camera and lenses + rain

grahamc

grahamc

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Graham
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In a little over a week, I am off to Italy for the Monza F1 GP :banana:

Now if it rains, how are rain covers? Are they worth it? Will the D300 be fine in the rain?
 
grahamc said:
In a little over a week, I am off to Italy for the Monza F1 GP :banana:

Now if it rains, how are rain covers? Are they worth it? Will the D300 be fine in the rain?
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None of the nikon gear is weather sealed, need to confirm, as its a quote from another thread when talking about taking equipement out in the rain. I use rain covers and equipment stayed dry. You can used a black bag as a cheap option or do a search on TP, I'm sure there lots of threads recommending rain covers.

I use
http://wildlifewatchingsupplies.co.u..._one_cover.htm
Also check out
http://www.eos-magazine.com/EOS Co...ies/index.html
or
http://www.warehouseexpress.com/search/?q=rain covers

Peter
 
thats not good

has anyone used any of these rain covers? looking for personal reviews, etc
 
I took the optech rain covers out of their bag, but haven't fitted them to a camera. They look like they will do the job, so long as water cannot get in between the front element (it is a drawstring close)
 
I've used the Storm Jacket for close to 3 years now. I am happy with it, as it does keep things dry. However, it didn't prevent me from losing a D200 to rain in the middle of August of last year.

That said, if you check what Arkady says about how he puts his Nikon stuff through some grueling environment, you'd be surprised that any of the Nikon stuff would fail due to rain! Sorry that I can't find the thread / posts right now.
 
You can make your own with a decent carrier bag/bin bag and some elastic bands. Obviously not quite as good as a proper camera cover but it's basically free.
 
I've used my D300 in heavy drizzle with no problems. I just kept a towel draped over the lens and camera body.

Also, not worth paying for rain covers IMO - just use bin liner and rubber bands! Edit: As said by Richard above!
 
Go to Boots and get their shower caps (3 for 0.79p i think), that'll protect your camera body. If you use a Royal Mail (red) elastic band, that'll keep it in place around the lens!

A rally tog recommended a shammy leather (that you buy from halfords) to cover your lens to reduce the amount of water that gets on it! Plus you'll still be able to operate it!

Or you can spend loads on a proper one but I find that they are too arkward, the plastic viewing screen steams up and it's difficult to operate all the buttons! Mine stays at home or in the boot of the car!!

Regards,
Carl.
 
pete.rush said:
None of the nikon gear is weather sealed

Peter
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Not true - all Nikon Pro bodies are weathersealed - all of mine have been used in quite heavy rain without harm. Latest Nikon lenses are also weathersealed.
 
I got a rain cover from a guy on here a while back who did a group buy, great little thing it is

I used my D300 outdoors with 17-55 during a wedding service when it rained (also had flash in use to)

all went well but I kept drying it off, Wouldn't be happy out for long periods though

and enjoy the F1
 
pete.rush said:
None of the nikon gear is weather sealed, need to confirm, as its a quote from another thread when talking about taking equipement out in the rain. I use rain covers and equipment stayed dry. You can used a black bag as a cheap option or do a search on TP, I'm sure there lots of threads recommending rain covers.

Peter
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Eh? Yes it is - very well sealed in fact.

I never use rain-covers as I've found they trap more moisture in than without (unless you're in a static position - moving around, water eventually gets under them regardless) and as a few people on here will recall I make no special precautions over rain, other than to wipe the optics regularly...
 
Ok sorry if misinfo, not a Nikon owner and as stated, needed clarification, but did do some digging and although it seems some of the latest lenses have the equivalent of canon's weather seals most nikon lenses don't, I assume that if the lens doesn't have a weather seal, the setup isn't properly weather sealed as in the case with canon 1D bodies and certain L series lenses. So for a true weather seal on your equipment, it's lens + camera that gives the seal.

