Equipment against rain and damp

[Gohan]

Hello everybody. My camera is HP 735 and I would like to know if there is any equipment against rain for such model. Tell me your ideas about photographating early in the morning when the air is very damp. Is it save to use digital camera at such conditions?

[trevor_little]

As far as rain goes - dont even think about it, i dont know about that model in particular, but if one drop gets through your done. There is generic underwater casing if you are really insistant upon it, check bhphoto or henrys or something for it.
In terms of early morning shooting, go nuts - if you are planning on going for a few weeks in the jungle its probably not the best camera, but any early morning shootnig you are planning on doing you should be fine. Just when you come back inside take it out of your camera bag and let it air out for a bit just as a precaution.

happy shooting,
cheers,
Trevor

[Sebastian]

Hello everybody. My camera is HP 735 and I would like to know if there is any equipment against rain for such model. Tell me your ideas about photographating early in the morning when the air is very damp. Is it save to use digital camera at such conditions?

Plastic bags work great, just cut a hole for the lens and drape it over the cam.

[opus]

Seb, I was told Ziploc bags are great too. Just "zip" them up around the lens so the lens is just barely sticking out.

[Gohan]

Not a bad advice, but on the other hand, I don't think that it is safe to keep camera in a plastic bag in rain, some drops would nevertheless get in,and if not, then I think that lens are also afraid of water, would the mechanism not break down?
And talking about damp conditions, the plastic bag is absolutely unsuitable!

[opus]

I was given that advice by a famous, world travelling published photographer who's taken something like 5 million slides in all sorts of climates.

I googled "protecting your camera in damp conditions" and found this:
http://www.phototakers.com/forum/ftopic10382.html
http://photos.msn.com/resources/targ...meraLast_p.htm
http://www.idfishnhunt.com/fstops13.htm

[Sebastian]

Nope, the plastic bag is pretty much standard fare. Ask any working photog. Also in heavy use are the LL Rue styled rain covers, which are essintially waterproof nylon sheets that velcro or tie to your gear. In light drizzle I don't even bother with a cover, I just wipe the drops off and keep shooting.

One drop will not break down any mechanism. My lenses are weather sealed, and if it does come down to heavy rain, I only cover the body. In the past I have been out in rain with lenses that were not sealed and have had no isses, and neither have lots of other people.

Use some common sense and don't be paranoid, these things are not as fragile as you think.

[Gohan]

OK buddies, I shall try to shoot in early very damp morning with no fear, even although my acquaintance has spoiled his cam by leaving it outside per night.
I believe in you!

[Sebastian]

OK buddies, I shall try to shoot in early very damp morning with no fear, even although my acquaintance has spoiled his cam by leaving it outside per night.
I believe in you!

Leaving it out over night?

The battery won't last that long. But besides that, to fight condensation and possible rain, a ziplock bag with a baggy or two of dessicant inside will work wonders.

[Gohan]

Leaving it out over night?

The battery won't last that long. But besides that, to fight condensation and possible rain, a ziplock bag with a baggy or two of dessicant inside will work wonders.

Camera was left over night being turned off, in the morning it didn't go on. Secondly, decide yourself whether to use nothing in a damp or two ziplock bags.


So?

[Sebastian]

No, YOU decide.

Is the problem condensation, or rain? And why would you leave a camera out overnight turned off?

Anyway, condensation probably won't cause damage, but it will fog the lens, hence my advice with the dessicant, the bag is to protect it in case of a downpour.

Like I said, use some common sense. If it gets soaked, it's toast, but condensation won't damage it, but it can ruin images if it's on the lens.

[opus]

Your buddy should change his battery, then try again.

Use the bags. You'll feel better. And bring a spare battery that you keep dry. If your battery goes dead from the damp then you can change it.

[Sebastian]

What is meant by "damp" in this thread? I think I might be misunderstanding something here, I have never seen the word used in such a way.

[Sebastian]

Read this:

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-...?msg_id=000nUU

[Gohan]

The camera left outside over the night was an example that damp (not rain) damages cameras. So shooting early in the morning is dangerous too I think. There is no way out - using a bag, the camera will not breathe, but damp will nevertheless get in. So maybe it is better to use nothing in order to let the cam to breathe. The best solution would be absolutely waterproof bag, then the damp would not reach the camera.

But there aren't such things for my model, that's where the problem is..