would you take your camera out in light drizzle?

mysterio84

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No
Im itching to get out and i guess its even stupid of me to think about going out, but it is drizzling fairly lightly and i would be going to a park wo i would be under the trees and stuff.

not such a good idea?
 
ive been thinking the same as you mysterio!

Ive been to a few motorsport events now and not taken any pictures because there has been drizzle!

Im interested to see what everyone says here!

Mine is a Canon 400D
 
Taken the 400D out a few times when its been drizzleing, still works fine, apart from the on board flash went a bit stiff and wouldnt pop up unless helped....
Just took it apart, cleaned the sping off and now its good as new.

Should be fine!


ive been thinking the same as you mysterio!

Ive been to a few motorsport events now and not taken any pictures because there has been drizzle!

Im interested to see what everyone says here!

Mine is a Canon 400D
 
Probably not

If I had to, then of course (i.e. during a Wedding)

But I've had a bad experience with rain - didn't affect the camera at all (Nikon you see :lol:) but I had spots of water on the lens, and didn't realise for about an hour

I was using the 12-24 at the time at about f8 for max quality and more than enough DoF - so every sodding spot of water was recorded ruining the whole (and unrepeatable at the time) shoot

So, while I don't worry unduly for the camera, I do fret about spot on the lens

DD
 
Would I take my camera out in light drizzle? Yes

Would I take your camera out in light drizzle? No
 
i wouldnt unless its really light drizzle, but thats just me :D
 
why is that?
is it because it is a cheap camera?

Basically, yes. Your camera doesn't have any weatherproofing seals, so if you get it wet you run the risk of water getting in somewhere.

Of course you could just wrap it in a plastic bag or an Op/tech Rainsleeve -problem sorted :thumbs:
 
cheers guys, and sorry for hijacking the thread!

Where is the best place to get a rain coveR?

Dion!
 
why is that?
is it because it is a cheap camera?

It depends, Some of the Canon range are classed as weatherproof, typically the 1series with L lenses. Hence you can get away with a lot more in terms of abuse. Not so much to do with price (although they are, by nature horrendously expensive) but the way they are built :)

I'm trying to be diplomatic here Flash!!!:thinking:
 
This is the thing I really want to know. I'm getting a 5D mk2 which I know is weather proofed, but what about the lens? I've not got an L yet but I'm working on it. But in general are lenses fine in the rain or is it not recommended. I use Sigma and Canon lenses.
 
I have had my 350D out in pretty bad rain a few times, using various lenses, from kit lens, to nifty, 10-20, 17-40. It never complained once, have also had the 40D out in the same conditions, but that is supposed to have 'some' weather sealing.

Take a cloth with you and just keep drying it when you have taken some shots and keep it under your coat when not shooting I would say. As DD says rain on the front of the lens is the biggest b****r of all, just keep checking! and hold the camera lens down all the time.
 
It's also the seal between the two. You need to consider the combination, not just one or the other.

It also depends on the lens, some are a fixed length, then there are things like the 100-400mm that acts like a pair of bellows! You'd need to refer to the makers specs. or just use a raincover (poly bag) for the lot.
 
I think a rain cover is probably the sensible way to go with this to avoid tears in the long run.
 
i have been shooting in heavy ish rain for a couple of hours with my 400D wiped it down every so often, never had a problem.
 
i have been shooting in heavy ish rain for a couple of hours with my 400D wiped it down every so often, never had a problem.

It could take upto 4 months for damage to show.
Its not just a case of shorting out circuits. My 20D had corrosion growth on the connections and pcb
 
well it has been well over 6 months since and was still fine!
 
Both my D300 and D70s have spent lots of time out in the rain, but a simple cover made from a carrier bag with a hole cut in closed end for lens, and an elastic band to hold in place should give enough protrction. Carry a small tea towel too for wiping down.
 
had my 400d out many a time at donnington in the pouring rain ! carrier bag and laccy band does the trick nicelly, using a nice lens hood seems to keep the front element sorted too !
 
I feel mean now, I dont bother with any of that covering for my D300, I just go out in the rain. I did fashion a lens hood for the nifty from an old sigma one I had on my minolta years ago, just to help keep any rain off the front of the lens.
 