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=157942&highlight=nikon+rain

It seems that the Nikon camera bodies are Weather Sealing, they comes with rubber O-rings and gaskets which properly seal all the buttons and doors on the camera body to keep out dust and light rain, but not weather sealed.

Peter
 
I appreciate all the responses, thanks!

Arkady said:
Eh? Yes it is - very well sealed in fact.

I never use rain-covers as I've found they trap more moisture in than without (unless you're in a static position - moving around, water eventually gets under them regardless) and as a few people on here will recall I make no special precautions over rain, other than to wipe the optics regularly...
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Now obviously you use the pro kit, but what about the D300 specifically?
 
grahamc said:
I appreciate all the responses, thanks!



Now obviously you use the pro kit, but what about the D300 specifically?
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The button, battery compartment etc have weather sealing on D300, but its not weather sealed, probably ok for light rain, but then again your lens is probably not, so not sure I'd be that brave, I use the camera lens cover on my 1D Mkii and 300mm alot in Wales and rain soaked race circuits and there weather sealed.
 
Excerpt from http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/NikonD300/page3.asp...

DPReview.com said:
There are numerous rubber gasket seals around body seams, controls and compartment doors. Nikon don't claim the camera to be waterproof but it's certainly more 'weather proof' than the average digital SLR. Remember that the camera is only as weather proof as its weakest link, this includes the lens mount and only a few of the more recent Nikkor lenses have rubber seals around the mount ring.
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And as for the D300 being considered 'pro' kit, Nikon certainly does.
 
I know the D300 is not pro kit.... I just know Arkady uses pro kit.

Id rather be safe than sorry, so will be ordering tomorrow. Any recommendations on specific kit would be great!
 
If you need a weather-sealed camera, buy a weather sealed camera.

I realise that doesn't help in the slightest if you've already bought one that isn't...also bear in mind that if I actually paid for my kit, I'd probably be a lot more careful with it - well maybe not - it was my lens that took a dive into a river a couple of months ago...still working...lol

All the 'fast' Nikon optics are classed as 'Pro' as those are the ones we're most likely to buy.
I'll admit that I don't really keep up to date with the latest offerings from any of the manufacturers - I could get by with three lenses: a 17-35 f/2.8; a 28-70 f/2.8 and a 70-200 VR f/2.8 - all three of which are 'Pro' lenses - even though the 17-35 and the 28-70 are at least 15 years old now...

However, I would think a 15 year-old lens would easily be as well-sealed as a new budget lens, wouldn't you?

I think if I were covering a Sports event, I would wrap the cameras in something like the Kata rain-sleeves we get issued (and which I steafastly fail to use), but for 'moving' work, I'd just keep them slung so as to avoid the worst of the rain...
Oh and Coffee Shops offer excellent rain protection, I've found...
 
DigitalRelish said:
:thinking: As above, Nikon classes the D300 as a pro body. See the following web page listing their current range of professional bodies. The D300 is right there!

http://www.europe-nikon.com/family/en_GB/categories/broad/318.html
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Sorry, mis-understanding. I honestly would not have classed it at that level, but its good news for me. Ok so according that quote, then the D300 should be fine against some rain, just not loads of it and "rivers" :)

Arkady said:
If you need a weather-sealed camera, buy a weather sealed camera.

I realise that doesn't help in the slightest if you've already bought one that isn't...also bear in mind that if I actually paid for my kit, I'd probably be a lot more careful with it - well maybe not - it was my lens that took a dive into a river a couple of months ago...still working...lol

All the 'fast' Nikon optics are classed as 'Pro' as those are the ones we're most likely to buy.
I'll admit that I don't really keep up to date with the latest offerings from any of the manufacturers - I could get by with three lenses: a 17-35 f/2.8; a 28-70 f/2.8 and a 70-200 VR f/2.8 - all three of which are 'Pro' lenses - even though the 17-35 and the 28-70 are at least 15 years old now...

However, I would think a 15 year-old lens would easily be as well-sealed as a new budget lens, wouldn't you?

