I just returned from nine days on Alaska's Kenai Peninsula. As my luck would have it, this has been one of, if not, the coldest and wettest summers in Alaska's history. It rained every day I was up there.
Here is how I protected my cameras and lenses.
The day before my trip, I realized that I had misplaced my package of OPTECH Rain Sleeves which I had intended to take on my trip. My local Calumet shop had no Rain sleeves available and only two Kata Rain Covers - one for a larger video camera and a smaller model, the E-690, which was actually designed for a DSLR with a non-professional lens. I was able to find a pair of OPTECH Rain Sleeves in an Anchorage camera shop and, since I always shoot with multiple cameras, picked up a pair of these.
Here is my opinion of the Kata E-690 and the OTECH Rain Sleeves:.
KATA-690
This is a very well made and sturdy cover which totally protects the camera from the elements and which could be used to protect it from dust and blowing sand. It fit my 30D very well but, since this cover was designed for a non-professional lens, it was a tight fit around my 17-55mm f/2.8 IS lens. It did not cover the length of the lens at all. The lens cover provided by Kata would not fit around the circumference of the lens. This is nothing against the Kata E-690 since the company states that the cover is not for professional lenses. The ideal Kata model for my use would probably be the E-702 which was not available at either my local Calumet store or the Anchorage camera store I visited during my stop in that town.
I made do with the E-690 by supplementing its protection with a roll of narrow Saran Wrap, purchased in a supermarket. That worked just fine in protecting the 30D with my 17-55mm lens. My 70-200mm f/4L IS lens is weatherproofed but, I still used some Saran wrap to give additional protection.
There is an additional lens cover available from Kata which would extend the use of the E-690 for longer lenses.
The KATA rain cover has two openings for the photographer's hands which can be tightened with draw-strings. This makes it easy to switch CF cards or batteries without exposing the camera to the elements. I could easily have made do with just one opening since I operated most of the camera controls through the flexible clear plastic back of the E-690. However the double hand opening did not trouble me in the least.
You insert the camera/lens using a zippered opening at the bottom of the Kata-690. You can also mount the camera on a tripod using this access port. I would have liked a double zipper on this access port so that I could close the port by zipping each side up to the tripod head.
I would recommend the Kata cover for use in extreme conditions. The E-690 is O.K. for smaller lenses but, I believe (although I have not used it) that the E-702 would be more appropriate for cameras with larger "professional" lenses.
OPTECH Rain Sleeve
The OPTECH Rain Sleeve comes in a package of two. They are very light weight and fold down into a tiny package which makes them very portable and easily carried. They are also very inexpensive and are sold in a package of two for seven dollars or less.
The OPTECH Rain Sleeve can effectively protect the camera and has a draw string cinched opening which will accommodate even a large circumference, long lens. The Rain Sleeve has an opening for the photographers hands which is long enough to keep out the rain even though it doesn't have a draw string to keep it closed. You can easily change CF-Cards and batteries through this opening.
You can poke a small slit in the Rain Sleeve to access your viewfinder and you can mount your camera or lens (with a tripod ring) on a tripod by slitting a small hole in the bottom of the Rain Sleeve.
I would recommend that any photographer who may have a chance of shooting in rain or dusty-sandy conditions have a Rain Sleeve somewhere in his or her camera bag. The Rain Sleeves are so inexpensive (two for seven dollars) and so light and compact that it would be worth having even if there is only the slightest chance of shooting in adverse conditions.
On the other hand, I would not recommend the OPTECH Rain Sleeve for a photographer who regularly shoots in rainy or adverse conditions because the Rain Sleeve is somewhat flimsy and I expect would not hold up over a regular period of use. I would have preferred a single Rain Sleeve which cost seven dollars and which was made of a more substantial plastic than these two for seven dollar flimsy Rain Sleeves.
HOODS and UV Filters
By all means use a lens hood and a use a UV filter when photographing under adverse conditions.
I fell climbing a muddy hill in Alaska and my 70-200mm f/4L IS lens dug up some mud and dirt when I landed. I always use a round screw-in lens hood on my 70-200mm f.4L IS lens on my 30D which protects the front element from both rain and physical damage better than the OEM hood.
The UV filter will protect the lens from physical damage from accidents like my fall on the hill. Additionally, since a photographer will need to clean his lens very frequently in rainy or other adverse conditions, the UV will protect the front element. I don't use a UV filter for every day shooting but, have one for each lens for use in very adverse condition.
