Plastic Bad over Flash Head

[OviV]

I am ordering some Kata rain covers for my cameras so that I can continue to shoot when it is sprinkling at baseball shoots. For team pictures we use flash for fill and to get catch lights on the kids eyes. If I put a sandwhich bag over the flash head held with a rubber band will it affect the light or cause any other issues with flash?

Thanks,
Ovi

[scottbergerphoto]

I suppose It could melt on your flash head if you fired off too many flases in a row.

[OviV]

Had not thought of that Scott. I really don't think it will get that hot since I am firing the flash as fill and with minimal power. I guess I could put my omnibounce on it for added protection. Will it affect the light, though? I am thinking of a fairly clear bag.

Ovi

[Jackal]

If the flash on the 420ex is hot enough to melt/burn the Suede fabric on my friend's chair because it was touching it...Then I think it might not like a plastic bag. =)

[cecilc]

If it was me, I think I'd go with the omni-bounce or a soft-box or something like that .... I'd stay away from putting a plastic bag over the flash ....

You can still use the flash as fill with the omni-bounce or soft-box .... and you don't run the risk of damaging your flash ...

[OviV]

It is a Sigma 500 Super DG. The bag is for keeping the rain off of it. The omnibounce by itself won't do that. Yes it might protect the head but I am affraid of rain gettin into the battery compartment or the controls.

Ovi

[Jay J]

I don't think that's necessarily the way to go. I'd consider having someone stand right over you with a large umbrella or carry and set up a very small awning that you can easily breakdown and then set your equipment up under that.

Jay J

[Mills]

I know another photographer here in Chicago that uses a plastic bag over his 580 EX at fire scenes. I have only noticed it in the winter months though. If I run into him soon I will ask. He was using that setup at the Butterfield8 fire at the end of January, about 28 degrees F, snow, wind and spray from the suppression efforts. He probably shot 1,000 images that day and I never saw him change the bag.

[drisley]

I know another photographer here in Chicago that uses a plastic bag over his 580 EX at fire scenes.

Hmm, he uses a plastic bag over the 580EX at fire scenes... coincidence? I don't think so!
:lol:

[timmyquest]

During last football season i shot in a few rainy games.

What i did, was take a plastic bag, cut a hole for the flash head, just behind the flash head i took a thick rubber band and wrapped it around as tightly as i could. I then took electrical tape and wrapped the snot out of the hot shoe.

The head actually seems fairly well sealed, i'm not suggesting it IS sealed...just that it's fairly tight. The parts that worried me were the joints and buttons, thats why i kept those covered.

Only once, at the end of a game, did problems occure, the flash would completley discharge on its own. After looking stuff over a little bit i came to the conclusion that it was due to a short in the hot shoe created by water.

I think thats the biggest problem, really.

Just my expereince ;-)

[Andy_T]

If you're serious about using your camera in adverse weather conditions, take a look at something like this:

EWA-Marine C-AFX rain cover

http://www.ewa-marine.de/pictures/products/cafx_k.jpg

It can be fitted to your front filter element and should shield the camera and the flash from the most adverse conditions. It's not exactly cheap (100$), but cheaper than a 1-series (or a new flash).

Best regards,
Andy

[OviV]

Andy,

That one is not going to work for me because I have the flash mounted on a bracket. The Kata rain gear will keep the camera and Hotshoe protected. I was thinking of using the bag to protect the flas and the hotshoe on the bracket.

Ovi