Something to protect the lens from impact (projectile)?

jbswear

Posted some pics in the sports forum of a shoot today at a paintball game. Had one near-miss though...A bit of paint splatter on the inside of the guard over the end of the lens. Is there a filter/plexiglass/whatever accessory that's made to protect the end of the lens without changing the view or distorting the image? If so, where can I find it? Today was fun, and I plan on doing it again, but don't wish to risk damaging or destroying my lenses in the process!

Rhuarc

This is just straight up body armor to protect from bumps and scrapes. It might do the trick for you.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=465470&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

Or here is a listing of underwater housings available at B&H. These would certainly protect the camera as well.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?ci=1&sb=ps&pn=1&sq=desc&InitialSearch=yes&O=productlist.jsp&A=search&Q=%2A&bhs=t&shs=xti+underwater&image.x=0&image.y=0

Are these the types of things you were looking for? If you don't need something to protect the entire camera only the lens, just get a UV filter to put on the lens. That way if it gets hit it can just be replaced.

Hope this helps!!

20DNoob

Here's some links to paintball specific stuff. From what I've read about him in the past he seems to be one of the best shooters out there in regards to the sport.

His site.

His forum.

ian408

How's about one of those waterproof bags? The ones good for a couple of
feet and which have a solid lens cover.

rosselliot

a plexiglass wall would probably work.

- RE

paintballphotography.com

I always use a Kata rain cape on my cameras and this has saved my camera countless times (Kata-Bags.com) and a clear filter on the end of the lens for protection.:D

Gary Baum

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cmason

At the very least, get a UV Haze or Skylight filter on your lens...filters are cheap to replace, far cheaper than lenses. This likely will keep paint splatters out of your lens.

I prefer B+W filters, and be sure to get a coated lens, especially one coated for digital.

B+W UV Haze

Hoya Skylight

jbswear

Thanks, guys!

The armor is definately in the near future, and a UV filter will be added with it.

paintballphotography.com

From my experience shooting paintball you may want to buy more than one filter…:cry



This caused this…

www.paintballphotography.com

dogwood

paintballphotography.com wrote:

From my experience shooting paintball you may want to buy more than one filter…:cry

Awesome shots-- your poor camera though!

jbswear

Um, how do you clean the paint off the lens? That's my main concern.

Phyxius

jbswear wrote:

Um, how do you clean the paint off the lens? That's my main concern.

Yikes, dried paint on the lens? I baby my lenses because I'm cheap, but I know to get paint off window you can use either sudsy water or WD-40 and then a single edge razor blade.

Maybe carry something with you so you can clean off the paint as soon as it hits, before it dries?

awmphoto

To get paintball paint off all you need is a damp cloth or something with very little water, be sure not to get the water in the lens, paintballs are specially designed to be super easy to wash off clothing and any other material so I wouldn't be to concered on getting it off your equipment, a direct hit is a totally different story though.