I've just signed on as a freelance photographer w/ a fairly large and well known photography studio in my area. Mostly highschool events photography. Problem is I told the company I don't shoot in inclement weather. I'm shooting w/ all my own gear, and frankly they are not paying me enough per event to ruin my gear. They did not seem to like that. Sooooooo, how do I protect my camera and lens in the event of a rain storm once I'm at a location? Assuming no downpours. I'm not staying in a down pour.
I'm using a D70 and more than likely my Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 w/ or w/o tele-converter. Maybe a SB800 if its a night event.
Thanks
Good question. I have to tell you that the D70 is a good poor weather camera. I did a out door wedding on the 25th here in Illinois. We almost had the wedding indoors but the skys broke long enough to make the move out doors. The B&G were saying their vows when the skys broke open! The video guys went indoors, the wedding continued. I could not here the vows over the rain. I kept shooting despite the rain. I thought for sure this would be the end of my D70 and SB800. There was water under the LCD cover. The camera never quit! I continued on for the rest of the evening, reception etc.. The camera is still working fine. Now I do not recomend this to anyone. You may try just putting a trash bag over your cam. Take a large golfers umbrella with you. Duct tape the bag around a lens hood to keep it from getting over the lens. http://haronorest.fotopic.net/
Here is a link to some of the 250 photos. They really don't show the rain, later I will add more photos, some showing the down poor.
Thanks for all the ideas.
Daniel, sorry to hear about the cost of the repair. You seem to be a good one to get a reply from since what you do seems to be what I'm doing. You don't happen to have any pics of you "foul weather set up?"
I cut a tiny like 1 inch notch in the bottom of the gallon bag
and i slide my 80-200 and d70 through it, to cover the d70. then i do the same thing, but leave the bag on the lens, and i put a rubber band near the lens mount, and right before the start of the hood. i put a sandwich bag over the sb800, and then put a rubber band around it.
So 2 bags right at the lens mount point. One opening towards you to cover the camera, one opening towards the hood and banded at the hood. Correct? Any tape at the point were the bages come together to keep rain out of the mount? As for the flash...you just put the bag over the top and band it?
Does the bag extend over the camera and you put your hand itside the bag to activate the shutter?
Thanks
By the way...did you ever get to view the game films?
I usually put a nice layer of gaffers tape right where you mentioned. And yes, my hand goes inside the bag facing outward, to trigger the shutter. Or, if you want to be really fancy you can completely shut the bag around the neckstrap, cut out a hole for the VF, and just do that But I find it much simpler to shoot with my hand in the bag. Not a lot of H20 is going to see the cam that way when my eye is to the VF.
And yes about the sb800 and bag. I usually put a rubber band around the setup, right above the 'power' level part of the LCD.
Aquashield camera covers are what a lot of pros use, they run about $200, so they are not cheap but neither is camera gear, I am seriously thinking of getting one.
aquatech is the expensive route - emergency poncho's are the cheap route - or garbage bags, or anything which is weather proof - zip lock, etc, etc, etc... I spent some time shooting in the rain today - used an emergency poncho which can be purchased at a camping supply.
One thing else , your not going to get real quality pics in the rain , so stick a skylight filter on to protect the lense , it won't effect the pics in a downpour .
The D70 is pretty drizzle proof (i've been caught) .
The rest is really common sense , everything has been said , garbage bags and rubber bands for a cheap way .
Or internet search for wet weather protection if you've some spare cash .
FGARVIN wrote:
Aquashield camera covers are what a lot of pros use, they run about $200, so they are not cheap but neither is camera gear, I am seriously thinking of getting one.
Correction, they are Aquatech sportshields, sorry.
living in Ireland means you just got to learn to deal with the rain. The other replies have given ou the idea of how to protect the gear. I thought I would go one step further and talk about after the shoot.
Even with aquashields etc it is inevitable that some moisture will get on the gear, be it from your hands or humidity or whatever. Therefore I suggest the following to protect your gear from molds etc:
1. When the shoot is over wipe the surfaces of all gear with a dry cloth (obvious enough).
2. Dont put the gear straight in your gear bag unless you have to - I place my lenses over the air vent in my car to dry them out while I drive home. If you have to put them in the bag leave the bag open while you transport them home.
3. leave all the gear that you used that day, including the gear bag out in a dry room at home to ensure that they fully dry out.
4. Always have loads of those silica gel bags in your gear bag.
I assume that you have a good waterproof gear bag.
OK, if I'm going to be a professional, should I look the part and pay for one of the commercially produced camera protection bags, or use the zip lock and rubberband method?
I'm not opposed to spending a bit for a good product.
brandofamily wrote:
OK, if I'm going to be a professional, should I look the part and pay for one of the commercially produced camera protection bags, or use the zip lock and rubberband method?
I'm not opposed to spending a bit for a good product.
you wont get paid any more for the more expensive option....but in my opinion it always pays to look professional. People will gravitate towards you and you get comissions that you might otherwise not. Obviosuly if your photos are bad you wont get repeat business but image helps in the inital contact. You dont have to spend a lot to look professional. My camera cover cost all of $40 bucks and it works like a charm....but then maybe I dont look professional :-)
brandofamily wrote:
George, what type of cover are you using?
I am using a thing called cameramac. It is made in the UK by the wife of a pro photog as I understand it. It is essentially the same as the stormjacket in a previous post except it only comes in black.
I know you shoot with a D70. But one thing to keep in mind is that the D2x and 2h have a WB/ambient light sensor on the top of the camera so to futureproof as well as weatherproof yourself go for a solution that does not obscure that sensor or accept that you will have to set the WB value yourself.
you can completely shut the bag around the neckstrap, cut out a hole for the VF, and just do that 
But I find it much simpler to shoot with my hand in the bag. Not a lot of H20 is going to see the cam that way when my eye is to the VF.