I like photographing cities in bad weather, but I do not want to carry a full rain setup for an afternoon walk.
For light rain I usually keep the camera under my jacket between shots and carry a small microfiber cloth plus a simple plastic cover. That seems enough until the rain gets steady, at which point I mostly worry about water around buttons and the lens mount.
For ordinary weather-sealed gear, where do you personally draw the line between “keep shooting” and “put it away”?
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I carry about the same as you for city walks, and I keep going until the rain becomes steady enough that the cloth can’t keep up. At that po...
I carry about the same as you for city walks, and I keep going until the rain becomes steady enough that the cloth can’t keep up. At that point it’s less about bravery and more about not letting water sit around the mount and controls.
A jacket pocket is my “short pause” solution, not my whole plan.
Same, though I’m a little more cautious with long sessions. If I’m switching lenses or standing still for a while, I put it away sooner.
Moving through the city is one thing; lingering under a dripping awning is another.
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I’m still unsure where that line is with heavier mist versus real rain. Mist feels annoying but survivable, while actual droplets on the len...
I’m still unsure where that line is with heavier mist versus real rain. Mist feels annoying but survivable, while actual droplets on the lens make me stop almost immediately.
Does anyone treat drizzle as basically fine if the camera is weather sealed?
Drizzle is fine for me if I can keep the front element clean. Once the drops start landing faster than I can wipe them, I bail.
The sealing buys patience, not endless time.
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For me the line is less about rain and more about whether I can keep the lens front dry enough to keep working. Light rain is fine if I can...
For me the line is less about rain and more about whether I can keep the lens front dry enough to keep working. Light rain is fine if I can wipe between shots; steady rain is when the cloth stops being enough.
Weather sealing helps, but it doesn’t make the camera magic-proof.
I’d add that the controls matter more than people think. Buttons and dials can get annoying long before the body is actually in danger.
If I’m fumbling because my hands are cold and wet, that’s usually my cue to stop.