Wet weather shooting - DPChallenge Forums

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

01/11/2008 11:08:38 PM · #1

I need to get out this weekend and shoot a river or stream for the challenge, but the weather forecast is looking poor. Naturally I'm not going to let the rain get in between me and a challenge entry but I'm a total nub at shooting in the wet.

Can anyone give me some tips as to how to go about it? I'm going to be out with tripod and probably shooting longish exposures in poor light. Is there anything better than a plastic bag and some gaffer tape? (preferably homemade and easy, but I'll consider something like camera armour if it's not too expensive)

N

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

01/11/2008 11:31:20 PM · #2

A 2-gallon ziplok freezer baggie works great. If you fold it on itself and cut a little arc out of the overlapped corner, you can stretch that over the lens and it doesn't need tape. Doesn't work real well with lenses whose front elements rotate in focusing, however. If you're using the tripod, you'll need another hole in the bottom for the tripod mount. You can zip the bag up when you're carrying the rig, and unzip it to compose. You can actually compose through the plastic if you don't mind a little occlusion.

R.

jbsmithana

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4.0G IF-ED

01/11/2008 11:54:08 PM · #3

May sound silly but a large (golf type) umbrella works wonders.

For the future you might want to look into a rain cover for your outfit. I have a KATA and it works very well. About $50.

01/11/2008 11:57:26 PM · #4

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Nice one...will give it a go. Are you able to change out lenses with the bag on or is this a one lens setup?

N

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

01/11/2008 11:59:20 PM · #5

Originally posted by jbsmithana:

May sound silly but a large (golf type) umbrella works wonders.

I can't do umbrellas just on pure logistics. I've got a micro trekker bag over my shoulders and a tripod hung around my body when I'm out, and I go out on a motorbike - I just couldn't handle an umbrella either on the bike or giving up a hand to hold it. A head mounted golf umbrella would rule my world though ;)

N

Melethia

Canon EOS-80D

01/12/2008 12:04:33 AM · #6

I've often wondered why there isn't a body-mounted umbrella. I'd buy one. Probably won't work well in wind, but otherwise would free up both hands for shooting. :-)

jbsmithana

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4.0G IF-ED

01/12/2008 12:11:35 AM · #7

Originally posted by Quasimojo:

Originally posted by jbsmithana:
May sound silly but a large (golf type) umbrella works wonders.

I can't do umbrellas just on pure logistics. I've got a micro trekker bag over my shoulders and a tripod hung around my body when I'm out, and I go out on a motorbike - I just couldn't handle an umbrella either on the bike or giving up a hand to hold it. A head mounted golf umbrella would rule my world though ;)

N

I hear you but they are handy as long as there is no, or minimal, wind. Great for changing lenses, which does not work well with bags and covers. I know it would be more weight but you could bunje one to the tripod. Cover the camera with the plastic bag for when you carry it and then switch to the umbrella for set up of the shot. Just a thought.

My camera (D200) is pretty water proof as long as I'm using good lenses but in the end if you are going to shoot in the rain (and I do as it always rains in the winter in the NW) you will need a rain cover and umbrella.

Photologist

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

01/12/2008 12:12:56 AM · #8

Use a RainSleeve . . .

Your local Ritz Camera store should have them for (USD) $5.95 for a two-pack. Then go and buy a poncho to weather-proof the photographer. ;-)

edited to add:

One more tip, always use a lens hood to help keep water droplets from finding your front glass element.

Message edited by author 2009-08-06 17:27:10.

slaakso

Olympus E-510

Olympus 50mm f/2.0 Macro ED Zuiko Digital

01/12/2008 12:17:44 AM · #9

It rains a lot in Kauai and I use a Fotosharp cover with drawstrings on both ends. Made of some waterproofed nylon. Easy to put on and take off. Changing lenses is easy as well. //fotosharp.com/camera_rain_covers.html

Message edited by author 2008-01-12 00:18:34.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

01/12/2008 12:17:51 AM · #10

Originally posted by Quasimojo:

Originally posted by Bear_Music:
A 2-gallon ziplok freezer baggie works great. If you fold it on itself and cut a little arc out of the overlapped corner, you can stretch that over the lens and it doesn't need tape. Doesn't work real well with lenses whose front elements rotate in focusing, however. If you're using the tripod, you'll need another hole in the bottom for the tripod mount. You can zip the bag up when you're carrying the rig, and unzip it to compose. You can actually compose through the plastic if you don't mind a little occlusion.

