Protecting the camera from rain

<p>Hey, im planning on going to new zealand for a year beginning this august and living there / traveling around taking pictures. Since there is so much rainfall to be expected I am concerned about how to protect my camera and lens. I want to go on these amazing hikes with my camera out ready to take pictures instead of keeping it in the bag. Any advice on how yall do this would be very much appreciated<br>

I have a canon XSI camera and the 24-105 f/4L and 50m f/1.4 lenses<br>

thanks</p>

<p>Get a rain cover for your camera. Loads available. For example, B&H offers a wide variety at: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=rain+covers&ci=15293&N=4294205295</p>

<p>Plastic shower cap.</p>

<p><img src="http://www.rawrainforest.com" alt="" />Hey there, Glenn. I photographed in New Zealand three years and in the Amazon basin for six.<br />There are fancy rain cover out there, but you'd be amazed what can be done with a large heavy-duty ziploc bag and a couple rubber bands. Consider getting a box of 6-mil heavy-duty polyethylene bags for makeshift camera covers and overnight storage bags. Look at the LowePro AW bags with pull-out rain-covers and pack a big black trash bag "just in case." You might like the Trekkers or their fast-opening "shoot from the hip" styles.<br /> The new EvaDry plug-in rechargeable dehumidifiers for great for long-term work in humid tropical environments. I don't know where exactly you will be in NZ, but over the course of a year, fungal spores in the air could enter your lens. Wipe your lenses at the end of a day's shooting. Spores can become filaments and actually etch the internal lens elements. Place an Eva-Dry into a big heavy-duty ziploc bag with your gear, squeeze the air out and store overnight. Product links on t<a href="http://www.rawrainforest.com/links_nature_photo_resources.htm">his page</a> of my tour site. All the best, Bruce</p>

<p>Your camera is not water resistant at all sokeep it in mind. The 24-105/4 L IS is water resistant if you put a filter on it (UV will do.) As for rain covers, my favories are in no particular order (there are more options but I have used only the three.)<br>

- a plastic bag (big 15x15" Ziploc with handles) scissors and a couple of strong rubber bands and some gaffers tape(use the scissors to cut the openings for the lens and the viewfinder.) This contraption may leak so it is best used with a weather-sealed rig for shooting in a downpour or for use in a light drizzle/damp conditions.<br>

- ThinkTank Hydrophobia (very well made and not as fiddy as the Kata, but I prefer it on a tripod rather than handheld even though it does have sleeves. Friggin' expensive and requires a dedicated eyepiece.)<br>

-Kata 702: this one is my favorite if I have to carry the camera in my hands as it sports handy sleeves. It is a bit fiddly, though (some people hate it for that and for the stiff velcro rings.)</p>

<p>thanks for the suggestions. the heavy duty zip lock bags sound like good ideas. i can tape them real good to the lens good and be golden. ill also get one of the dehumidifiers--never would have thought...<br>

Im planning on initially going to queensland and staying around there until mid december, taking weekend trips all over the place. then i will go to the north island and do the same thing for warmer weather. cant wait</p>

<p>Or you might consider looking at the Canon digital *point-and-shoot* that is waterproof to several feet underwater. If you really want to shoot in rain with plastic bags, that's OK...but a waterproof camera is one less thing to worry about on a hike in precip.</p>

<p>http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/605229-REG/Canon_3508B001.html</p>

<p>for a look at the Canon Powershot D10.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Hi Glenn,</p>

<p>Mmmmmmmm. I wonder how we in NZ get by with all that supposed rain?? Mmmmm. Yep it does rain here, no doubt about that. But you should already have a rain cover for all that rain where you live, shouldn't you?</p>

<p>Lindsay T (NZ)</p>