Light drizzle is about fine, just carry with you a towel to wipe off the water, and make sure it is covered somehow, as has been suggested.

For heavier rain, personally, after the horrid incident with my D200 back in August, I am no longer keen on going out in the rain even with a cover. I am sure mine is just a incident, just as with my recent laptop death .. but it just got me paranoid and cost me £££.

Still, if you are going to go out in the rain, make sure you don't change your memory card and / or battery except in a very dry place and when your camera has been well dried off. Even then give it a while to make sure there are no water droplets that may sneak in .. that will fry your camera.
 
If you don't take it out when it is raining/drizzle then there can be no concerns.
 
If you want to take photos and it is raining then (IMO) go out an take photos. Just prepare for the weather.

I have done 2-3 hours on a beach in heavy (running down my leg on the inside of my trousers) rain. I used a rain cover that went from my lens hood all the way back over the camera and would hang down behind the camera - leaving only the tripot mount clear. The camera and lens stayed perfectly dry and there was no salt ingress.

Now, that is extreme but my rainguard is only a simple waterproof sleeve, nothing special. If it is light rain I wouldn't even bother, just stick camera & lens under my coat while I'm not shooting and twoell off regularly.
 
Although if you are being paid or have said you will do a particular shoot you do not always have a choice if you want to keep your reputation good ;)


In which case I'd strongly suggest getting yourself and your gear insured :shrug:
 
I was using the 12-24 at the time at about f8 for max quality and more than enough DoF - so every sodding spot of water was recorded

You want to be using a decent macro lens for water droplets not a wide:cuckoo: You darksiders know nothing:razz:
 
In which case I'd strongly suggest getting yourself and your gear insured :shrug:

Thats it, once my camera was insured, it felt invincible. Use it in the rain if need be and no problems with the camera, but as said, rain drops are a pain in the arse on the lens:lol:
 
I don't mind you asking.

I was out hiking with my daughter; it was poring rain, one of the worst rains I've seen in my life. Still, I know the D200 is a very robust camera and very well sealed, plus I had it in a StormJacket rain cover. We walked for a couple of hours up river, there I changed memory making sure I kept the camera out of the rain while doing so. As a matter of fact, I made sure the camera was always dry.

Anyways, the whole day when without any problems - as far as the camera was concerned; but we were just totally covered in rain .. it's as if we took a dip in the river.

Got home, all was fine, dried off the camera a bit more .. just in case there was the odd water drop here or there ... took out the memory card from the camera (used 2 cards for the whole walk). All of a sudden the camera wouldn't start up again.

Gave it a couple of days to dry out .. still no go. Had to send it to Nikon who told me there was evidence of water leaking in, and the whole motherboard had to be replaced. It cost me £165 to repair.
 
I think the real issue associated with drizzle and mist at this time of the year is the "cold humidity" that comes with it. Spend some time out in that, then the camera becomes cold. Bring it into a warm house and everything gets steamed up with condensation - inside and outside! Can't do it much good, or that's just me being paranoid?
If I really WANT to shoot pictures in these cold damp murky misty winter days, I bring my S5600 or my knockabout Fuji A900 with me. My D40 stays indoors until the weather becomes kinder. :)
 
I don't mind you asking.

I was out hiking with my daughter; it was poring rain, one of the worst rains I've seen in my life. Still, I know the D200 is a very robust camera and very well sealed, plus I had it in a StormJacket rain cover. We walked for a couple of hours up river, there I changed memory making sure I kept the camera out of the rain while doing so. As a matter of fact, I made sure the camera was always dry.

Anyways, the whole day when without any problems - as far as the camera was concerned; but we were just totally covered in rain .. it's as if we took a dip in the river.

Got home, all was fine, dried off the camera a bit more .. just in case there was the odd water drop here or there ... took out the memory card from the camera (used 2 cards for the whole walk). All of a sudden the camera wouldn't start up again.

Gave it a couple of days to dry out .. still no go. Had to send it to Nikon who told me there was evidence of water leaking in, and the whole motherboard had to be replaced. It cost me £165 to repair.

That is a bit of bad luck.
My girlfriend and her family had a family portrait done a few weeks back and the photographer was explaining that he was photographing in the river and slipped, fell in and if i remember correctly ruined something like £3000 worth of equipment. That was in south wales.
 
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