camera gear

Another option is a bag/case with an optical quality aperture so you dont have to expose the camera to the elements to take a shot The below link is a search page on aliexpress with a few options http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?catId=0&initiative_id=SB_20150201003618&SearchText=waterproof+camera+bag

there are eVent dry bags, waterproof and air permeable. bivouac sold them, http://www.bivouac.co.nz/sea-to-summit-evac-dry-sack.html look for a weather sealed camera... that's what my Olympus is. or get a fully waterproof camera. put some rice in a dry bag if you're going to get a camera bag, take your camera into a shop and get it sized correctly, its easy to get an incorrectly shaped bag because of the sheer variety of cameras now, and buy the bag from the shop, not that you wouldn't... since you're taking their time and using their stock for sizing,

Thanks for the ideas. I'd forgotten abou the waterproof cases. I generally prefer to go for a camera I can get to take photos I like before looking for waterproof/shockproof ones, which narrow down the choice a lot. I figure I can just look after it without dropping it for the shock-proof side, but avoiding taking it out in the rain isn't something I want to do. Does stuff like eVent and Gore-Tex even work if you don't have a heat source inside? I can't remember the theory behind them, but for some reason I'd thought the breathing for things like raincoats had something to do with body heat. A camera wouldn't have that.

With all waterproof cases or bags - put the camera in dry, with a desicant (rice works) and seal it. Don't open it. Having said that - I've never had to own my own case or bag. In the hills I carry the camera nestled in a travel towel in a dry box (clippitt case bought in the supermarket). Out in heavy rain a plastic bag with the end of the lens poked through a stretched hole works like a rain coat for the camera. The towel claims most of the moisture when returned to the case, and gets dried out at night. and I wish I had something better for all those great shots I've missed in storms.

I simply carry a light travel umbrella on week-long trips, with a clamp that holds it to the tripod. Total weight = ~250g. Disconnect the umbrella when shooting so that the wind doesn't move the tripod. Works well. Alan

hmm an umbrella in the tararuas. never seen one of those there before... might have something to do with the extreme wind?

I can confirm that it doesn't work very well. https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5085/5267716511_1475eed085_n.jpg

How much water does it take to kill a camera? My fuji something complete with unshrouded usb ports on the outside was protected only by its factory bag when I took a dunking in the orongaonga riverThe bag had to be rung out but the camera didnt complain

I have managed to completely submerge two cheap point and click cameras in the last six months and both were working again perfectly well after a few days drying out.

"How much water does it take to kill a camera?" I had a point and shoot camera a couple of years ago that got wet from the rain and still worked perfectly fine afterwards. When I dried it out, however, water had gotten inside and dried on the inside of the camera lens leaving lovely water spots which were impossible to remove. Took photos fine, the photos just weren't worth the pixels they were made of!