Forum: Photography


Subject: Protecting Camera etc in the Rain?

Dianthus opened this issue on Apr 12, 2007 · 14 posts


Dianthus posted Thu, 12 April 2007 at 12:49 AM

Hi Everyone,

Me finally got cable at the farm. Have wedding to do in two sleeps time. Weather not looking great. So went shopping for three bright pink umbrellas for bridal party. Now for my equipment. What can i do beside umbrella to protect my camera when shooting in the rain?

Has to be made because not enough time to order anything.

Please help

Chris:)


da_franze posted Thu, 12 April 2007 at 4:27 AM

i would try it with a small plastic bag (transparent)...
camera in the bag, objective towards the penning (a bit inside). maybe you can fix it with an elastic band.

hope it helps...

servus franze


olivier158 posted Thu, 12 April 2007 at 6:56 AM

yep it works fine like this ! whenever with heavy rain ! i've tested it !

:oD


MGD posted Thu, 12 April 2007 at 12:21 PM

Another method would be to have an assistant (slave) hold an umbrella above the camera. 

BTW, think of how much envy you will generate. 

--

MGD

 


Dianthus posted Fri, 13 April 2007 at 5:20 AM

Well me do have an assistant just to carry my gear. Definatly need if raining. But will take plastic bag and rubberband also. Thanks for your help.
Chris


danob posted Sat, 14 April 2007 at 2:44 PM

There are specific camera plus lens type all weather protective covers available, however the ones I have seen are more for a larger tele lens than something you are liable to have on for a wedding such as the 24-105 or 24-70 the 70-200 just about works.. The plastic bag and elastic band works, and there is now a new version of the 580 flash with all weather seals..  But again a plastic bag will work if you also need flash..

Danny O'Byrne  http://www.digitalartzone.co.uk/

"All the technique in the world doesn't compensate for the inability to notice" Eliott Erwitt


mrsparky posted Sat, 14 April 2007 at 9:04 PM

Get a large clear plastic kids lunchbox or storage crate.

Cut part of the front off and gaffa tape on a piece of clear aceate - the type used when photo copying overheads for the old style office projectors - easy to replace when it gets scratched. 

If your camera has a cable control - many don't seem to now :( use that.
Cut a hole in the back for your hand and tape a plastic carrier bag over that - like a old style camera. 

Gaffa tape box to tripod or use a gorrila grip punched through the base and mount that to your tripod head. On some tripods they have removable heads and the screws can be replaced - I've lost loads of these - hardware stores often have similar or longer sizes.

Throw in a few silca gels bags as mositure will build up inside and could cause fogging.  

I've used a simlar setup years ago when shooting on a beach where sand is a real PITA

Downsides:  Onboard Flash will be very diffused and maybe bounce back - use some cheap white card from an art shop for use as reflectors if it gets wet - throw it in a recycler.
 
You'll look like a complete idiot :) But at a wedding kids will love it - stick a toy bird on the box.

Pinky - you left the lens cap of your mind on again.



danob posted Sun, 15 April 2007 at 5:53 PM

Well done they say necessity is the mother of invention thats quite an inventive creation mrsparky!!

Danny O'Byrne  http://www.digitalartzone.co.uk/

"All the technique in the world doesn't compensate for the inability to notice" Eliott Erwitt


mrsparky posted Sun, 15 April 2007 at 7:38 PM

Thanks there Danob - If a shots worth getting most things go:)

Pinky - you left the lens cap of your mind on again.



inshaala posted Mon, 16 April 2007 at 10:22 AM

I've heard (meaning that i have never tried to do it) that getting a UV filter (obviously one which is the right size for the lens you wish to use) and gluing it to a suitably sized opening in a large zip-lock bag is a good way of doing things - you wont get the filter back unless you use pvc glue or something - but then it wont hold very well anyway...
Or - if you have a screw mount lens hood, no glue is needed, just screw it on over the hole trapping the plastic in the thread and carfully cut off any overlap - tho i think with this method a polythene bag might be a better idea considering the thickness of the plastic and the possibility of ruining the thread in the screw.
I realise that the weekend is over and that was when the wedding was, but just thought i might add another option for people to consider. when do we get to see pics? or better still - pics of you underneath a pink brolly with your cam ;)

"In every colour, there's the light.
In every stone sleeps a crystal.
Remember the Shaman, when he used to say:
Man is the dream of the Dolphin"

Rich Meadows Photography


jadench posted Mon, 16 April 2007 at 11:40 PM

I went to my local Walmart sporting good department and found a raincoat with an elastic sleeve.  Got it for around 15 dollars U.S.  I cut the sleeve off and put the camera in it with the elastic around the lens.  It worked so well I went back and bought another one and left it whole.  So now when the camera is in it I am also.  No sense in getting my head wet. 


Dianthus posted Tue, 17 April 2007 at 7:34 PM

Hey Everyone me back and it didnt rain. Yeppe. Got some awesome shots so now have to change all from raw format.
Thanks for your help it maybe next wedding it will rain again.
Chris


mrsparky posted Tue, 17 April 2007 at 8:45 PM

Neat!  

Chris - any chance you can post a couple of shots ?

Pinky - you left the lens cap of your mind on again.



Boofy posted Thu, 19 April 2007 at 12:32 AM

I've heard the humble shower cap is a good alternative. Jenny