have missed due to the weather.

It helps to have a POTN strap or similar strap with quick disconnects so that you can put your neck strap through the hand holes.


I've used a plastic bag and electrical tape job 'in extremis', and the Kata is so much better!



David

[PacAce]

I've got a Kata E-702, which I used when it was throwing it down with rain during an outdoor shoot about ten days ago. I had a 20D, BG-E2 and EF 24-70mm f/2.8L inside; there's no provision for a flash, unfortunately.

It works well. You'd struggle if you wanted to manual focus the lens, because you can't really reach the MF ring, also I found my glasses got a bit horrid from looking through the viewfinder through the clear plastic - but apart from that, I've no complaints, and I got shots I'd otherwise have missed due to the weather.

It helps to have a POTN strap or similar strap with quick disconnects so that you can put your neck strap through the hand holes.


I've used a plastic bag and electrical tape job 'in extremis', and the Kata is so much better!



David
If you put the lens band around the lens hood instead of the lens body, you will have no problems operating the MF ring or the zoom ring. All the lens controls will be very easily accessible. With much longer lenses, it may be an issue but then, for those, you can use a separate lens covers that are sold separately and for those, the lens is accessible from the bottom.

[DavidW]

If you put the lens band around the lens hood instead of the lens body, you will have no problems operating the MF ring or the zoom ring. All the lens controls will be very easily accessible. With much longer lenses, it may be an issue but then, for those, you can use a separate lens covers that are sold separately and for those, the lens is accessible from the bottom.
That's exactly what I tried - I never use my 24-70 without the hood anyway. I found that my Kata tends to slip down the taper of the hood and finish up around the end of the body of the lens, but that may be because it's still relatively new. I suspect as I wear the E-702 in a bit, and get more used to using it, I'll deal with this situation better.



David

[rklepper]

I use the stormjacket all the time. I place my right hand right into the stormjacket to run the camera. The zoom is ran through the jacket itself. It does take a little practice to zoom in and out using this method. I did find that when I used the 135 or the 200 primes it was easier as I did not have to worry about zooming.

Some time ago I bought a Storm Jacket from http://www.stormjacket.com/

I wanted to use it yesterday when it was raining. It was not pouring down but it rained enough that I wanted to protect my 5D + 580 EX + 24-105L IS.

So I tried the stormjacket but found it absolutely useless. Yes it can cover the lens and the body but the problem is operating the lens and the camera at the same time. I found it impossible. So I actually ended up taking a plastic bag, poking a hole in it and putting the lens through it and cover most of the body with it (the bag was not big enough to cover the entire body. This way I could operate the shutter through the plastic and see through the viewfinder and operate the lens. Though other controls were a bit difficult.

So does anybody know of alternatives and have experience with these?

[DocFrankenstein]

http://www.procameragear.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=227&osCsid=vosusls1ppev8k9ar058spqtj4

[tommykjensen]

http://www.procameragear.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=227&osCsid=vosusls1ppev8k9ar058spqtj4

Looks interesting. Have you tried these? Looks like these are use and throw away ?

[DocFrankenstein]

Looks interesting. Have you tried these? Looks like these are use and throw away ?
I havent tried those, but I will sometime. I don't think I'd complain much considering the price. I'll probably order it now, because summer is coming and I wanna shoot in the rain.

Unlike stormjackets', the designers of these actually used their brain and made the cover clear do you'd see the controls. :confused:

[tommykjensen]

Yeah and made a hole for the viewfinder.

[BearLeeAlive]

Looks interesting. Have you tried these? Looks like these are use and throw away ?
I bought a set because they were cheap, not very bulky and I was ordering a 2nd strap anyway so I thought I would try them. I had always wanted a rain solution anyway.

They are inexpensive and they work. I have only had one occasion to use mine and it took a good minute to get it onbut it worked fine. I operated the zoom by twisting on the bag with no problem. I never used the push-pull zoom on my 100-400 with it but imagine it would work great.

There is not provision for a flast though you could likely wrap a baggie around the flash and make a wee hole for the hot shoe mount if it were really needed.

I never mounted it to a tripod or monopod, but the extra length would be great for keeping the head dry and easy to use in the rain.

With care they should last for many uses though are not built real tough. Once I have to start using the 2nd one I will likely order another set.

I have not tryed any other rain cover so have nothing to compare it too.