Rain protectors. Anyone here use them?

[Chris1le]

Timmyquest started a thread "300D in the rain" Someone posted a link to the Pelican Camera Protector (http://buyporters.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=10-0842&Category_Code=C2D). It looks like it might work okay. What do you use or what would you recommend. Other than buying a 1 series Canon! :D I ask because the other weekend while out shooting at the RenFaire (http://www.pbase.com/chris1le/renaissance_faire) it started to drizzle and rain lightly. All I had was a towel to cover the camera and lens. :cry: I tried using a plastic bag the next day but it didn't work very well and looked very cheesy. Any ideas would be great as the rainy season is quickly approaching.

[Radtech1]

I used the Pelican protector on my last trip to Germany. I trusted it completely in mist, drizzle, light to medium rain and snow. I found that a heavy rain would get past it, but even then, the camera did not end up drenched. A towel was plenty to dry it with.

The one in the photo that you linked to seems to have a second armhole that mine did not have. Not sure how the difference would affect it.

The biggest issue was the inability to view my shots on the preview screen. But, by turning the screen off, it did extend my battery.

I was shooting a 10D with the Battery Grip attached and a 28-135 IS lens.

The part of the bag that wraps the lens is abundantly long enough. It accommodated the 28-135 fully extended, with lots of room to spare.

I did run into a tiny problem with that, though. When the lens was brought down to 28mm, the wrap bunched up quite a bit. If I did not hold the lens tight, it would push the lens out. That lens is legendary for creep, and this did not help.

If you don't have one, you MUST obtain a screw-on lens hood. Even when you cinch down the cord on the lens, you sitll must have something to push against, so it does not pop off the end of the lens.

So, if the question is, "Was my camera hermetically sealed?", then the answer is NO. But, if you are asking, did it do a reasonably well job, in light to moderate conditions, without being too much of a butt-pain, then YES, it was well worth the money and allowed me to shoot in weather that I would have been too timid of otherwise.

Rad

[mjordan]

This topic came up on the Fred Miranda site and one of the suggestions was the Kata 702 and extender 704. Looks interesting.

http://www.kata-bags.com/Item.asp?pid=229&perentId=4&ProdLine=4

Mike

[Chris1le]

Yes mjordan that does look pretty slick. I've also found one by Aquatech. It is a bit pricey though.

http://www.aquatech.com.au/products/sportshields/sportshields.htm

Glad to hear the Pelican bag worked for you. It sounds like it would work pretty well for what I'd use it for. It would be nice to be able to handle some of these in person though. :?

[mjordan]

Chris, that does look pretty nice too.

Somewhere on one of the forums I'm on, someone showed a rain cover that looks like a very large zip lock back with sleeves on both sides for your hands. It wasn't very expensive and it looked real interesting. I didn't bookmark it as I thought I could remember the name, but I forgot that I have a lousy memory and can't even remember long enough to dial a phone number after I look it up... with the phone book next to the phone. :lol:

I keep hoping someone will post that link again but nobody has yet. I believe they showed a picture of a guy on a air boat (the Everglades type) with his camera in the bag to keep it from getting spray on it. I wish I knew where I saw that.

Mike

[Woolly Joss]

The Aquatech is a bit pricey, but in my opinion it is worth it and I'm really pleased I made the investment.

Camera and lenses have been kept bone dry, even after an hour and half in heavy rain at the football (soccer).

[CyberDyneSystems]

I have not used one but I sure wish I had one last Saturday while my MkII and 500mm were getting a salt water soaking from an over hurried boat captain that insisted on hitting the waves at Mach 6!

[shoot123]

I've got one of these "raincoats" and like it:

http://abetterphotoguide.bizhosting.com/rain_coats.html

[HKdom]

I either use a shower cap or a modified Ziplock freezer bag.

Just cut a small slit into the non-zip end (smaller than the circumference of your lens then stretch it over the tip.) You can then zip the other end shut over the body of your camera. I like to reinforce the cut I made for the lens with no residue tape like duck tape and make a small hole for the tripod mount.

This method might not work well with longer telephotos.

[mjordan]

I've got one of these "raincoats" and like it:

http://abetterphotoguide.bizhosting.com/rain_coats.html

Interesting. I think I know a source of the stuff too. I'll have to check it out as I figure I can get a yard or more of the stuff for what he's charging for his version.