Nice one...will give it a go. Are you able to change out lenses with the bag on or is this a one lens setup?

N

Best way is to mount a baggie to each lens you expect to use; when you change lenses, you change baggies. The cutout only works for a specific lens diameter, basically, and you need it to stretch-fit, so if you try to swap it onto different lenses, even of the same or similar diameter, it gets a little sloppy.

R.

Sigma 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical HF for Canon

01/13/2008 09:18:39 AM · #11

Thanks for all the help. I went out yesterday, baggied lenses all ready, AND IT STAYED DRY! Sod's law eh?

Turns out that the photos I took are crap so I'm going out again now for another shot at Rivers & Streams.

Best

N

apashack

Canon EOS-20D

01/13/2008 10:50:56 AM · #12

Originally posted by Quasimojo:

Don't feel bad. I've been shooting all week with nothing but poor results. I may have to sit this one out. Other than getting lucky once in a while landscapes aren't my thing. Here I am on the last day to enter and it's overcast and not much to choose from. I've had several good ideas but can't find a place to pull it off.

Good Luck in the rain!

Message edited by author 2008-01-13 10:52:05.

robs

Canon EOS R6 Mk II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

01/13/2008 11:59:15 AM · #13

Originally posted by Quasimojo:

...and I go out on a motorbike - I just couldn't handle an umbrella either on the bike or giving up a hand to hold it...

lol... Now THERE is a wet weather challenge entry if I have ever seen one.... Humm... Idiot on a motorbike with a golf brolly.... Talk about an ejector seat... hit 30mph and fold out golf brolly :-)

Message edited by author 2008-01-13 12:00:42.

fotomann_forever

01/13/2008 01:46:39 PM · #14

Originally posted by AperturePriority:

Use a RainSleeve . . .

Your local Ritz Camera store should have them for (USD) $5.95 for a two-pack. Then go and buy a poncho to weather-proof the photographer. ;-)

edited to add:

One more tip, always use a lens hood to help keep water droplets from finding your front glass element.

Well isn't that just nifty!

chromeydome

Nikon D7000

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

01/13/2008 01:55:39 PM · #15

somebody in an earlier thread on this top noted that cheap golf club covers available at Walmart, elsewhere, work, too. I have not tried it yet, though...

//www.dpchallenge.com/forum.php?action=read&FORUM_THREAD_ID=684551

pics:
//www.dpchallenge.com/portfolio.php?USER_ID=3102&collection_id=25508

Message edited by author 2008-01-13 13:56:10.

tnun

Ricoh GR III

Pentax DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6ED AL [IF] WR DC

01/13/2008 02:12:36 PM · #16

I'm with Melethia about the body-mounted umbrella. Years ago there were these head umbrellas - looked silly, and not quite big enough, but cool idea. Meanwhile the plastic bags are very useful.

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

01/13/2008 02:15:54 PM · #17

Wear a REALLY BIG Mexican hat, with a garbage bag over it?
Seriously though, the zip loc, and a rubber band to put at the lens shade seems to work well for me if it isn't raining too hard. I keep an ordinary shopping bag folded with rubber band around it in my camera bag, and put it in my pocket anytime I see that it may come a downpour while I am away from shelter while shooting.
A dry dish towel is a good thing to have handy too when it is rainy to dry your hands.
The inexpensive Zeiss lens cloth thingys from WalMart are handy too, as they are moistened with a little alcohol which dries quickly even on damp days. They are good for salt water shooting too, as they take the salt off lenses and glasses. They can be found near the reading glasses in the store.