Shooting in the rain?

BobbyMarshall · April 25, 2009

I am curious as to what others have done when they want to shoot in the rain. Do you look for shelter to shoot from (ex. a cabana, a tree)? of do you provide your own shelter from the rain via, umbrella, tarp, raincoat and camera protection, etc?

It is going to be raining here the next couple days, and I also wanted to shoot a particular bloom that happens this time of year. I am just wondering how to go about it without ruining my gear.

thanks.

ian408 · April 26, 2009

I use a weather resistant camera and a rain cover. You can use a garbage bag too.

aktse · April 27, 2009

I watched/shot a football bowl game in a downpour in San Francisco a few years ago. It was cold and wet, but I stayed dry and warm with my high tech waterproof clothing and low tech camera protection.

During a dgrin shootout, I was told that shower caps work very well (???) and that a plastic bag will work too. I didn't have a shower cap, so I packed both a trash bag and a plastic bag. And I kept my hands over the body itself... I just couldn't wear my gloves. The bag kept most of the water off (and the hood protected the lens), but the bag kept on ripping as the night went on. I think next time, I'll try a ziplock bag. It's not worth buying something fancy, but you can.

lens covers at bh : I've heard good things about the Aqua Tech, but I don't shoot enough in the rain to buy it.

A few people around me were too drunk to care when the rain turned heavy, but they didn't look too happy while mostly everyone else hid in the clubhouse to watch via the window or on TV. I must admit that it's more comfortable/easier to be active when raining/snowing than just sitting still.

And if you own a canon 1D series, that camera is rated for about five inches of water in a hour...

Chile Chef · April 28, 2009

I will be shooting in the rain this summer,

I have a rain coat for the camera that my folks got me for christmas.

Mr. 2H2O · April 28, 2009

When the wind is up, I wear protective rain gear and use a plastic bag for the camera with rubber bands securing it to the lens hood and over the viewfinder.

If the wind is not too much and I'm shooting sports, I use an umbrella attached to my monopod (the $8 umbrellas that attach to beach chairs).

Never had a problem with either setup.

- Mike

Tango · April 28, 2009

besides the umbrella i take three or four microfibercloths for the lens.

watch out for the lightning stuff i hear it can be a shocker

Scott_Quier · April 28, 2009

One solution I've seen Andy post (I couldn't find the pictures, though I did find the thread) is to

Take a zip-lock bag
Cut a small hole in each of the bottom corners (opposite the bag opening)
Remove your camera strap from your camera
Feed each end of the camera strap through one of the holes in the bag
Re-connect the strap to the camera
Put the strap around your neck
Push the bag down the straps to cover the camera when it's hanging
Pull the bag up the straps a bit to shoot

Khristen · April 28, 2009

THAT is the best idea I've heard as far as homemade! I'm glad this was brought up I was wanting to shoot a few scenes the other day but since it was raining I couldn't come up with anything that I thought would be "safe enough" for my 50D. I'm more comfy with this idea and think I'll try it next time it rains.

Thanks Andy and thank you Scott!

TrulyAlaskan · May 6, 2009

Alaska gets a lot of rain... my way of dealing with it is to use the bag method mentioned above.

I tried an umbrella a few times, I even tried one attached to a tripod... no good.

pathfinder · May 6, 2009

It is good to take rain seriously, especially if you shoot with a 5D.

I had mine quit after a rather brief time in a light drizzle - switched to a 1 series the remainder of the day without incident. Rutt had a similar experience with his 5D in the rain. Both resumed work when dried out over night, but some do not.

So I shoot in the rain, but I am careful about protection if I am going to be out in if for a while also.

codrus · May 7, 2009

If the lens is an "L", then it's weatherproof everywhere except where it connects to the camera body, right? (assuming non-1D). Does that mean that you only need to protect the body and lens mount area with an L lens?

--Ian

Art Scott · May 7, 2009

Scott_Quier wrote:

One solution I've seen Andy post (I couldn't find the pictures, though I did find the thread) is to
Take a zip-lock bag

Cut a small hole in each of the bottom corners (opposite the bag opening)

Remove your camera strap from your camera

Feed each end of the camera strap through one of the holes in the bag

Re-connect the strap to the camera

Put the strap around your neck

Push the bag down the straps to cover the camera when it's hanging

Pull the bag up the straps a bit to shoot

Along these lines I use a trash bag approx 13gal or so and cut the a corner out to fit my lend and attach by rubber bands.....this size bag is large enuff to cover the whole lens and camera body and can actually get your head into if your careful............
There are pix on here somewhere...but do not have time to find right now...must take dog in for tumor removal.

here is my other post with pics................

http://www.dgrin.com/showpost.php?p=1089391&postcount=20

Shooting in the rain?

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