Sealed or not?

Mark_Cohran wrote in post #11458421
Richard's point, I think, is that you bought the gear to take photos. If you're going to do that, you need to be able to accept some risk (moisture, dust, a few scratches every now and again). There are lots of people who are so protective of their gear, they seem to seldom shoot except in the most ideal conditions. In most cases, a little rain or snow or flying dirt isn't going to harm your camera and those can be great times to get out and shoot.

Mark, my point exactly!

I have to laugh, as on one of my trips to Hawaii, there was a guy on the boat with us that was cradling his Nikon in his arms, and every little drop of water he quickly wiped off with a cloth. About an hour out, he ventured over to the side of the boat to take a shot and accidentally dropped the camera into the ocean. Oops! Man, did he SCREAM! Well, it sunk pretty quick, and he found no volunteers to go overboard to rescue! Saw this with my own eyes! I felt sorry for the guy losing his equipment, and even more so as he was treating it like it was his first newborn. Until it was dropped into the briny deep! There's probably a humpback whale somewhere with a nice camera inside!

I've found in 40+ years of shooting that cameras are far more durable than one would think. All my equipment over the years has been used in rain, snow, dust and sea spray. Sure, I take care of my equipment, but it's to be used!

Everyone has their own level of comfort but it should be based on some pragmatic thought and reasonable risk. Of course that is the part that seperates many of us.

I have a camera cover for when conditions are not ideal

bohdank wrote in post #11458538
Everyone has their own level of comfort but it should be based on some pragmatic thought and reasonable risk. Of course that is the part that seperates many of us.

I know many people that will eat a healthy diet and exercise because they are afraid of contracting some disease, yet ride bicycles and motorcycles without helmets, and refuse to wear seat belts. How odd!

themadman wrote in post #11458540
I have a camera cover for when conditions are not ideal

And, I need to get one! Usually use a 1 gallon zip-lock bag...

I guess seatbelts and helmets are not the law in Ohio?

richardfox wrote in post #11458586
And, I need to get one! Usually use a 1 gallon zip-lock bag...

I made mine out of duct tape, velcro, and $4 clear shower curtain from Target, works great! I actually have 2 different versions, I might try to make a third prototype...

themadman wrote in post #11458588
I guess seatbelts and helmets are not the law in Ohio?

Seatbelts are the law, but only a "secondary" offense. Can't be stopped just for seat belts. Helmets are required the first year of an MC license, but optional after that. Just like anything else, one can run a lot of stop signs before one is caught. Besides, didn't you know that laws are for everyone but ME? That's the way things are today. Too bad...

themadman wrote in post #11458591
I made mine out of duct tape, velcro, and $4 clear shower curtain from Target, works great! I actually have 2 different versions, I might try to make a third prototype...

Post a photo! I'd like to see!

richardfox wrote in post #11458618
Post a photo! I'd like to see!

As requested... I could only find prototype 1 laying around the apartment, I think prototype 2 is in my car, anyways.

It is a two part system, a sleeve for the camera and a cover for the body. The body cover has a open end for my hand. The sleeve is pushed up adaist the body because it is longer than the lens but not large enough to push past the lens hood. I also sometimes tie a rope around where they connect. The clear plastic lets me see the LCD screens.

I have a Storm Jacket for my cameras, but I hardly ever use it. I mean, I will if it's pouring down rain or I'm standing at the base of a waterfall, but not for light drizzle or snow. I like to shoot with primes and multiple bodies and a friend of mine flinches every time he sees me set a camera, lens and flash down on the ground to pick up another and move in for a different shot. I try to take care of my gear, but I use it in a way that best suits my shooting style.

I won't set the camera down in sand or mud, but grass and hard dirt or asphalt doesn't bother me. I use hoods always for protection and I'll slap a filter on a lens if the wind is blowing sand around, but I'm going to use the gear when I need to use it.

I understand that, I am just a bit paranoid. As I mentioned, I am a tad OCD and since I've worked with electronics my whole life (I have a BS in EE) I tend to be careful with them as I know they can be fragile. Canon putting mics on their DSLRs scare me a bit too since that is a easy passage for water to get in. I wish my DSLR didn't have a mic and if I wanted audio I would have to use external mics =/

Don't worry too much about it. If it's pouring rain, you probably aren't going to get good pictures in the first place, so leave the camera behind. Don't worry about snow unless it's a blizzard. A drizzle isn't going to hurt your lens. Just treat it like you would an iPod... with caution, but within reason.

Besides... the filter is just going to degrade your IQ anyway. I know some might disagree with me but that's my experience.

cskorik wrote in post #11459495
Besides... the filter is just going to degrade your IQ anyway. I know some might disagree with me but that's my experience.

What filter do you have? a cheap $10 filter is absolutely going to degrade IQ, however a good quality filter, such as Hoya HD which I use, will degrade it far less, in fact I have yet to see evidence in my photos and tests there is ANY degradation at all.

Michael Kenna shooting in snow, and his gear has absolutely no seals.Simple umbrella does the job.

http://www.michaelkenn​a.com/interviews/hokka​ido_j.html