Shooting in the rain

Hollie3

Hollie3

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Hollie
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Newbie photographer here. I would like to get outside to take some photos on my DSLR but it's raining a huge amount at the moment and has been for the last two weeks. I was wondering if anybody with more experience could give me some tips/advice on taking photos in the rain and also how to keep my camera dry (as I mostly shoot solo it's a bit difficult trying to hold on to an umbrella at the same time!) .. Just any general advice would be great as I have never taken photos in the rain before.. Thanks :)
 
The cheap solution, a Tesco carrier bag (other supermarkets are available), make a split in the bottom of the bag for the lens, poke lens through and fasten with a rubber band to the lens hood (you do use a lens hood don't you), Insert hands through bag opening to operate camera. A cloth in your pocket is also handy in case any water gets where it shouldn't.
 
Yep as Ken said :), you can also get specially made covers for shooting in the rain
Only thing I would add is to take your camera out of the bag when you get home if its wet
 
Rain covers like storm jacket (cheaper alternatives available) offer minimal risk unless you're lacking common sense :)


Just search rain cover and you'll find one of a billion threads.
 
The OpTech rainsleeves are worth a look but as with the plastic carrier bag method you need a lens hood (though you should have one anyway) and even then they're hard to fit to lenses with short hoods. The advantage over a carrier bag is that they cover both ends of the camera (though you have to watch for water getting in the hole where the eyepiece goes), they're transparent and they do one that fits with a flash on your camera. They have a drawstring so you theoretically don't need elastic bands but it slides around a bit so I use them anyway to make sure it stays put.
The only real downsides are that they get a bit cloudy over time and it starts getting hard to see the screen and you can't use your strap properly unless you mount it on the bottom of the camera.

If you do find the camera starts playing up (the buttons not behaving correctly for example) turn it off and remove the battery (don't get the battery wet) then take it home and leave it to dry out (I normally do it overnight to be sure).
 
How about shower caps? They're free and have a handy elastic bit for around your lens :)

Admit it, you steal them from hotel rooms along with all the tea, sugar and coffee... oh, and the soaps! :lol:
 
neil_g said:
Optechs I found fog up really badly personally
Click to expand...

Yeah, there isn't any ventilation in them apart from the hole in the bottom and warmth tends to go up so that doesn't help much. Though they only steam up if you put your hands inside them in my experience and there's no real need to because they're so thin. I haven't had any problems with using a camera through the sleeve even while wearing gloves other than seeing the screen, but I just bump the brightness up as I'm only looking at the histogram and highlight warnings anyway.
 
I've used Op-Tech rainsleeves for over a year and mine still look reasonably new. I try not to go out to take photos in the rain, not because I don't want the camera to get wet, I just hate rain full stop. When we have days of rain I try and find some indoor macro subjects or spend more time on here lol.
 
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