Keeping Your Camera Dry During the Rains
June 22, 2007
Now that monsoons are here again, I’ve decided to break my long sabbatical from photography. All my carefully wrapped (read dumped inside an available cupboard) equipment has been dusted off, tested and prepared for another pounding from the elements. All I need to do now is go to the store and buy some film and I’m ready for action.
There is one teensy problem though – monsoons bring rain. And my camera is not a good friend with water. If I have to get down to shooting in this weather, I need to find a way to keep water away from my equipment or risk irreparable damage to it.
You can buy fancy water-proofing equipment to keep your camera dry if you have a few thousand to spare. But I need something that is easier on the pocket and will instead try one of the methods outlined here.
The snappiest method, and one which allows you to continue using your camera while it is raining consists of one or more plastic bags wrapped around your camera body and some rubber bands to close the open ends.
The type of bag you use depends on the size of your camera. If it’s a small compact, you can use a medium Ziploc bag, with a small hole cut out for the lens. Retracting lenses that most compacts have are a bit of a problem because they leave a gaping hole in the bag once they’re drawn in. Use a second bag, one without a hole cut into it, to wrap the first one safely while you’re not shooting, or put the camera into your pack.
If you’re using a larger camera with a fixed lens or a SLR, use two bags – one to go around the camera body, and snap the mouth shut around the lens using a rubber band. Wrap a second bag with a hole cut into the bottom around the lens. Snap both ends shut with a rubber band. If you want to be a bit more protective, drop a sachet of drying agent into the bag containing the camera body to absorb the condensation.
Stand under an umbrella with this setup and you’re assured of complete protection in most circumstances.
If there’s a mild shower, which will probably pass in a few minutes, and you can’t be bothered to put away all your equipment while you wait, cover your camera and tripod with a large polythene garbage bag. Pull off the bag once the rain stops and you’re back in action. Be careful, however, not to get the insides of the bag wet or else it will not serve its purpose.
Storing your Equipment
The real damage to a camera happens only after coming out of the rain, if it is stored improperly. The moisture that creeps into the crevices can corrode metallic parts or damage the electronics. Don’t pack the camera away immediately after you return. Remove the lens if they are detachable, and gently wipe the exposed edges with a blotting paper or soft anti-static cloth. Leave the camera under a fan or a strong lamp for a while to dry it off completely. Then package everything into a polythene bag with a sachet of drying agent put in for good measure.
Miscellaneous Tips
In addition, if you’re using a digital camera, be sure to keep the memory cards free of moisture. Don’t worry if one does get a bit wet. It’ll be fine after it dries again. But you don’t want to use a wet or moist memory card and short your camera. The best way is to carry a small Ziploc bag to store your memory cards.
It also helps to carry a dry cloth and some extra polythene bags to use in case the means above prove inadequate.