White Water Rafting & 5D

[briancmo]

Planning a little trip and wondering what kind of protection you'd recommend. Some of the 'bag' underwater units will keep water out but may not help if the cam slams into a rock or anything hard.

What about the armour units and then putting it into a housing unit? am I overly worried here? Should i handcuff it to my hand? Are there reasonably priced hardshell underwater houses for the 5D?

Any advice is appreciated.

Also would like to stick an off camera flash gun or two in another housing to do some cool strobist stuff - yes..i'm crazy

[Traumuh]

I hope you are prepared to spend the cost of another 5D on housing. :)

[rklepper]

If it were me I would just get a G10 and the underwater housing. I think it would be much more functional on a white water rafting trip than a 5D. Have you been before? When I have gone you did not have a lot of leisure time to take photos. You hands were too busy doing other things. Of course that was in the old days. Perhaps the white water is calmer than it used to be. :)

[briancmo]

Hmmm I get that my hands will be busy, I just like the idea of having DSLR quality pics while rafting especially with some off camera flash. I took the G10 to israel with me in December and it just doesn't compare.

And no, the water isn't calmer these days, however we do have cell phones that can paddle for us, read our emails while going over rapids, stabilize the boat, and make a pancake all at the same time!

[DisrupTer911]

off camera flash while white water rafting? you have a Sherpa to run along side the river with a flash setup for you?

[dan j]

I'm not an accomplished WWR but I've also done it a few times and I think you're going to be too busy. Well, either too busy or you're going to be the jerk on the boat that's not paddling ;)

I'd bring my SD780 with it's Canon waterproof case and expect to get very few chances to use it unless the water is really still.

dan

[briancmo]

:cry:

you're all crushing my dreams here people...

[dan j]

:cry:

you're all crushing my dreams here people...
Well, if you really think about it, your hands are going to be busy paddling, I don't think there's a neck strap on the 5D case (maybe on the bags) and you're going to want to use an off camera flash which I'm guessing you're going to want another passenger to hold? Ok, so that makes two people who aren't working.

I'd also be worried about putting your 5D down in the boat without securing it. On my trips there have been some powerful "bumps" that can throw an adult man out of the boat and an unsecured camera wouldn't stand a chance.

Like I said, I think you'd be better off with a P&S or make an announcement that you'll be the photog for the trip and that you refuse to even carry paddle - maybe it'll go over better than I'm picturing ;)

dan

[justrussfm]

:cry:

you're all crushing my dreams here people...

Not sure what level rapids you're planning on running-- or what your experience is-- but keep in mind that people sometimes get hurt pretty badly on moderate rapids (level 3 & 4... not to mention the big ones), sometimes die. Being an inexperienced rafter, with a heavy camera around your neck, is a BAD idea.

Hell, someone who was training with a friend of mine to become a guide just died two weeks ago when his foot got stuck under a rock... during a training session!

Off camera flash... I hope you're joking. If you think you're going to photograph the rapids immediately before entering, or while you're negotiating... you're out of your mind. On any interesting rapids, you and everyone else in the raft will be jamming your feet into holds, paddling as hard as you can, and bracing yourself so you don't get catapulted out of the boat.

If you want the camera for the lazy, quiet parts of the trip, invest in a dry bag, and find a way to secure it to the bottom of the raft... and pray that the bag keeps your gear dry until you can open it up and shoot on tranquil, glassy waters.

If you want to try to shoot the rougher periods-- and your guides LET you... which I doubt in most situations-- than get a Point and Shoot and a hard case, and hope it doesn't flood.

[Citizensmith]

Not sure what level rapids you're planning on running-- or what your experience is-- but keep in mind that people sometimes get hurt pretty badly on moderate rapids (level 3 & 4... not to mention the big ones), sometimes die. Being an inexperienced rafter, with a heavy camera around your neck, is a BAD idea.

I absolutely agree. There are great river runs near me with 3s and 4s (and some get really aggressive depending on the water level), and there seems to be a death every year. You'll need to be holding on to two things, your paddle, and the side of the boat. If not, you'll be in the water with a 5D and off camera flash just waiting to snag on to something. Even if you are holding on to the boot like your were stuck there with duct tape you can still end up in the water while you watch the 5D and hard case float off into the white yonder.

I'd see your best possibility as asking one of the pack boats (all the food coolers, and 1 person steering) to let you be on board, hard mount everything to that, and hope it doesn't get flipped.

I've got some great white water rafting shots with my 40D and 70-200. From the shore! The most I'd ever actually take rafting is a small P&S, and the photo technique would probably be more spray and pray than actual composition.

[justrussfm]

At the very least, a big camera swinging around your neck/shoulder (even if you think it's secured) is practically asking for:

1) Knocked out teeth.

2) Broken nose.

3) Lawsuit (when you break someone else's nose).

4) Concussion.

5) Broken eye socket/temple.

If you must, dry bag, prayer that you don't flip/have the bag breach, only attempting to shoot on placid waters (with the blessing of your guide and co-paddlers... when you're not supposed to be paddling). That way you're only risking however much money the camera/lens is worth.

[NatDeroxL7]

I like ressurecting threads


I hope you tried it. Really. That may be what it takes to be the one guy with shots from inside the raft with an off camera flash in their portfolio.

If Werner Herzog had thought that it was too dangerous to shoot a film with live actors going down some moderate-rapids in the Amazon we never wouldn't have one of the great German Films of all time.

If you want the shot that noone else can get, you have to do what noone else will do.

Risk vs Reward; go for it.

[briancmo]

I actually haven't done it but did doa few 'risky' shots on water since the post. Check 'em out.