protect your camera in the rain/snow?

[PhotoGirl]

I know you can't really get your camera wet, so if you want to take photos outside when it's snowing or raining, how would you protect your camera?

[Sebastian]

I keep a garbage bag, rubber bands and some tape in my bag.

[another view]

Disposable shower cap from a hotel room works good too, so does staying in the car and shooting out the window I hear. When you get back inside, leave the camera out of the bag for awhile to make sure it's really had a chance to dry out. This is also one of the few times I might use a UV filter.

[PhotoGirl]

thanks for the tips So, I guess you'd cover most of the camera and just have the lens sticking out to take the shot?

[another view]

So, I guess you'd cover most of the camera and just have the lens sticking out to take the shot?

Yup. Lens hoods help here - they're really designed to cut flare, but you won't have that on a rainy day of course. They will shield the front lens element and keep rain off it though.

[PhotoGirl]

thanks, another view.
Is it difficult to see thru the shower cap when looking into the viewfinder?

[SmartWombat]

There are expensive professional products out there.
I've found using a €0,50 disposable see through poncho worked really well.
Elastic band to hold it in place on the lend hood (stopped rain falling on the lens).

Yes, it will make it difficult to see the viewfinder, but with AF (well AF that works) it's not too much of an issue. Flash is another matter entirely !!


Professional Canon bodies (1D, 1DMkII, 1DmkIIN, 1DS, 1DSmkII) are not waterproof, but weatherproof, and the 70-200 L lens has a rubber seal on the rear for the lens mount, so as a whole for showers I'd be OK not to have special protection. But for pouring rain? Definitely even on the pro bodies.

Canon20D is not weatherproof, and needs more looking after, as I expect will the 5D, 300, 350 and other consumer models.

[PhotoGirl]

thanks SmartWombat