NikoDoby said:
I didn't know they had "wrappers" that small. I always use extra large. :^)

Didn't you know Niko, that it's not about the gear size but how you use it. ;p

poster said:
Better be safe than sorry. I don't pull out my gear if it ain't wrapped.

I didn't know they had "wrappers" that small. I always use extra large. :^)

spraynpray said:
"So at this time it would look like the bag is giving birth to your lens and its head is crowning"

Thanks for putting that image in my mind while I'm eating my breakfast Nikoner! 8^\

You are welcome spraynpray, this means my third language english is improving.

But now you probably have some idea what image conjures up in my mind when I read your benign username.

Tao:

Not a bad idea at all, but you probably need to circumcise it for the lens to peep out, no?

I wonder if I should have bought the pull / push version of 80-200 f/2.8 instead of the 2 ring one!!! It would probably give a good intimate feel to shooting randomly in the rain.

I never have but. I thought that condoms would probably work great. Tight fitting to find all the buttons, provide more feeling and rarely tear during action. :)

Both the Kata and Ewa-Marine rain capes seem like great products (both make rain capes specifically for DSLRs). Both look good and functional. Been meaning to get one of these for a while (for full-sized video cameras, Portabrace raincovers are great, and are what we use at work).

Thank you guys for all the advice
no one is suggesting i don't need any protection and as I don't want to trust plastic bags, i am gong to try a Hydrophobia, will let all know how I get on
again thanks for your help

"So at this time it would look like the bag is giving birth to your lens and its head is crowning"

Thanks for putting that image in my mind while I'm eating my breakfast Nikoner! 8^\

poster said:
Better be safe than sorry. I don't pull out my gear if it ain't wrapped.

ohhhhhhh geez....

anyway i have the kata rain cover as well. It seems to do the job.

Better be safe than sorry. I don't pull out my gear if it ain't wrapped.

Another vote for plastic bags.

sevencrossing said:
So what do people recommend if I want to use a D700 in the pouring rain , we get a lot of it in the UK
Anyone tried or used the Think Tank Hydrophobia

I hear good things about the Think Tank Hydrophobia, but I haven't used it.

I use the Kata rain cover seen in that video. I used to use plastic bags, but they were always ripping while I was out shooting, so it wasn't a good solution long term.

I'm seeing several references to the Op/Tech raincoat... I'm not sure if it's the same product, but I've been using their Rainsleeve for a while and I'm a fan... it mounts quickly, stores easily, and works well. It's a dogleg-shaped affair, the leg with the drawstring goes over the lens and is long enough for all but the longest teles, while the other part of the dogleg goes over the camera and is long enough to cover your tripod head as well (a ball head anyway... if you've got a three-way with handles sticking out this may not be the case).

A small hole in the plastic stretches over your viewfinder... if you put it on carefully, you can reuse it but if you stretch the hole too much you'll have to toss it after one use or hold it on with tape.

At two for five bucks it has to be one of the best bargains in photo gear... even if you never intentionally shoot in stormy weather, I consider this an essential accessory to keep in your camera bag for emergencies, along with a couple of garbage bags to cover the bag itself and yourself if need be.

This is the reason why I keep a garbage bag in my backpack. Where I am at, soccer season overlaps with rain season. So if it’s a light drizzle, I cut off a 1/4th inch of one bottom corner off the garbage bag and then the camera goes inside the bag and the lens is made to push out of the tiny hole. Since plastic in the bag is elastic to a degree, you will have no problem getting the full diameter of front element out of the corner hole, but push the lens only so far that the edge of the plastic rests on the threads for your bayonet hood. So at this time it would look like the bag is giving birth to your lens and its head is crowning. Now put the hood on and your complete setup is protected from the rain. If the bag has drawstrings to close the top opening, you can close it such to allow two hand operation also minimizing the amount of bag that flaps around in the wind. You will have clear view & access to all the buttons, lens rings, viewfinder, lcd, etc and yet all of it is protected from rain.

Hope this helps.

(Edit after seeing the above video)
Oops: just saw the video, he is doing the same thing with a rubber band.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atvHoLQOdxc&feature=related

Depends on actually what you are shooting, how often, normal environment etc.

For me - Plastic bag- sometimes a good small can trash bag with the "closed" end opened up. If on a tripod, I'll cut a small hole for the ball head. Gaffers tape to the hood. UV filter. Easy to get your hands in and out, packs tiny, costs nothing, just throw it away when your done and works just as good. I borrowed an optech (I think) one once and it was just cumbersome and I found it to be a pain in A$$, especially walking back with it after the ran stopped. I never did figure out where to put it.

If you are really in the rain allot and have the time to get it all together it may work for you. For me - I don't plan on being out in the rain so sometimes the cheapest is the best.

I 2nd Adamz, a plastic bag works fine, but I use a rubber band around the lens hood not tape.

The sand advice is also good, I think that is actually worse than water. I used to hate changing films on the beach in the old, old days.

So what do people recommend if I want to use a D700 in the pouring rain , we get a lot of it in the UK
Anyone tried or used the Think Tank Hydrophobia

Seba316, thanks. :D

I don't know how sturdy shrinkwrap is. I'm guessing it could do in a pinch.

Adamz: the op/tech are app $ 5.00 per bag and easy to use, no tape needed, I bought 4, have one in my bag at all time, they even make on for use with a flash

Pete

Make sure you don't sleep with your camera gear beside you, and i guess everything will be alright? :).

ted, I woke up here in Oakland with wet pillows after that rain. The landlord won't fix my window!

Thanks for clearing that up NikoDoby :).

Here is the Op/Tech raincoat again, cheap and easy to use

http://cgi.ebay.com/OPTECH-RAINSLEEVE-Rain-Protection-for-Nikon-D50-D70-D80_W0QQitemZ300348902193QQcmdZViewItemQQptZDigital_Cameras?hash=item45ee308b31

I bought a few and like on my last post I always have one in my bag, just in case I need to shoot in pouring rain

Pete

Jim Reed is the photographer your thinking of ShadeofBlue. The pre-production D700 he was using was never exposed to rain. I've actually used a plastic bag during heavy rain and snow, no problems. If you do use one of those specialty weather cases, make sure you let your gear sit at room temp for a while before you open your bag. Condensation is just as bad if not worse than rain! I've shot photos during several hurricanes/typhoons over the years. I've only had one camera go bad and that was a canon video camera.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN2_czSBSD0