Camera gear in the snow?

[jimmy156]

Do/would you guys take your camera gear out when its snowing?

I wanted to take a walk around Petworth park today to take some shots of the deer in the snow but its been snowing persistently all day so i have decided against it.

I'm not sure if im being overly precious about my gear though, if it was drizzling with rain not snow i definitely wouldn't have gone, none of my gear is weather sealed so i don't like to take the risk. However i have half a feeling the snow would brush off before it could cause a problem?

Why cant its snow and then have nice clear blue skies!

[AndrewEH1]

What camera gear do you have? Most of the mid/high level kit has reasonable weather resistance, for Canon anyway.

I'd happily take my gear out in light drizzle/rain and towel it off afterwards.

If you carry it in a shoulder bag and only take it out when you are shooting that will reduce the exposure dramatically.

[jimmy156]

AndrewEH1 said:

What camera gear do you have? Most of the mid/high level kit has reasonable weather resistance, for Canon anyway.

I'd happily take my gear out in light drizzle/rain and towel it off afterwards.

If you carry it in a shoulder bag and only take it out when you are shooting that will reduce the exposure dramatically.

Camera is a 50d, which i know has some sealing. I would be more worried about my sigma lens, which has no sealing at all. Shooting wildlife you tend to need to have the camera round your neck the whole time, as you'll miss the shot if you need to get your camera out of a bag first!

[paul911]

Stick it in a carrier bag with a hole for the lense and held in place with an elastic band. I've done that before when its raining.

[14-7]

paul911 said:

Stick it in a carrier bag with a hole for the lense and held in place with an elastic band. I've done that before when its raining.

See lots of people doing this with their gear rather or just go and buy a cover for it.

[JimmyTheHand]

jimmy156 said:

Do/would you guys take your camera gear out when its snowing?

None of the gear I am likely to take out would have an issue in snow (my gear is mainly weather sealed) and I have used it in light snow before and heavy rain (batteries don't like cold so may be issue)

However the gear may have a major issue if falling to ground as I slipped over - so stuff I can easily leave hanging safely (i.e. only the lighter/smaller lenses and not the 400mm or 600mm)

[AndrewEH1]

jimmy156 said:

Camera is a 50d, which i know has some sealing. I would be more worried about my sigma lens, which has no sealing at all. Shooting wildlife you tend to need to have the camera round your neck the whole time, as you'll miss the shot if you need to get your camera out of a bag first!

I used to use a 50D, one thing I noticed when it got pretty wet is the 'Q' button, the multi-direction one, stopped working but after it had dried out to worked fine!

[HoHoHo]

Yes, but with sensible use of my camera bag.

[RobDickinson]

Snow isnt too bad so long as its cold and dry. just blow it off before it melts.

[JustinMinns]

I dont worry too much about light rain or drizzle but I have some cheap optech rain covers for anything persistent... basically a glorified plastic bag with a drawstring to tighten around the lens and a hole so you can put the eyecup over it but you can operate the camera with it on and it keeps stuff dry

[markmullen]

I go out in all weathers with mine.

[jimmy156]

Hmm looks like i need to be a bit less cautious then, will put a plastic bag and some elastic bands in my camera bag for next time

[Simpo Two]

If it's snowing you're probably wearing a coat - stick it down there and just bring it out to take a photo. You can shield the lens briefy if required with your hand.

[andrewrob]

Another tip to remember is when you bring it back into the warm, stick it in a sealing food bag or similar so as the camera/lens warms up again the condensation collects mostly on the bag instead of the inside of your lens/body.

[Kinkyboots]

i have a cover that attaches to the lens and covers the camera alternatively i normal use an umbrella to help keep it dry.

[tenohfive]

I took mine out for a few hours whilst it was snowing heavily. Had it out for extended lengths of time and it was wet to the touch.

It was fine. It's a 400D so if there is any weather sealing I doubt it's particularly effective, but spending at least 45 minutes exposed to the weather (plus a while more inside my camera bag) and it dried out nicely.

I did consider taking my rain cover out but decided to chance it without:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/cover-Camera-Protector-Can...

[Simpo Two]

Kinkyboots said:

i have a cover that attaches to the lens and covers the camera alternatively i normal use an umbrella to help keep it dry.

Back in the days of 35mm SLRs and 50mm lenses most cameras had 'ever-ready' cases - basically a flip-top case that fixed to the tripod socket. But the rise of zooms seem to have killed them off.

[Thunderace]

Simpo Two said:

Back in the days of 35mm SLRs and 50mm lenses most cameras had 'ever-ready' cases - basically a flip-top case that fixed to the tripod socket. But the rise of zooms seem to have killed them off.

Also known as 'never-ready' cases

[MonkeyHanger]

Storm Jackets for me...

http://www.warmcards.com/SJ1.html

I got mine from the States 5 or 6 years ago before they were available here. I paid a lot less than Warehouse Express are selling them for.

[jimmy156]

Thunderace said:

Simpo Two said:

Back in the days of 35mm SLRs and 50mm lenses most cameras had 'ever-ready' cases - basically a flip-top case that fixed to the tripod socket. But the rise of zooms seem to have killed them off.

Also known as 'never-ready' cases

I have one of those for my old Pentax ME Super. Don't think i'd find one to fit a Canon 50d with a 120-400mm zoom lens