Soaked today - wet weather strategies?

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Andy
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We had two monster rainstorms at Watford today. I was prepped with a waterproof jacket with hood, waterproof trousers, baseball hat (to keep the rain off my specs), and two plastic carrier bags with elastic bands to cover the cameras.

I've never bought "proper" camera rain covers, as a plastic bag does just as good a job and is very cheap.

Difficult handling pics on the laptop during the rain though - it put me off my rhythm a bit as I like to be able to caption and send in real time.

Anyway, I'm interested in other peoples' wet weather strategies. Any clever ideas to share?
 
See through bin liner, throw the laptop in it... you can see what you're doing then :)
 
Maybe a small hand towel too, if your track pad doesn't like getting wet like mine!
 
If I'm staying mobile then I take two IKEA bags (the big blue ones) and these go over my bag - camera just gets wet unless I have my golf brolly with me.

If I'm static shooting then I have a big stacker box with a clip lid that the bag goes into. Again., not much I can do about the camera getting wet - out comes brolly again.
 
Wrap clingfilm round your laptop keyboard a couple of times ans make the odd slit for access to USB ports
 
I keep a couple of tea towels in my case to drape over the camera if needed, with a big brolly in case it really gets wet.
I was sitting in the stand sorting out gear today, at the Scotland v Wales rugby league. It was folks sitting near me who pointed out that one of my tea towels had a typical tourist map of Scotland and the other a typical tourist map of Wales.
 
I use the arm of an old waterproof jacket sometimes to cover my 300mm lens and the camera/lens mount, its a nice bright blue colour
 
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I have a camomac from a seller on this very forum.. made to measure for 1d and 400 lens... kept it all dry at northampton where it threw it down.. rain pants (always with me) and big coat.. sorted..

Interestingy the club tog.. got his brolly out and used that...

young girl from locals got soaked and so did her spanking new 300
 
Thousands of pounds worth of equipment and you protect with bin liners and plastic bags? Seen this a thousand times at games and can never understand why. Even the £15 jobbies of ebay have to be a better option. I use a Canon raincover which are a bit fiddly but does keep the rain off. For my laptop I've used one of thees for years http://www.calumetphoto.co.uk/item/RM1902/ and also always carry an old towle too.TThe Seaport is also great when its really sunny too as it shades the screen.
 
Yup I have the seaport one for the laptop and double protect it by having a standard cagool? folded up in pocket and put that over... this also helps to go over me and laptop :)
 
KIPAX said:
I have a camomac from a seller on this very forum.. made to measure for 1d and 400 lens... kept it all dry at northampton where it threw it down.. rain pants (always with me) and big coat.. sorted..

Interestingy the club tog.. got his brolly out and used that...

young girl from locals got soaked and so did her spanking new 300
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All the pro gear is weather sealed anyway though no?
 
Ha - good point. The reason I don't have proper rain covers is that I've spent all my money on kit! Still, a plastic bag does the trick very efficiently for no money - not often you can say that about camera gear.
 
I have the thinktank hydrophobia for my 400, and a towel for the 70-200, nowt for the lappy which is something I need to sort out, many clear bin bags on show today at Chelsea. I knackered my last laptop doing a Big Brother eviction in the rain so I'm very wary of getting this one out, just don't trust placcy bags.
 
I have the usual Weather proof clothing for me. For the kit i got a couple of Canon rain covers off of Ebay (agree with Snapzz though, they can be fiddly). For the laptop i use a griffgear screen shade, then put the laptop in a bin liner and clip the top edge of the bin liner to the edge of the screen shade, seems to work well for me.
 
nowt wrong with tesco freezer bags, theyre just a bit one use before they tear when removing.

these days i opt for stormjackets. tried optech and found they fog up really bad.
 
Can anyone who has a decent cover for their 70-200 advise me on how easy/difficult it is to use, does it make turning the zoom ring anymore difficult? I'm looking to buy one as I bought a cheap cover a while back but it makes zooming impossible.
 
The Canon ones are velcro together with gaps at the bottom to insert your hands. I suppose it depends on the type of zoom action ie trombone or zoom ring and then where the zoom is located. Sigma have them at the far end of the lens making it extremely difficult. Get the right material and make your own, not really difficult.
 
alexw9 said:
Can anyone who has a decent cover for their 70-200 advise me on how easy/difficult it is to use, does it make turning the zoom ring anymore difficult? I'm looking to buy one as I bought a cheap cover a while back but it makes zooming impossible.
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I bought one I think from a guy on here who makes them. It only cost about £15 inc postage. Fits my 40d and 70-200 L with 1.4 on it AND lens hood, no probs. Very easy to use. Comes with a little pouch to keep it in. It never leaves my camera bag. Adjustable velcro at the wide (camera) end, elasticated at the lens end, you put your hands through a gap underneath.

I've been down the plastic cover route and they're rubbish. The bags steam up, rip really easily and take ages to dry. You can get two for £5 or something but why bother when you can get a decent one for about £15?

Lisa
 
alexw9 said:
Can anyone who has a decent cover for their 70-200 advise me on how easy/difficult it is to use, does it make turning the zoom ring anymore difficult? I'm looking to buy one as I bought a cheap cover a while back but it makes zooming impossible.
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great guy in Keighley West Yorks makes great weather covers for all lens, I've one for my 300 & another for the 70-200!, he'll make custom fit ones too if you give him the dimentions:)
He's on ebay as rainydays2008 or contact him/her direct @

ffrances19@btinternet.com
Kind regards Graham.
 
Looks like I will be testing all my wet gear again at Turf Moor tommorow night :( forecast is bad if your out this week guys...
 
Bluesman graham said:
great guy in Keighley West Yorks makes great weather covers for all lens, I've one for my 300 & another for the 70-200!, he'll make custom fit ones too if you give him the dimentions:)
He's on ebay as rainydays2008 or contact him/her direct @

ffrances19@btinternet.com
Kind regards Graham.
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I bought one off him years ago but gave it away as it didnt cover the back of the camera. OK if your only using one body/lens but a nightmare if juggling with two body setup trying not to let the weather hit the camera back.

After re-reading your post maybe hes re-designed them.
 
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