cameras & rain?

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Araminta
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cameras & rain?

I just heard the Crested Shrike-tit outside, but it is raining. Not a lot though. Question is, how much rain can a camera and lens cope with? What do you do if it rains?

cathshane

Be very careful. God i wouldnt want to get my camera wet. Carry a big umbrella or better yet get your hubby to carry it for you lol. If you google camera and rain there is a really good page about making a protector with a pair of rain trousers.Looks real easy.

cathshane

Or you can buy rain covers if you cant be fussed trying to make one digital camera warehouse have them.

clif2
clif2's picture

M-L by all means if your camera is not weatherproof don't risk it as if you short out the electronics or eventually get fungus inside the lens you won't be a very happy camper. This is one reason I chose my camera and have had it in really heavy rain a few times now and only have to worry about keeping me dry.

Regards

               Shane

Windhover
Windhover's picture

Yes, and umbrella is useful, but it could also make you appear larger and scary. Should try though regardless, see how it works.

If you use Nikon, check out some of their lenses and cameras are surely weather sealed. I don't know for sure, as I don't shoot Nikon. If you want, I can ask a friend who used to shoot pro and still uses only Nikon gear, he'd know what's best. But again, depends on what you want or if you want to spend money to upgrade just for this luxury.

Rain is one of the reasons I bought my current camera body (besides other useful features). It is weathersealed. I can shoot in pouring rain and not worry about my camera, lenses and converters as well as my flash. They are all rain/dust sealed. They are also very expensive, I know. But I only have one hobby, and that's wildlife photography.

Araminta
Araminta's picture

Thanks for your advise everyone, as I'm not weathersealed either,both the camera and I should stay home when it rains. Only sometimes there is a bird in my garden that I haven't seen before. Then it's very hard not to go outside and take a photo. Most of you will understand, what being addicted to bird photography does to your mind? Not taking any photos , even for one day, has a bad effect on the people who have to live with me.LOL

M-L

Woko
Woko's picture

I haven't quite got to that stage, Araminta, but I look forward to the day when I do.

I was caught in the rain recently, just a steady drop or two or three. I've got one of those shoulder bags in which I have my camera inverted when I'm not shooting. So I ducked under a tree & covered the exposed part of the camera with both arms. It seemed to work in that particular rain but I wouldn't like to be caught in a downpour & nor would my camera, I imagine.

sparrow
sparrow's picture

In my work I often get stuck out in the rain and can not just run for cover and have found the most useful cover is a simple face washer placed over the camera and another over the lens,I use nikon for the reasons stated by windhover and have been out in some vile weather and havent lost a camera" YET "

Holly
Holly's picture

Moved to the new photography subforum

russianbear
russianbear's picture

Weatherproof camera is very good for some occasions. I took pictures even under a waterfall.

Regards

Alex

birdie
birdie's picture

I have been out in the rain many times and use an umbrella usually... yes it doesnt do much for camouflage, but if i waited for the rain to stop up here in Qld it could be a long wait in summer. I also find that carrying a good solid plastic bag helps if I am out and the rain sweeps in temporarily..... it keeps the camera nice and dry ( usually with a small face towel as well) and when it passes I can carry on without having to walk miles back to the car.

I have had recently fungus on my sensor, which I got cleaned off luckily but living in Qld it is easy to get that from the  shear humidity. Unfortunately I have noticed a fungal bloom starting on my shorter zoom, which I havent had out in the rain anyway. :(

I guess it depends on the level of rainfall ... a little drizzle would never stop me

Sunshine Coast Queensland

Araminta
Araminta's picture

Hmmm Adrienne, how can you hold the umbrella with one hand, the camera in the other,  change settings, focus and not wobble?

I will have a dry run tomorrow, see how I go? Or are you talking about using a tripod and holding an umbrella? 

M-L

birdie
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Sometimes it can be difficult but generally I lean the umbrella over my shoulder and the camera is on autofocus ....point and shoot. I have spent hours in a dripping rainforest wandering around under an umbrella blushsmiley

Sunshine Coast Queensland

Araminta
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A shame I can't see it, LOL  I don't like going out in the rain, or not even after, only yesterday I had two leeches climbing up, up, up my leg.Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr

M-L

birdie
birdie's picture

Toughen up woman...what's a couple of leeches between friends??? lol

That wouldn't stop me , snakes maybe but not anything that is not fatal wink

Sunshine Coast Queensland

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