dave.englund Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 I'm heading out for a 10-day photo trip soon and will be outside in various parts of the country where I may encounter rain. I don't want to go to the expense of buying a special rain protector for my camera (gotta save some money for the trip;-) I was thinking maybe I'd just go find a cheep clear poncho and cut that down to size for protecting the camera during shooting in the rain. Anybody got any other ideas, things that have worked well for you? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonybynum Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 I've used glad trash bags, they work great too. For my long lenses I made my own covers from the legs of a pair of camo frog togs. the elastic band at the ankle, and the zipper work perfect for 500-600mm lenses and they are long enough to cover the body as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave.englund Posted June 4, 2007 Author Share Posted June 4, 2007 Cool. Those "frog togs" are like something you pick up at a hunting store (Gander Mtn)? I have no idea what they are used for. I assume if I tell a sales person I need some "frog togs" they will know what I'm talking about;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kin_lau Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 Our dollar stores carry rain poncho's for $1- each, so I bought 10 of them. One in each camera bag + several in the car, and I did use it last year on our BC trip (lots of rain & drizzle) over the camera. The hood goes over the Flash-Extender and the lens sticks out of one arm. I also carry some industrial strength garbage bags that's very hard to tear so I can easily stick all my gear in there if the rain got very heavy. It's also good for laying down in muddy/wet places. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lheusinkveld Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 A medium sized "packtowel" from a travel or luggage store can be draped over camera and lens for protection during drizzle. Not so good in high wind. They do have the added advantage that as long as you keep them nice and clean you can also use them to wipe off the rainspots from the front of the lens. Using the camera and keeping the towel in the right place takes a bit of getting used to, but it is a good solution if you don't expect to be shooting a lot in heavy rain/wind and don't want to be fooling with plastic bags. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 Cheap: My middle name. Plastic bags and elastic bands. I'm still looking for one of those goofy "hat umbrellas" that folds up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kuryan_thomas Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 John Shaw recommends hotel shower caps. The elastic band holds them secure even in winds, and they are by definition quite waterproof. I used one yesterday in heavy downpours on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It worked well. Some water got through just due to the sheer volume of the rain - I got wet under my own rain gear - but not more than a drop or two. Get a large one if you have long lenses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dennis jones Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 I second Obi's comments. I use a shower all the time, especially after ruining my first Coolpix 800... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave.englund Posted June 4, 2007 Author Share Posted June 4, 2007 I like the shower cap idea. But I just have to ask the obvious...how does the camera wear it? :D I assume the opening with the elastic fits out on the front of the lens somewhere, with the rest of the camera body safely inside the shower cap. And you are working the controls of the camera with your fingers *through* the cap. Sorry, it's getting late, but that's the only way it makes sense to me ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveH Posted June 5, 2007 Share Posted June 5, 2007 I have used a "Plamp" attached to my tripod to hold a light weight telescoping umbrella. It's good for light rain and no wind. Otherwise I second (or third) the hotel shower cap idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pvp Posted June 5, 2007 Share Posted June 5, 2007 I keep a cheap folding umbrella in my camera bag, and try to stay on good terms with my assistant. Oops, I meant "wife." :>) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crabseye Posted June 5, 2007 Share Posted June 5, 2007 "I like the shower cap idea. But I just have to ask the obvious...how does the camera wear it? :D I assume the opening with the elastic fits out on the front of the lens somewhere, with the rest of the camera body safely inside the shower cap. And you are working the controls of the camera with your fingers *through* the cap." That's just it. Elastic around the lens. In rain keep the lens pointing down unless shooting. The material is totally transparent and very thin, so you can see the button markings easily and press them cleanly right through the material. Got a bag of 50 of them for a few dollars at Walmart. Stuffed about 10 in my camera bag and store the rest "offline." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calculuspanda Posted June 6, 2007 Share Posted June 6, 2007 I'm not used to it raining much here, but this week, I felt tempted to put a bolt though a frisbee, seal it with hot glue and learn to use my camera upside down. Those are stiff enough to handle some wind and are probably more than enough to shelter my little point and shoot on most rainy days. If only my rain coat didn't go missing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h Posted June 17, 2007 Share Posted June 17, 2007 I live on Washington State's Olympic Peninsula (say WET!). I use the shower caps and small trash bags with the closing-tie's. Since I'm usually shooting with an F3HP or F100, if a little moisture gets in it doesn't hurt them. Shooting from under a trees canopy helps too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave.englund Posted June 20, 2007 Author Share Posted June 20, 2007 FYI - just back from Yellowstone and The West (Badlands, Devil's Tower). Never needed the shower caps I purchased at Walmart for the rain. The weather was picture perfect except for my first morning in Yellowstone when I shot the lower falls in Yellowstone Canyon. Got most of my shots before catching a few drops on the lens. By the time I was at my next shoot the rain had finished. Still, the shower caps were in my bag and available if I needed them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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