Shooting in the rain.

[rbsinto]

Got caught in a torrential downpour years ago without a jacket or raincoat, and had to walk miles to get back to the car.
Next day, I noticed that I couldn't see anything in the viewfinder of my Nikon F.
Removed the prism to find water on the focusing screen. I removed the film , took off the prism, motordrive, and pulled out the focusing screen, did some sopping up inside the focusing screen well with Q-tips, and let everything dry out on a towel for a few hours.
Re-assembled and everything was good as new.
A plastic bag or a rain-proof nylon jacket that will protect the camera when you're not actually shooting with it are easy solutons to the rain problems if what you use isn't as robust as an old all mechanical Nikon film camera.
Another handy accessory to carry is a Maid of the Mist type throw-away plastic pancho that can be balled up for storage in a jacket or vest pocket until needed.

 

[blw]

Funny you should ask larky. Lately I've taken to wearing my camera around my neck as I ride my bicycle to work, so that I can make quick grab shots of people on the sidewalk, etc. Well this morning I walked out to find it starting to rain just a bit and I couldn't even spare the few seconds to put my camera in my backpack. No photos and only a few drops and all seems well, but then my camera is an M4-2 and there's no electronics to worry over. Also the lens cap stayed on.

All that being said, if I had seen anything on the street to shoot, I would have tried to get it. As it were the rain kept everyone inside.

 

[furcafe]

As far as techniques for shooting in the rain, if you're using an umbrella, just load the camera w/fast(ish) film & zone focus. If the shutter speeds are high enough (e.g., 1/125th sec. & faster), then you can shoot 1-handed w/a little practice.

So I just went for a walk with the camera, wanted to try my hand at documenting the area around my house. I discovered two things:

a: suburbia can be really dull and,

b: shooting in the rain is tough.

I didn't take one shot. Why? It was pi$$ing it down. I had my M6 with me, an umbrella. I don't own a hooded garment which is waterproof. I was unable to get anything because of the rain, so my question is do you do it, and how?

 

[brainwood]

Only just spotted this thread larky but I too have been shooting in the rain. Last friday I was out around Oxford St in the rain with my little Rollei 35. Its a small camera so easy to keep fairly dry and like AlistairO I dry it out thoroughly before putting it away. I have a hooded snow boarding top I use as a waterproof on the bike ( I commute into town on a M/bike) which is great for wet weather shooting it has such huge sleeves I can shelter the camera in there until I spot a shot. I wouldnt think twice about shooting with my Leicas in the rain iether.. the are made for using and that doesnt just mean fair weather to me.

 

[cambolt]

Honestly though, would you be willing to put $1000+ worth of leica in the rain even if it is fully mechanical? I wouldn't take my $100 spotmatic in the rain for fear of water getting to the mechanisms and fouling them up. Is it just me though?

 

[brainwood]

I would'nt be standing out in the open with the camera exposed to the rain in a torrential downpour No. But you dont need to do that to take shots in the rain - limit the time the camera is actually 'out' in the rain, stick it under your jacket when not up to the eye and you can always shoot from more sheltered spot.

Old manual cameras are tough old beasts and I wouldnt worry to much about a little rain particulary if make sure you dry it out afterwards

 

[Neare]

Honestly though, would you be willing to put $1000+ worth of leica in the rain even if it is fully mechanical? I wouldn't take my $100 spotmatic in the rain for fear of water getting to the mechanisms and fouling them up. Is it just me though?

If the old Leica's could withstand war zones, they can probably put up with a little bit of water.

I think everyone has to ask themselves what is more important, the photo or the camera?

 

[charjohncarter]

Nice shots, Peter(m1).

 

[semilog]

Honestly though, would you be willing to put $1000+ worth of leica in the rain even if it is fully mechanical? I wouldn't take my $100 spotmatic in the rain for fear of water getting to the mechanisms and fouling them up. Is it just me though?

If we were unwilling to photograph in the rain, those of us living in Seattle, Vancouver, Portland, and other rainy places around the globe wouldn't get to spend much time taking pictures.

I take my SLRs and DSLRs out in the rain, too. This was in rain, and it quickly turned into torrential rain and sleet. After a week of hiking including 3 days of backpacking on the Olympic Peninsula in the winter, with it raining more often than not, there was some condensation in the finder of my (non weather-sealed) DSLR. Both it and my M6 worked flawlessly throughout.

 

[Hamel]

Shooting in the rain can be fun and gives a very moody feel to the photograph. The work of Saul Leiter is a great example of what can be achieved by shooting in inclement weather. I just try to keep the glass dry and wipe down the camera when I can. It also helps to have a beater camera or two for shooting in less than ideal weather, such as a Pentax K1000. Think of it as 'disposable'.

 

[rudolf]

I don't know where is the point - I mean you all have small cameras, so if you use both hands, you can both protect your gear of water (holding the umbrella), and take picture (holding your camera and pressing the shutter button).
So go and take some rainy photos! 🙂

 

[buckpago]

bring umbrella, hold the camera and umbrella at the same time by the right hand. umbrella must be lower enough to be stable but high enough not to block you lens.

 

[Ace0fClub5]

I shot with my M5 quite a bit durring the rainy season in Tokyo, and it was just fine.
I had an umbrella, but manual focusing and holding an umbrella is impossible, so I would end up closing the umbrella and hooking it to my bag so I could shoot freely. Just made sure to wipe off raindrops with a small towel.

Really can't beat the contrast and reflections that rain brings out!

MaidRunner by Ace0fClub5, on Flickr

 

[brainwood]

Great shot Buck Pago. I love the motion blur - like an expressionist drawing.

I noticed a photographer in Oxford Street London with an umbrella over his tripod mounted DSLR in heavy rain but then he had an assistant to hold the umbrella. Not a bad idea maybe I should try bribing my kids ! ;-)

 

[johannielscom]

About to roll today, with a Topcon IC-1 that got no takers in the Xmas thread, and TriX.

P*ss pouring rain at times today, and I'm NOT planning on wiping the camera even once, I want to see what my small home town looks like when both it and my camera are wet from the rain.

Keep you guys posted if I get anything worthwhile to post here. Tada for now!