Thanks for the info.

Mike

[MediaMagic]

Hello fellow Puget Sounder Chris,

As I've mentioned several times in the past, I have and use the Pelican "raincoat" on a regular basis. It does take some adjustment getting used to but not that bad. I have mine with me at all times while shooting. This area (as you already know) is prone to five minute weather changes or months of drizzle, a handy waterproof solution, whatever it may be, is an absolute must.

Certainly you could achieve the same or better level of waterproofing with some plastic bags and rubberbands.

[unners]

i've got a couple of aquatechs (ss200 and ss600) and can't speak highly enough of them. i bought them mainly to keep off sand and salt spray while shooting surf but i've used them in some very heavy rain as well. doesn't stop u getting wet though :)

[alistairf]

potentially a really stupid comment, but why not invest in a golf umbrella??

[Cadwell]

potentially a really stupid comment, but why not invest in a golf umbrella??

One hand on the camera body to press the shutter (conventionaly the right hand). One hand under the lens (conventionaly the left hand) to a) operate the zoom, b) operate the focus or c) just support the lens.

What are you going to hold the umbrella with? :P

Answers on a postcard to..... :lol:

[Chris1le]

What are you going to hold the umbrella with?

Hands free :D

http://www.littlesturgisrally.net/images/umbrella%20hat.jpg

These are some good ideas. The Pelican bag is looking pretty good. I don't plan on shooting in any downpours. Just in the drizzly wet weather we have in the Puget Sound. Which is already upon us! :(

[timmyquest]

I dont see whats wrong with some zip-locks and rubber bands ;-).

[Cadwell]

golf umbrella

Hands free :D

:lol: Dunno what kinda golf courses you go to, but the ones I play at you'ld be "invited" to leave looking like that :lol:

[2new]

I recently purchased the kata raincoat. Foetunately it did not rain on the trip I purchased it for so I did not need it, but the design and build seem fairly well thought out, and I plan on keeping the rain cover. it has some nice velcro closures to snug up the fit around the camera and lens and the plastic is very clear where it needs to be to see the camera.

For the $26 I think it's a worthwhile investment.

Michael

[2new]

deleted double post

[alistairf]

potentially a really stupid comment, but why not invest in a golf umbrella??

One hand on the camera body to press the shutter (conventionaly the right hand). One hand under the lens (conventionaly the left hand) to a) operate the zoom, b) operate the focus or c) just support the lens.

What are you going to hold the umbrella with? :P

Answers on a postcard to..... :lol:

I kinda envisiaged tripod-based work, in which case its not unreasonable to sort out the zoom then take the pic with a remote.

if you're holding the camera, you could craddle the handle in the snug of your arm at a push :wink:

[Cadwell]

I kinda envisiaged tripod-based work, in which case its not unreasonable to sort out the zoom then take the pic with a remote.

if you're holding the camera, you could craddle the handle in the snug of your arm at a push :wink:

Joking aside, I shoot a lot of motorsports in the rain. I'm usually wielding a monopod, I have a big telephoto strapped to the front of the camera, it's normally blowing half a gale and the interesting action often happens precisely where my camera is not pointing so I need to be able to move fast. An umbrella is simply one item too many to manage under those circumstances.

It might work for tripod based work, but even then I would think it somewhat unwieldy. I have had some success (on a non-windy day) using an umbrella by attaching it to a fence post using some velcro tie-wraps that I carry in the camera bag. It's only been applicable once this season out of 30 odd shoots though.

[MediaMagic]

potentially a really stupid comment, but why not invest in a golf umbrella??

Even if you were using a sandbagged stand for the umbrella, in this area, 25 to 30 mph winds are not uncommon with the occassional gusts hitting 40-50mph. So, either you'd be chasing your umbrella AND sandbags down the street, or the umbrella would turn inside out or rip. The news/meteorologists refer to these as "breezy days". Definately takes the fun out of a shoot in a hurry.

[alistairf]

blimey! you ever been tempted to work for the local tourist office? :D

[MediaMagic]

blimey! you ever been tempted to work for the local tourist office? :D

:lol: that's a good one. In this part of the US, we actually have the same fog and drizzle ridden winters you have in the UK. We are just lucky enough to be wedged between two mountain ranges so we get it horizontally with the wind on some days. :D