Shooting in the Rain

<p>Hello again,</p>

<p>I'm heading up to Alaska on a fly fishing trip in late August/early September and planning to take my camera gear to photograph the bears and whatever else wanders by. Since it's a fishing trip, we'll be out fishing in all types of weather so there's a good chance my camera gear will be outside in the rain all day even when I'm not actively using it and I could be shooting photos in the rain too. Any suggestions for waterproof camera bags or other ways to deal with this? I'm planning on taking a 5DIII, 24-70 f/2.8 and a 70-200 f/4, although I may invest in a 100-400 to replace the 70-200 before I go. I must admit that I've been kind of a wimpy photographer so far. If the weather's bad, I'm afraid to take my expensive gear out into it, but that won't work up there.</p>

<p>Cheers,<br />Dave<br>

</p>

<p>Waterproof bag can be fairly expensive, tho you can always get a conventional rubbish bag (new) and cover your eq bag with it. There are see-through plastic sleeves (also inexpensive) that will allow you to stay out in the rain with your camera, tho you'd have to order the largest that will cover your longest tele lens. They are not build to last, so you either get more of them or get something more durable....perhaps like this one....and it would cover a 100-400mm.<br>

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/763639-REG/Canon_4734B001_ERC_E4S_EOS_DSLR_Rain.html<br>

Many options.</p>

<p>As to lenses (for wildlife), take the longest you can get your hands on or even rent it if your budget allows for it. Although <em>AK is not a zoo </em>you might be able to run across moose, caribou or a bear quite easily.</p>

<p>Enjoy your trip.</p>

<p>Les</p>

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<p>I use a rainsleeve when shooting in the rain or in one case behind a waterfall. They seem to work quite well but take a bit of practice to get the best out of them.</p>

<p>There are inexpensive clear plastic camera rain cover bags that you can pick up on Amazon or your local camera shop for around $9-$16, there are ones that will work with a camera body and long lens and I have some that can also handle an external flash.</p>

<p>You can also DIY a camera and lens rain cover using a plastic bread bag and cutting the end out, then use rubber bands or hair tie bands that can be found at any store like Wal-Mart or Dollar Store.</p>

<p>Now the bread bag is classic and if doing street shooting with a 100-400mm covered in a bread bag, people may look at you oddly wondering why that guy is pointing a loaf of bread at them. lol. This can also help in disguising your camera if you happen to let it in open site in your car while running into the 7-11 or Piggly-Wiggly for a moment in your traveling.</p>

<p>The bread bag and hair ties may not look as official as a $16 special "Camera rain cover" plastic bag, but in the end, a throw away bread bag will keep the rain drops off your camera just as well as a $16 bag and you won't be kicking yourself thinking I just blew $16 on a glorified plastic bag with a pull tie.</p>

<p>Also a rain hood is great too, the 70-200mm and 100-400mm comes with them so you should have that covered.</p>

<p>Happy shooting.</p>

<p>That is some really expensive gear you are taking on your fishing trip. Do you have a back up ?</p>

<p>Thanks, everyone. I'll do an Internet search for rain hoods and bread bags. Cheers.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Rain-Capes-Covers-Slickers/ci/3313/N/4075788778">Rain protection gear</a></p>

<p>Henry Posner<br /><strong>B&H Photo-Video</strong></p>

<p>Thanks, Henry!</p>

 

<p>Awesome pic - Plus as someone pointed out, congrats on some killer gear as well :)</p>