Using the R-D1 in rainy weather?

S

Squonk

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As opposed to many people, I actually like rainy weather for taking pictures. As a city shooter, I find rain and wet pavements (especially when it starts getting darker) create all kinds of lovely reflections and photographic possibilities that are absent in plain sunny weather. See here for some (non R-D1) examples in my flickr stream of what I mean.

I have no qualms about using my R-D1 at 800 or 1600 ISO to cope with the low light. But I'm a bit hesitant to take it out in the rain. So my question is: what's your experience using the R-D1 is wet weather? Encountered any problems? Do you take special measures to protect it?
 
I have taken mine out in a freezing rain and snow. Keep it under the coat when not shooting, and be careful not to get it too wet while you are. So far so good:

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I was shooting a march in NY last summer when a thunderstorm broke. I took shelter, as far as I could, by one of the large windows at the apex of the Flatiron building. I held my R-D1 behind my back, until I found a stream of water was running down my arm and around the hand holding the camera. At that point, we ran around to a more sheltered doorway the other side of the building. The camera was covered with droplets of water; I did my best to dry it using some usefully absorbent female-use products my wife happened to have in her bag and tucked it away in my otherwise very dry Billingham bag.

When it stopped raining the camera worked perfectly, whereas my supposedly waterproof mechanical watch had steamed up (it too three days to dry out). I'd say the R-D1 is at least shower proof…
 
I would be extremely carteful in rain. Last week I was taking some shots outside in serious rain under a roof. So the camera was not under direct rain but wind was blowing against and some raindrops reached the camera. After shooting I realized I had gotten about 10 blank black images out of around 20. After this the problem continued for a while. Luckily the next day after the problem. I have been and will be even more careful with the camera in rain in the future.
 
i do this: i use generally the CV21 on my RD so, in most cases i set one F stop and then gaffer tape it fixed to infinity DOF focus. i just last week shot a week's worth of rainy weather shots on a job and did the same thing, this time cutting a fitted hole in the bottom of a jiffy lock plastic sandwich bag and gaffer taped IT to the barrel edge of the lens. no problems and the jiffy zip let me get in and out of the bag to the SD card and battery compartment and the lens nor body were ever wet. it was a bit clunky with the advance leve but the bag was big enough to allow movement. i went through maybe a dozen bags in the week, as the advance lever does wear the plastic. i just framed by aiming the body of the camera as i was shooting mostly wide activity shots at an action event.

-dd
 
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