I think if I were covering a Sports event, I would wrap the cameras in something like the Kata rain-sleeves we get issued (and which I steafastly fail to use), but for 'moving' work, I'd just keep them slung so as to avoid the worst of the rain...
Oh and Coffee Shops offer excellent rain protection, I've found...
Click to expand...

Quite honestly, I cannot afford "weather sealed" kit, would love to, just as a hobby it cannot be justified (well not yet). Unless you are offering some kit that no one is using ;) Have to agree about the old VS new kit, if anything would the weather seals not be the first things to go on older lenses?

I am not even go to ask about how a lens takes a dive into a river.... actually I am, WTF happened?

I just want to be able to take pics of the F1 cars, if its raining, fine, but I still want the pics. After that, your coffee shop advise will definitely be taken!

Knowing my luck, Monza will be beautiful and warm... :naughty:
 
The D300 is a pro camera. The D300 is also weather sealed and stands up to a significant amount of rain (know from experience). However, most lenses are less well sealed (especially around the mount), so for the sake of a few quid and peace of mind I would get a rain cover. I use one made by a member of these forums (scoff) and it works perfectly. It has allowed me to keep shooting in lashing rain, blowing sand, saltwater spray etc etc.
 
grahamc said:
...I am not even go to ask about how a lens takes a dive into a river.... actually I am, WTF happened?
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I tripped over during a training-excercise in Norfolk with 3RHA - we were all in a stream following a 'contact' and were advancing towards the 'enemy' positions... **** happens...lol

The water at that point was just deep enough that I couldn't avoid going completely under...everywhere else it was shallower...lol
Two camera bodies and two lenses got dunked - I had that sickening "Oh-No" moment as I looked at the D2Xs still in my hand, fully-submerged underwater...

Here's one from the set I was shooting at the time:
CFX3RHA-002.jpg


Dried them both off very carefully and carried on working - took about 10 minutes of 'Time-Out' before I was back in the game - something I couldn't actually manage in a real-time situation - in that situation, I'd sling the cameras behind me and carry on as a rifleman instead...
 
That is a great shot... was that before or after the dunking ;)

It looks like great fun, however, not sure if I would be saying that if you could not the "time-out"
 
After...lol
I had to tell them to stop laughing...
 
pete.rush said:
None of the nikon gear is weather sealed
Click to expand...

What is the source of this information, I'd like to ask? My D200 as well as D300/D700 and D3/D3x are all weather sealed bodies (better than Canon 5D MkII I'd say considering the last Luminous landscape arctic outing ;)).

The lens are another matter and only some Nikkor lenses have some sort of mount seals but still lenses alone do not constitute all "nikon gear".

Having said that, I have used my D200 in the pouring rain for about 2 hours with Sigma 10-20 and it was absolutely fine (apart from being soaking wet). That is the Nikon weather sealing for you :)
 
Arkady said:
After...lol
I had to tell them to stop laughing...
Click to expand...

Even better then :) Looks like the guy at the back is struggling not to laugh!

dalex_257 said:
What is the source of this information, I'd like to ask? My D200 as well as D300/D700 and D3/D3x are all weather sealed bodies (better than Canon 5D MkII I'd say considering the last Luminous landscape arctic outing ;)).

The lens are another matter and only some Nikkor lenses have some sort of mount seals but still lenses alone do not constitute all "nikon gear".

Having said that, I have used my D200 in the pouring rain for about 2 hours with Sigma 10-20 and it was absolutely fine (apart from being soaking wet). That is the Nikon weather sealing for you :)
Click to expand...

Good to know thanks... Since its personal kit and all, I dont mind a little rain, but if the heavens open, I will want the rain gear.

Thanks for all the responses, been a great help!
 
I guess another "protection" option would be insurance :shrug: ... never checked if I can claim against environmental issues (rain, sandstorm, etc.) but may well be worth looking into?
 
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