How wet is wet?

I shoot sports predominately and use Canon with only L series lenses.

They are advertised as waterproof but I have always wondered how much rain can they withstand before they need protection.

With very light rain I would throw a towel over my kit but I have seen some togs with a towel over their kit in very heavy rain, which I find strange.

I do have proper Canon rain protectors but as we know they are a bit of a pain when fitted.

How much rain needs to be falling before putting protectors on?

Not claimed as 'waterproof'! Water resistant.
The critical word here is ‘resist’. Canon does not guarantee that the seals stop water from entering the camera, only that they make it less likely.

Even in the 'old days' Canon cameras were reported

"A couple of weeks ago I was shooting in a heavy downpour for five minutes and the 30D continued to work without problems.
A week ago I was shooting in a downpour. I?m talking about a downpour that would soak you inside and out within a minute. I was out there for ten minutes, shooting both cameras without any kind of rain protection. When I was shooting with one body, the body not being shot with was tucked underneath my arm for a little bit of rain protection. "

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Dj Silver wrote in post #18854894
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I shoot sports predominately and use Canon with only L series lenses.
They are advertised as waterproof
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Actually, I believe they are advertised as "weather sealed".

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Dj Silver wrote in post #18854894
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..... I have always wondered how much rain can they withstand before they need protection.

..... How much rain needs to be falling before putting protectors on?
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I am not sure what kind of answer you are looking for here. . You ask, "how much", yet I am unsure how you would like us to quantify this for you. . Please advise.

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Weather gear is a pain in the ass to use but it beats sending equipment in for repairs. Usually, the photogs I see shooting without (or very minimal) rain protection are the guys that have their equipment provided to them from their publication.

Light rain can get inside a 1 series Canon body. Capillary action can then result in that water ending up anywhere.
Some L lenses include details in the user manuals that a front filter is required to complete weather sealing.
I have held my 1D4 under a running tap, twice. I poured water all over my 1DS2 when it was 12 years old.
They still work years later and neither showed any signs of water ingress.
My 85 1.8 non L, not sealed lens survived a jet of water that I thought would almost certainly make it's way inside the lens.
I disassembled it and found it dry inside.

Weather seals or no seals, there's absolutely no way of stating how wet your gear will survive.

As Tom points out it is "weather sealed" and it is a meaningless marketing phrase. So meaningless that you warranty doesn't cover water damage. Yes they have gone some way to prevent water getting in but anything less than 100% means that water can get it. If you have the battery in and the camera in operation..... well water and electricity don't mix.

I have used my 5DIII (weather sealed) in Hong Kong in some decent rain without issue... until last year. Shooting golf I was waiting for the eventual winner to get to the 18th tee and the rain came down - and of course I didn't have my rain cover. Took shelter under the tree but the water got in and the camera died. (Post hoc ergo proctor hoc - it is entirely possible that the failure actually had nothing to do with water but just happened to occur as it was getting wet).

Canon fixed it but it cost me money. Needless to say I make sure to have my rain cover with me.

Thanks all for your input.

I suppose, it's cover up if rain is about.

As Canon will not cover water damage under warranty and many times will not repair a water damaged piece of equipment, I have always covered up and not relied on their weather sealing.

gjl711 wrote in post #18855555
As Canon will not cover water damage under warranty and many times will not repair a water damaged piece of equipment, I have always covered up and not relied on their weather sealing.

I would think of the water sealing as being helpful for those occasions where the waterproof cover didn't work 100%, or you just ended up with condensation forming inside the cover.

Alan

Dan Marchant wrote in post #18855310
Post hoc ergo proctor hoc

Just a word of appreciation for including this reminder of clear thinking.

Dj Silver wrote in post #18854894
I shoot sports predominately and use Canon with only L series lenses.

They are advertised as waterproof but I have always wondered how much rain can they withstand before they need protection.

With very light rain I would throw a towel over my kit but I have seen some togs with a towel over their kit in very heavy rain, which I find strange.

I do have proper Canon rain protectors but as we know they are a bit of a pain when fitted.

How much rain needs to be falling before putting protectors on?

Choderboy wrote in post #18855118
Light rain can get inside a 1 series Canon body. Capillary action can then result in that water ending up anywhere.
Some L lenses include details in the user manuals that a front filter is required to complete weather sealing.
I have held my 1D4 under a running tap, twice. I poured water all over my 1DS2 when it was 12 years old.
They still work years later and neither showed any signs of water ingress.
My 85 1.8 non L, not sealed lens survived a jet of water that I thought would almost certainly make it's way inside the lens.
I disassembled it and found it dry inside.

Weather seals or no seals, there's absolutely no way of stating how wet your gear will survive.

Dave's (Choderboy's) response is rational.

While I currently shoot with a Canon 5DMkIV and an L lens or two, below is a link to a Scott Kelby Worldwide Photo Walk I attended with a Canon Rebel XSi (450D) and a first generation 18-55mm kit lens. It was a drizzly day. I used a skylight filter. Every 10 minutes or so I had to dry the filter with a plain kitchen quality paper towel as it would no longer autofocus. I did not have a hood for this lens. The camera and the lens survived well from the experience.

https://grahamglover.z​enfolio.com/p940513647

I'm an amateur photographer.

When I'm doing photography, I balance the importance of the image with the risk to my gear. I'm getting virtually no money for my photography, so a bit of rain is enough for me to say, "Ta ta for now!" And yet at some events I've had a 5DMkIII and a 580EX II out in the rain because I needed to get the shot. All survived the aforementioned shoot, by the way.

I get the tradeoffs between protection and convenience. What are you willing to pay? Your profile says you're a professional photographer. Were I in the UK, I'd price my work and accept jobs based on the potential of rain and risk to my equipment. Though I've been lucky, damage does happen.

Hope this helps!

I am shooting a sports event this weekend and Saturday has a prediction for at least 50% chance or better for rain. What is the best way to keep your gear relatively dry? No umbrellas allowed in the stadium.

duckster wrote in post #18861734
I am shooting a sports event this weekend and Saturday has a prediction for at least 50% chance or better for rain. What is the best way to keep your gear relatively dry? No umbrellas allowed in the stadium.

Plastic bag. I have full rain gear for my equipment, but now I just bring a medium sized garbage bag, poke a hole in it, and its good. Mainly because it is super small folded up, and it does the job. That said, rain gear from B&H is cheap and is does an excellent job.

https://www.bhphotovid​eo.com …8778?origSearch​=rain+gear

As you can see prices are all over the place. The only down side to mine is it is older now and some of the plastics have yellowed and gone hard. But they still work and keep the gear safe.

duckster wrote in post #18861734
I am shooting a sports event this weekend and Saturday has a prediction for at least 50% chance or better for rain. What is the best way to keep your gear relatively dry? No umbrellas allowed in the stadium.

Without the luxury of time to order something dedicated to the task, you likely are going to have to use something like a heavy duty Ziploc bag. I have used them in a pinch, some adaption needed in the way of a hole for the lens, and they work. If you have a decent camera store nearby you might give them a try. FYI, I’ve just recently checked my local Best Buy and they don’t carry anything, but it is a small store compared to some.

See http://www.purplesummi​t.ca/diy-camera-rain-cover/ for some ideas. Note it says it won’t work for telephoto but I’ve found you can use a really large bag and accomplish the desired protection.

That is kind of what I was considering but then thought, it can't be that easy...(or cheap!)