Cameras and rain

[sunnylass]

This has probably already been covered but I just know I keep everyone entertained, so I'm starting a whole new topic on it

I photographed at a pony club yesterday, and it wasnt pouring, but it was drizzling almost the entire time I was there. I kept my camera tucked in under my jacket when I wasnt using it, but it still managed to get wet. Is that bad for cameras? Is there anything I should have done to make sure the camera dried out properly?

It seems fine, but I like to check for future reference. Plus I like this forum

[big pix]

....... you need one of these......

http://abetterphotoguide.bizhosting.com ... ning_.html

[radar]

If you are concerned that moisture got in the lens or camera, what you need to do is put your camera and lens in a large ziploc bag with one of those silicon packs. That should suck out any remaining moisture out of the camera/lens.

The silicon packs are the ones that come with any electronic equipment these days. If you don't have any of these, hardware shops should sell them.

Cheers,

André

[sunnylass]

Excellent, thank you for that.

[losfp]

Yep, silica gel in an airtight container is the best way to dry out afterwards..

I think most DSLRs are pretty good at resisting the odd spot of moisture (especially the higher up the DSLR food chain you climb...), but it doesn't hurt to keep it as dry as possible.

As for protecting it in the rain, I like these: http://optechusa.com/product/detail/?PRODUCT_ID=73

Best of all, you can get them on ebay for $5 for a pack of 2!

[sunnylass]

Gawd even better LOL.

[foonji]

i've always wondered, with the higher up models of dslrs and pro lenses that are 'dust and moisture' sealed... how much can they actually take? can they be in the pouring rain no worries? or should still try and shield them? how well do they resist the elements?

[Oneputt]

foonji why don't you experiment and let us know how you go

[foonji]

haha, because i don't have the luxury of a higher end dslr with seals to try

but i have had my non-sealed dslr in light rain and its been fine

my mate put his ibook under the hose... took 30sec before it died... im sure he'd be happy to hose a voluntary camera

[ATJ]

my mate put his ibook under the hose... took 30sec before it died... im sure he'd be happy to hose a voluntary camera

um... don't you have water restrictions?

[moz]

Wow, here was me just using a plastic bag from the supermarket over the camera body and a rubber band to hold it onto the lens. Works well, but of course it does help to have weather-sealed lenses and a deep hood to keep the rain off the front of the lens.

My experience has been that the weather-sealed stuff is not dishwasher-safe but it will handle a fair drenching. Even the non-sealed stuff is pretty good if you avoid washing it. See "plastic bag" above

There was a bit of hoo-haa on Luminous Landscape a while ago when they had a heap of cameras fail on one of their Antarctic-destroying missions. Apparently some attendees thought that "sealed" still applied when the camera body had no lens on it... so they were changing lenses in the rain and wondering why the camera stopped working. Can't find the link... some discussion of it http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00KDgu

[foonji]

my mate put his ibook under the hose... took 30sec before it died... im sure he'd be happy to hose a voluntary camera

um... don't you have water restrictions?

was watering it, on the right day, as it may of grown and flowered ipods


Thanks Moz

[Laurie]

aaaaaah silicon packs!!
everytime i get one, i chuck it in the bottom of my camera bag where my lens' and camera sit
i have about 5 rolling around in the bottom of my bag

[losfp]

There was a bit of hoo-haa on Luminous Landscape a while ago when they had a heap of cameras fail on one of their Antarctic-destroying missions. Apparently some attendees thought that "sealed" still applied when the camera body had no lens on it... so they were changing lenses in the rain and wondering why the camera stopped working. Can't find the link... some discussion of it http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00KDgu

I remember reading that when it was first published

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essay ... rked.shtml

aaaaaah silicon packs!!
everytime i get one, i chuck it in the bottom of my camera bag where my lens' and camera sit Very Happy
i have about 5 rolling around in the bottom of my bag

The only problem with that is that they are mostly non-indicating - so you don't know how "full" they are I went and bought some ridiculous quantity of indicating silica gel from a chemical supply place (something like 1kg for $20) and now I am never short of dessicants for my pelican case and other camera bags

[gstark]

aaaaaah silicon packs!!
everytime i get one, i chuck it in the bottom of my camera bag where my lens' and camera sit Very Happy
i have about 5 rolling around in the bottom of my bag

The only problem with that is that they are mostly non-indicating - so you don't know how "full" they are

Just stick 'em in the oven for a few.

[Matt. K]

I've had many cameras get a soaking and my method is to pat dry with a lint free cloth and leave the gear out to air dry under a ceiling fan. Never put wet gear back into your camera bag. The sealed container and silica gel method sounds as if it has merit but I must confess I have never tried it. Incidently, the D70 has what I consider to be a design fault in that the top LCD screen has a raised edge which can puddle the water onto the screen. It should have been constructed so that the water could run off. I have never had a camera damaged from continuous light showers but if it starts to pour then up goes the umbrella.