Whale-watching in Maine

hey all

i'll be going whale watching in maine in a couple of weeks, and was hoping to bring along a 70-200. what would be the best way to protect it (and my 6d) from spray/salt - i have a UV filter on the front of element, but how do i protect the rest of the lens/body?

i've seen a bunch of these lens rain hoods, but they all seem to cinch at the front, so not sure how well it protects - i guess itll protect from errant spray, but wanted to ask anyway

thanks!

Heya,

Clear filter to simply collect the spray/salt.
Lens hood in place.
Rain coat over camera & lens and cinched around the lens hood (or even taped around the lens hood).
So that water only hits the hood & filter.

Very best,

something like this?

https://www.amazon.com …&keywords=lens+​rain+cover

Yup,

Any basic rain coat will keep the splashes off. Cheap and works.

I also have a Vortex Storm Jacket that I keep stuffed in my bag/pocket for when a down pour shows up. I got it in a deal with some other items and didn't realize what it was until I looked it up. It costs more, but it's a material that will last and it can be balled up and stuffed into small spots and it doesn't rip when you pull the cords tight. If you're looking for a long term splash guard, storm jackets are nice. But, if this is just for a trip, a $7 plastic rain coat is totally fine.

Again, I would just cinch and/or tape the coat to the lens hood and you're set, so it won't blow back in the wind or slip when it gets wet after some spray. You don't have to use a clear filter, but it may be necessary for complete water resistance on some lenses depending on what model you're using. Some swear by them just to avoid having to wash off salt after a few hours of use.

Very best,

thanks for the advice. i think the plain rain coat will work. i never shoot in harsh environments (mostly indoors), so this is my first time exposing my camera and a (borrowed from a friend) lens to the elements.

i have a B&W UV filter that i'll be using.

I went out on one of those tours last year. Stay inside the huge cabin for the long long ride out to sea. Get to the upper deck when they stop for a whale. Not before. Can't see much from shallow angle. My loss.

i also wore a large raincoat to put over the camera while en route.

Where in Maine are you going whale watching?

out of bar harbor i think

I'm planning a potential trip up that way for Acadia National Park and was looking at the whale watching trips in Bar Harbor too. Let us know how it goes.

Mr_ipsum wrote in post #18067907
I'm planning a potential trip up that way for Acadia National Park and was looking at the whale watching trips in Bar Harbor too. Let us know how it goes.

ekinnyc wrote in post #18067292
out of bar harbor i think

I went out of Bar Harbor last year. I enjoyed the Puffin tour (offered by another company) better than the whale watching. Stood out on the pulpit of the boat when they arrived at the island and shot away while boat was bouncing up and down. Got a decent Puffin in flight shot. Can be seen on my flickr page.

Also, at Acadia NP, everyone watches the sunrise from the top of Cadillac Mountain. Increadable view.

If you get the chance, drive to Moosehead lake area (Greenville) and take a canoe tour for moose with one of the two companies in town. Got great shots of moose and a few loon.


...and don't forget to buy a whoopie pie!

Mr_ipsum wrote in post #18067907
I'm planning a potential trip up that way for Acadia National Park and was looking at the whale watching trips in Bar Harbor too. Let us know how it goes.

it was great. got lucky with spotting a bunch of seals, a dolphin, and 2 types of whales. no breaching unfortunately but plenty of tail shots.

went with Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co (not sure if they are the only ones that do this). the boat ("Puffin") was pretty big, probably 2-300 people on board. i was overly worried about getting sea spray on my camera/lens, i dont think i got any misting. i suggest staying on the side of the 2nd deck while you go to the watching area (about 50 min trip each way), but make your way to the front once you get there. most of the whale sightiings were on the port (left) side, but YMMV

Larry Johnson wrote in post #18067978
I went out of Bar Harbor last year. I enjoyed the Puffin tour (offered by another company) better than the whale watching. Stood out on the pulpit of the boat when they arrived at the island and shot away while boat was bouncing up and down. Got a decent Puffin in flight shot. Can be seen on my flickr page.

Also, at Acadia NP, everyone watches the sunrise from the top of Cadillac Mountain. Increadable view.

If you get the chance, drive to Moosehead lake area (Greenville) and take a canoe tour for moose with one of the two companies in town. Got great shots of moose and a few loon.


...and don't forget to buy a whoopie pie!

def want to do a puffin tour when i go back next year. unfortunately Mooshead lake is 3hrs north of where my gf's family owns a house, so that would be a challenge - maybe an overnight trip is in order.

Hi,
I went out last summer and brought the same lens/camera combo. I stayed inside the cabin on the way out and stepped out to the bow of the boat once the whales were spotted. In hindsight, I wish I would have brought my 60D for the 1.6 crop factor which would have made that lens a 112-320 for a little extra reach. Specially when the whales were breaching.
It was a sunny day when we went out, but have used a rain sleeve on trips to the zoo. And they worked fine.