Protect Your Gear

Protect your gear in stormy weather - photo by NASA

As fall approaches, this is a good time to start thinking about protecting your gear from winter’s eventual assault.  The season for snow, salt, rain and a general assault of the elements will be upon us.There are a few cameras that are designed to tolerate the rigors of the elements better than others.  Cameras like the Canon 1D, 7D, and the 40D are designed with internal alloy armor and weather seals to provide greater native protection from the elements.  In Nikon that would be models like the D3S and D300S. There’s a reason the weatherized models cost more.  Magnesium-alloy internal shells protect the internals and environment seals protect from dust and dirt.  It takes a lot of engineering and attention to fit and finish to get environment seals up to the standards of professional photographers.
Even with the extra protection, it’s not generally a good idea to to put too much faith in your cameras weather seals.  Anything beyond a light mist and you’ll want to look at some kind of supplemental protection.
Several companies make inexpensive and disposable plastic sleeves for DSLRs.  The OP/Tech brand is the most widely available with the features most photographers prefer.  The plastic sleeve type covers are also available with a flash pocket.  There are even models that not only cover your camera and flash, but do double duty as flash diffusers.  These disposable sleeve type covers are the type I see most often on photography assignments.

It’s always a good idea to have one pocket of your camera vest dedicated to various types of disposable plastic bags and covers, including a disposable rain poncho for yourself.  If there’s room for a small roll of gaffer tape, all the better.  If none of those options are available, a plastic grocery bag and gaffer tape can provide temporary relief, if you can handle the giggles and teasing of your fellow photographers.
Besides a disposable poncho for emergencies, you’ll want a heavier duty poncho for stormy conditions.  Something in between the thin plastic disposables and the military and hunting style ponchos which are really hot and heavy.  This model by Stormtech is roomy but breathable.  There’s enough room inside for your vest, camera and monopod, plus the hood is large enough to shield your face.  Avoid the gray color as it’s harder for drivers to see you, something you’ll appreciate if your fellow photographers push you out into traffic when trying to jostle for position.

I particularly like ponchos because they allow you to sit down and stay sheltered if you have to wait, and you almost always have to wait.If you want something with a little more custom fit for your camera, you can opt for a model like Vortex Media which are made from heavier material, and there are even larger models for extended outdoor work by Canon and others.  They are more difficult to pack around and will not conveniently fit in a vest or jacket product.  Though most models will protect better in extreme weather conditions. Waterproofing doesn’t have to be limited to plastic bags and rain covers, you can also select from a host of reasonably priced camera bags made out of waterproof material, like these models from Case Logic.
For the ultimate protection there isn’t much that can compete with Pelican cases but those are more for transport than trying to work in a wet environment.  Hauling them around is a chore, but when it comes to protection, Pelican products are the gold standard.
With all the protective options available today at prices less than $5.00 USD, there’s no reason your camera and photo equipment should be at risk from a cloud burst or salt spray.