Gear Review

by Kayte Deioma

It rained on my recent visit to Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico with a group of photographers and writers. It was a perfect opportunity to try out my new Camera “Rain Coat” from FotoSharp in Seattle. Made of silicon-impregnated ripstop nylon, the camera cover is basically a tube that is open at both ends. An adjustable cord at each end allows you to fit one end around your lens hood and have the other at the back of the camera.

I used the camera cover with a Canon D20 digital SLR with both a 35 to 350 mm zoom lens and also a 16 to 35 mm zoom. The photo on the pamphlet shows hands holding the camera from outside the “rain coat.” I found it easier to have my hands holding the camera inside the cover with the top of the cover over the viewfinder. That way, my hands stayed dry too and I wasn’t struggling to keep a slippery wet grip through the cover.

I tested out the claim that the flash will work right through the cover, which it does. It works best if you have a rubber band to keep it tight around the flash. Then it works as a slight diffuser. The cover opening around the lens hood had a hard time staying on the hood and kept sliding off the curved surface of the hood, especially on the shorter lens, so in future I might consider a piece of gaffer’s tape to keep it from slipping.

Overall, the camera, lenses and my hands stayed pretty dry. I was even able to change lenses inside the cover, although it was like working with film in a dark bag. When not in use, it folds down to next to nothing to tuck back into a camera bag or pocket. The other photographers under their umbrellas were quite skeptical at first, but I think there were a few converts by the end of the day.

The 15″ Camera Cover which I used is available for $27.95 at www.FotoSharp.com. There is also a 10″ version for $19.95.

 

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