Protection of camera and lens help/suggestions

Alright so I mainly shoot Paintball, where your camera and equipment is in risk of getting shot a lot.

So what should I use to protect my gear? I know lens hood, but for the lens body and camera body it's wide open.

- camera armor: not available for rebel xs

Any suggestions would be great.

A rain cover would be affordable and protect it from getting paint on/in it. But I would still worry about the blunt force of getting hit by a paintball. An underwater case might help with that but wouldn't be cheap.

Gaffers tape and heavy duty ziplock freezer bags. Cut a hole in the bag the size of the lens and gaffers tape it to the hood then cut a small space out for the viewfinder and gaffers tape around the opening. You should still be able to work all the controls and have a reasonable amount of protection from paint. If you find that you are getting hit a lot, you can add some padding around the lens and the front of the body inside the bag.

I am assuming you already have a filter on the front of the lens but if not, I would get one as well.

Good luck.

usukshooter wrote in post #8812866
A rain cover would be affordable and protect it from getting paint on/in it. But I would still worry about the blunt force of getting hit by a paintball. An underwater case might help with that but wouldn't be cheap.

Paint isn't as much the issue.

Underwater cases would be nice, but they're really expensive.

Big K wrote in post #8813619
Gaffers tape and heavy duty ziplock freezer bags. Cut a hole in the bag the size of the lens and gaffers tape it to the hood then cut a small space out for the viewfinder and gaffers tape around the opening. You should still be able to work all the controls and have a reasonable amount of protection from paint. If you find that you are getting hit a lot, you can add some padding around the lens and the front of the body inside the bag.

I am assuming you already have a filter on the front of the lens but if not, I would get one as well.

Good luck.

Thanks a bunch! I'll try that out. I have a filter yes.

dont use a filter for paintball, it is too thin to be hit by a paintball going 300fps and will shatter.
Once it does shatter taking it off is a pain and it will scratch your lens

I was told this by mike miranda (chrono300) and he says that the front element of lenses is thick enough to withstand the hit from a paintball so you shouldnt have to worry about it getting messed up.

I also shoot some paintball. Here is a suggestion I got from another paintball shooter. It is a rain cover from Kata.

http://www.adorama.com ….html?searchinf​o=kata+702

timbar21, did you know this site?

http://www.lenscoat.co​m/

Television wrote in post #8817370
dont use a filter for paintball, it is too thin to be hit by a paintball going 300fps and will shatter.
Once it does shatter taking it off is a pain and it will scratch your lens

I was told this by mike miranda (chrono300) and he says that the front element of lenses is thick enough to withstand the hit from a paintball so you shouldnt have to worry about it getting messed up.

There has been two sides to the story. I'll have to make a decision. I haven't got shot in the camera yet.

Bkolowski111 wrote in post #8817605
I also shoot some paintball. Here is a suggestion I got from another paintball shooter. It is a rain cover from Kata.

http://www.adorama.com ….html?searchinf​o=kata+702

Bit too bulky.

Paulo Oliveira wrote in post #8821268
timbar21, did you know this site?

http://www.lenscoat.co​m/

I like those. Might have to try one out. Bit pricey though.

I just bought one of these. I really like it.
http://www.stormjacket​.com/SJ1.html

butterfly2937 wrote in post #8865985
I just bought one of these. I really like it.
http://www.stormjacket​.com/SJ1.html

Looks like a nice product... are your hands inside it, or do you work everything through the material?

Dave

tracknut wrote in post #8875604
Looks like a nice product... are your hands inside it, or do you work everything through the material?

Dave

You put your hands inside and it has a drawstring tie on each end. One to fit tightly on the hood and one at the rear of the camera. You can open it or close it depending on your needs. It's a great product. I am very pleased with mine. It is small enough to put in your pocket or it comes with a small case with a clip on it to clip to your bag or belt.

butterfly2937 wrote in post #8865985
I just bought one of these. I really like it.
http://www.stormjacket​.com/SJ1.html

tracknut wrote in post #8875604
Looks like a nice product... are your hands inside it, or do you work everything through the material?

Dave

butterfly2937 wrote in post #8876255
You put your hands inside and it has a drawstring tie on each end. One to fit tightly on the hood and one at the rear of the camera. You can open it or close it depending on your needs. It's a great product. I am very pleased with mine. It is small enough to put in your pocket or it comes with a small case with a clip on it to clip to your bag or belt.

Would that sustain getting shot with a paintball? I almost doubt it. But it does look good.

timbar21 wrote in post #8883533
Would that sustain getting shot with a paintball? I almost doubt it. But it does look good.

Why would it not work. The fabric is durable. You would need a knife to cut it. Or are you looking for some kind of armor to protect the camera from a direct blow that might otherwise damage the camera?

I would certainly use a lens with a long reach. Be sure to have a protective filter attached to your lens.

butterfly2937 wrote in post #8883851
Why would it not work. The fabric is durable. You would need a knife to cut it. Or are you looking for some kind of armor to protect the camera from a direct blow that might otherwise damage the camera?

I wasn't sure how durable it was, thanks! That was my only concern if it would/could withstand a shot.

Cyclop wrote in post #8884906
I would certainly use a lens with a long reach. Be sure to have a protective filter attached to your lens.

70-200. Filters are debatable for paintball.