What do you use as a cover for your camera when outdoors to protect it from the rain?

[markr]

I am headed to Alaska at the end of August for two weeks. We will be

spending a good amount of time outdoors in attempts to see wildlife.

I have a Nikon F100 and was wondering what everyone does to protect

their cameras from the rain, while still having quick access to it

when a photo opportunity presents itself?

 

I have heard of people using plastic sandwich bags to cover their

cameras, but this doesn't sound very good to me.

 

Thanks in advance for your input.

[mike_scott2]

Recently read a good tip for this situation - a shower cap. Don't have one in my camera bag yet, but it's on my list.

[dick_ginkowski]

Shower cap, plastic grocery bag, plastic trash bag (white, if available) and/or one gallon ZipLoc bag.

 

Some hints from Heloise here...

 

Carrying a white plastic trash bag is helpful not only as a rain cover, but it can be used as an impromptu light diffuser should the situation arise.

 

One gallon ZipLoc bags and also sandwich bags (and even snack bags) are part of my traveling gear. They can store lots of things, especially film, compact flash cards, batteries, etc. In your carry on bag you can place odds and ends (preferably in the freezer bag variety -- more durable) so that the airport screeners can see this stuff all at one crack.

 

So, I would suggest carrying a couple of gallon ziplocs in the field with you and maybe a white garbage bag and/or trash bag in your coat pocket.

 

Good luck.

[wayne_suns]

Any thoughts from those that actually SHOOT in the rain? There was a nice lightning storm in my area last night, but I didn't try any shots since it was raining quite hard. Other than an underwater housing, how do you protect your camera as you photograph in the rain??

[lester_laforce]

Try a turkey basting bag -- they come two to a package and only cost a buck or so. Look for them with the aluminum foil, etc. in any grocery store. They are made of a tuff, clear, plastic and are large enough to hold the entire camera and lens. You can see/manipulate your controls and look through the view finder. If you screw on a filter stepping ring, you can trim the plastic from the lens front and shoot. If you screw a filter onto that, you have a good water resistant housing -- you couldn't go diving, but I bet it would hold up to bucket of water thrown on it. They also work as a quick rain cover -- if you simply cover the camera and position the bag so the lens sticks out (so you can shoot).

[gary_jean1]

I usually don't worry about rain unless it is of the torrential downpour type. I did some shots at the base of Yosemite Falls during maximum snowmelt. The blowing mist was enough to get me soaked in a matter of minutes. I cut a hole the diameter of my lens in the bottom of a gallon-sized zip-loc baggie. I secured the baggie bottom to the lens with a rubber band. The baggie completely covered the lens and camera body, and left me room to reach inside the baggie and operate the controls. Zip the baggie shut when you move around. Of course, this only works if your lens does not rotate when you focus. Use a cheap filter on the lens, because you'll be continually wiping it and you don't want to have to worry about scratching it. Very low tech. Very effective.

[lawrence_palumbo]

havent bought one yet, so this is not first hand experience, but a working professional told me he likes to use one of those large golf umbrellas to cover his rig. i guess he would attach it to his tripod with some sort of clamp. sounded like a pretty decent idea. those umbrellas are quite large. dont know how heavy wind would affect that set up though. anyone using this technique???

[alex_p._schorsch]

I've become somewhat of a specialist in shooting in the mist and rain because I shoot waterfalls (giant waterfalls). I can stay a few hours in the rain and mist. What I do and seems to work very well is this: You're probably going to be using rain-proof clothes. I use North Face. Hang the camera off your neck but under your rain jacket, when the rain lets up pull it out and take your shot. If you see an animal or something you can pull it out quickly and take a quick shot. Always keep microfiber clothe handy to wipe off your lens. Buy another special SPEEDO swimmers towel to keep wiping off the camera body. FWIW. Alex

[paul_ashton]

Ah, the difference between the F2 and the F100! When I did

fieldwork in Indonesia I had a brand new F2. Even managed to

dunk it in a fast flowing stream one time. Never stopped working

despite constantly being in wet, damp or just plain humid

weather. I used the Nikon ever ready case which was really

quite well designed and never had to use a plastic bag once.

