Protection of camera and lens help/suggestions

Just dodge the paintballs. You've probably played paintball before, and can tell when you're in a lane, just move out of the way.

You can't go wrong with more protection, but it's not totally necessary.

Yeah but there's always that unexpected paintball that's going to fly in and shatter your lens or hit your equipment.

If I have adequate protection, i'd be more concerned about getting the good shot then the camera getting hit.

I think you can better shoot with rain-cover + bare lens.
lenses are really strong, but having a UV filter shatterd in to small pieces will hurt you lens a lot lot more!

ahh. 1 tip, get a insurance
i have one, everything i do, i get my money back so if i dont like the 70-200 i just drop it

What insurance plan did you get? What company?

I cant imagine people dont use filters when shooting paintball.
Wouldnt you rather have a filter on and run the risk of maybe scratching your lens then having a paintball hit your front element and destroy it?

I shoot paintball regularly.

Don't use a filter. It is weaker than your front element, and if you take a direct hit, there is a very very good chance of it breaking and scratching your front element. And paintballs WON'T scratch your front element. What's stronger, glass or geletin? Everybody over in the Filmer/Photographers club on PbN would agree.

If anything, you could get a Kata bag. I don't use any covers, and I've taken direct hits to the body, and glancing shots to my lens. No damage, just a bit of a mess. Nothing canned air can't fix.

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.

Can you take some photos of direct hits to your glass as example please?

Coming from another paintball photographer, I dont use anything other than 2 3 in. wristbands to cover up my 80-200 and I used to just drape a towel to cover the lens and the body but recently Ive stopped because it just gets in the way. Assuming youve played paintball, you should know when paint will be on you and avoid it, its not worth trying to stop that one errant paintball.

How did the lens come off after that direct hit?

luckily, the front element did not get damaged. probably because the hit was so close to the metal ring.

Don't be stupid, and stay out of the lanes? I shoot paintball a lot and have never had anything happen to my camera.

Well yeah staying out of lanes is common sense but how many people have straight lane action shots? they look great if you can do them with minimizing the risk of damage it's well worth it.

I think you are worrying a little much... but that's just my opinion...
If you want real advice from photographers who('ve) paintball(ed), go to the photo section in Small Talk on PbN...

Kleivonen wrote in post #9051264
I think you are worrying a little much... but that's just my opinion...
If you want real advice from photographers who('ve) paintball(ed), go to the photo section in Small Talk on PbN...

I've been to the photo section on PBN......and to be honest it's pure garbage. Especially compared to POTN.