Make a water tight box for time lapse camera?

I have gotten bit by the time lapse bug and one of the shots I wish to gets is of a thunder storm approching. Gust fronts are a real interst since they often produce interesting cloud formations, as does the updraft area of thunderstorms. The main problem with this is, gust fronts can produce rain as well as hail as can the outflow of a thunderstorm. Getting lightning shots is also a goal. This obviously means leaving my camera out in the elements

So, I need some way of protecting my camera AND getting the shots I wish. Rain is the biggest concern, with hail and wind rounding off the top 3.

I thought about using plexiglass and caulking to form a little shell or box around the camera. This would make it easy to see and reach under to the controls but I can't figure out how to keep it to the camera. Another idea would be to get a small pelican case, cut a window in it and mount a plexiglass window in the front. But I wonder if it would fog up in front of the lens. (I could always install a fan to vent the box). It may be a bit expensive to modd a pelican case though.

Gear would include the 5DmkII or 30D with grip with either a 24mm or tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 lens on the camera and the timer control.

Thoughts or ideas?

Unless you're going to be leaving the camera all by itself of long periods of time, I would look into rain covers. I have a Think Tank Hydrophobia 70-200 that's served me well in the rain before. Despite being designed for a 70-200, I have been able to use it with my 10-22 lens.
If looking for some additional impact protection from hail, I would rig up an umbrella to the tripod.

I would think you could build something rather easily with a quick visit to Home Depot . Sounds like a fun weekend project.

Home depot has become my um, well, since this is a family forum, a candy store Last night, an impulse buy? A brand new Dremel 8200 12v kit

slitherjef wrote in post #10578695
Home depot has become my um, well, since this is a family forum, a candy store Last night, an impulse buy? A brand new Dremel 8200 12v kit

I have the Dremel 4000 & 8200. The 8200 IS sweet, but you definitely need a 2nd battery. I was using it to remove grout in a bathroom and it lasted about an hour. Fortunately, the battery charger charges the batteries in about an hour, so as soon as 1 drains, the other should be ready.


Now, enough off topic. In regards to the OP, make sure your camera is on a stable, secure base. You wouldn't want strong winds to knock it off it's base.

A 10 gallon aquarium runs about $12 and upside down would be rather waterproof (since it is made to hold water).

All you would then need is some kind of hood to keep rain off the glass itself.

vid1900 wrote in post #10579029
A 10 gallon aquarium runs about $12 and upside down would be rather waterproof (since it is made to hold water).

All you would then need is some kind of hood to keep rain off the glass itself.

That is an idea. A bit heavy and if it hails, well, messy.

Something a bit more portable may be in order since I hope to start storm chasing next season

Smells like a DIY plexiglass rig with screw on the corners would do the job. Use a beater tripod and add a whole bunch of weights to the bottom.

i don't know why someone recommended an umbrella to the rig. when there are thunderstorms or even hail, there is usually a significant amount of wind to tip the setup over.

Blowing dust, twigs, etc can damage the surface of the plexiglass. If you go that route, which I think is the best idea if you can figure out the configuration you need, I would look into getting some type of "tear off plastic film" like is used on race car windshields to protect the part of the plexiglass the lens is aiming thru.

What ever you use to mount the camera on, let us say a tripod, will need to be anchored to the ground to keep a 60 mph straight line wind from toppling it over and potentially damaging your equipment. You could use some of these and tarp straps or 1/8" nylon rope to firmly attach the tripod to the earth unless you set up on solid rock or some other such surface.

Kind of why I was thinking the pelican case mod. Pluck out the styrofoam so the camera is snug. Cut in a window. I would rather the plexiglass take the beating then my cameras lens If its screwed in then caulked, it should not be that hard to replace if I need to.