Photographing in the Rain

There's encouragement in the word "we." This word implies there will be someone nearby to hold an umbrella over your camera while you shoot. ;-)

Land of the long white cloud, I think that says it all!, I recently took a trip where it rained solidly for the 3 days we were there. I just used an umbrella (on my own) it seemed to do the job.

http://optechusa.com/rainsleeve.html
or maybe
http://optechusa.com/weatherguard.html

I have a Kata rain cover that I seldom use, it's just too inconvenient. What I end up using most often is a freezer bag to cover the camera, and an umbrella to cover the camera and me. I remove the bag at the last moment and make my focus and exposure adjustments and shoot.
I did this through a very rainy trip through the great northwet ;-)
It's much easier if you have an umbrella holder of some kind. I used my jacket pocket and tucked the shaft under my arm. Most convenient ;-(
<Chas>

While it rains many days it doesn't rain all day very often :-)
The only time I got up early and made a rain guard for my camera by the time it came to shoot the rain had stopped and didn't affect filming for the rest of the week.
Currently some areas of the country have a drought so something light and simple would be my choice
Hope you enjoy your trip :-)

Larry,
I shoot a lot in the rain an on the decks of fishing boats where the rain is very salty and I just put my camera in a ziplock bag and zip it up. The corner of the bag is cut so the lenshood sticks out, and I just leave the camera pointing down all day until I shoot. I have a filter on the lens that I just wipe off with napkins if I get water on the lens. While it does eventually remove the coating from the filter, it is sacrificial. I have photographed in the pouring rain all day with this without any real problems. I do depend on the autofocus beep to tell me when it is in focus. I can see the composition ok through the bag and just put my focus point where I want it and listen for the beep. It does make it a little slower shooting action on deck, but if you are doing landscape type stuff it should be pretty easy to set everything before taking the shot. Have fun and good luck!
Mark

I've started using a Think Tank Hydrophobia. It's a bit fiddly to get set up, but really is a great tool for the job. Though it's hard to beat a large (golf-sized) umbrella ... since that also gives you shelter while rooting around in your bag, changing lenses, etc.

I know that this idea may not be practical for you, but I recently found (and turned into a Christmas present by my wife) a mint Nikonos V for sale with extra lens and close up devices, the camera and 35mm f2.5 lens being about $200 including a supply of various O rings and their grease. It has been used to date during both snowstorms and rainstorms, and will get used for the occasional underwater photograph. Nice not to have to worry about gear problems in a rainstorm. Funny how the idea has yet to be used in the digital age, possibly as a small APS size mirrorless but interchangeable lens Nikonos type digital camera, as it would be quite useful.

I live in a wet place. I photograph a lot in the rain. Lens hoods are a must use. Another good thing is a shower cap - clear plastic with elastic you get in hotels. Pull it over the top of the camera. Carry several handkerchiefs to wipe rain off with. And if that's all too complicated - a plastic bag and two rubber bands are all you need. Dry kit off every night and dont leave wet gear in a sealed bag as it will get mouldy.