Now, with an F100 I think the advice from previous posters is

going to help out just fine! Consider a manual backup body for

insurance (second hand FM2a or similar).

[stemked]

I'd recommend a little cover that I picked up at Porters of Iowa. It cost about $25 covers the body/lens well, has a little eye hole for viewing. I've used the gear in big downpours and never danaged the camera; took wonderful wildflower shots with it. I'm sure they have a web site but I'm afraid I don't know it myself.

[hal_bissinger]

B&H has a pretty good selection if you want to spend more than what a garbage bag costs. <a href="http://www01.bhphotovideo.com/default.sph/FrameWork.class?FNC=CatalogActivator__Acatalog_html___CatID=3313___SID=EDEC116CEC0"target="newwindow">Here</a>

[michael_bird]

Since you are a nature type, you might have a pair of gators (leggings). They are usually made using Gortex. Depending upon the length, they can cover the barrel of a 400mm lens and have enough upper leg portion left to cover the top of your camera. This arrangement is well suited for tripod mounting. Gators are not inexpensive, but since you only need one, you can split the cost of a pair with a buddy.

[billballardphotography]

The idea of using gaiters as a cover is great! I'll have to try that.

 

For now, I use either/or both an umbrella (also keeps me reasonably dry when hiking, and by its very nature is much, much cooler in warm,/hot weather than any jacket or shell) and a shower cap - the ones you can snatch from most hotels for free.

[wayne_crider4]

Jeeves holds an umbrella. ({^:)

[dick_ginkowski]

Great advice so far -- but let me add a thought about umbrellas.

 

Instead of a golf umbrella, I have a pure white umbrella I got for $12 at OfficeMax. It's primary role is to diffuse light but occasionally I actually use it for its intended purpose! :)

[chris_valentine1]

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this, but I motified a OR (OUTDOOR RESEARCH) water proof bag for a cover. Their nicely made and come in many different sizes and colors depending on your needs. All you need to do is cut the bottom out of the bag and slide it over the lens and camera. I usually get a bag large enough to fit over the lens, camera and my head. One thing I really like about it is that they have a draw string at the end so you can fit it tightly over the end of the lens. They work especially well for longer lenses becuase they come in sizes like 8" by 30". Their kind of expensive ($25-$30) but very well made. Recently I made one for my 600/4 out of an off-brand. Not as well made but it was only $7. I cut a hole in the bottom then cut a hole for the tripod foot in about two minutes. I did have to buy pinch clamps for the draw string for the cheaper bag.

 

Hope this helps, it's worked great for me.

 

chris

[frank_brabec2]

Both Laird and Tenba make rain covers. LL Rue does carry them as I sure some other places do as well. I have one for my 600 and one for my 300 and they work well.

[Mike D]

It's nice to keep the camera and lens dry but its also nice for the photographer to stay dry. I use a cheap umbrella with the handle sawed off which attaches to a Stroboframe flash bracket (on my F100)which can be mounted on my tripod. Just remember never to let go of the tripod of the wind will blow the entire setup on the ground. The camera is dry, I'm dry, and I can stay out in the rain for an extended period of time.

[jay_horton]

Try the plastic shower caps with the elasticky thingies. I keep two of them, each crammed into a film canister so they are always in my bag. It is hard to cram an umbrella into a film canister.

[michael_rogers4]

While in Yellowstone, I happened to come upon Mr La Rue and another Photographer filming Elk. It started to sprinkle and I put my F5 w/80-400VR under my jacket. The other photographer wips out a backpacking poncho (Longer in back to accomodate a backpack) and puts the head opening over the end of his 600 and cinched it down with the drawsting. He then was able to get completely under the poncho and kept dry. After I got home I ordered a backpack poncho from REI. Works great. It has also doubled as a ground cloth.

[ole_tjugen]

I use a plastic bag - a translucent carrier bag. One which is big enough to let me carry the camera (Linhof Color 4x5) upside down, mount it on the tripod, mount the lens, and coarse-focus (looking at the GG through the plastic). I then think VERY hard before lifting it off for fine focus. Shutter speed and aperture is set when still under the bag, film holder inserted (upside down if in portrait mode) and DS removed. Whip off bag, trigger shutter, bag back on. DS in, filmholder out, rig down, walk on...