How To Waterproof Camera Lens

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I earn a small-scale committee of production sales to go along this website going.

Keep Your Camera Dry out

Water Resistance

Most cameras these days have a sure level of water and dust resistance. I tin keep shooting my Sony a7ii camera in light to moderate rains for short periods of time, uncovered, without worrying most losing the camera. Does that mean it's the correct thing to do? Probably not…I know there's a certain level of Russian Roulette to that.

So what should nosotros be doing to keep our sensitive electronics dry and our lenses clean? If you're like me and spend a lot of fourth dimension on the h2o, this is probably a larger concern.

I would also encourage you to get out in wet conditions – it sometimes provides for the all-time photographic experiences.

In the rain

Bags

Invest in a bag with a congenital-in rain cover, if it's not already a waterproof camera pocketbook to brainstorm with. My everyday handbag is a Think Tank Retrospective 20 shoulder handbag (review hither). It provides easy access and a sure level of stealth, but more than importantly, it has a pelting cover that I tin slip on and secure with clips in a thing of seconds.

This works well in even heavy rains, but if I'one thousand going to stay in a rainy environs for longer periods I prefer something more than waterproof like what'south listed afterward.

When Shooting

First and foremost – USE THE LENS HOOD!

I in one case heard a photographer say, "using a lens hood is similar flossing. Y'all know you take to practise information technology, simply y'all just don't."

In that location are a number of reasons to leave the hood on your lens all the time, and keeping pelting drops off the lens is one of them. It won't continue all the rain off of the forepart of your lens but information technology sure volition minimize information technology.

Nix beats a cheap erstwhile shower cap! Throw information technology over your camera to temporarily protect your camera from the pelting.

The Peak Design Beat out

If you're actually going to be shooting in the rain for extended periods, you lot have a few options for photography rain gear. There are cheap, dispensable waterproof camera covers similar the OP/Tech Rainsleeve ($vi.95 for ii-pack) to more durable material covers like the ThinkTank Photo Hydrophobia ($149.74 at Amazon).

My preference is the new Peak Pattern Shell – the price indicate is perfect, it's extremely durable, not too prohibitive, and allows shooting with the shell installed. A Medium size will fit a medium mirrorless or small DSLR; a Large will fit a mirrorless like the Sony a7ii and pro DSLR. Prices start from $39.95.

On the water

Passing over a Cushion Sea Star in my kayak, Ensenada Honda, Vieques

Rafting, sailing, surfing…you might need something with a little more than "waterproofness", peculiarly if you anticipate h2o spray coming at the front of the lens or the photographic camera being submerged at any point (program for the worst!). If that'southward not a trouble, use i of the above rain covers. Merely call up…

Table salt water will somewhen kill a photographic camera! Keeping your camera dry in common salt environments is crucial.

Outex underwater housing with modular flash housing

You might desire to invest in a real watertight & waterproof photographic camera example.

Yous don't need a $2,000 polycarbonate dSLR waterproof instance for 200′ dives, simply just something that you can at least keep submerged for a few minutes. Since these are specific to each camera model I tin't really recommend anything in item.

I just learned near the Outex dSLR waterproof housing; I oasis't used one yet but they definitely take my attention! I'm tired of conveying my heavy polycarbonate dive example for shallow swims when this 1 looks and so light and portable. Their lens port is durable and scratch-resistant but the camera controls are hard to run across. It volition keep your photographic camera dry in the higher up situations, and down to thirty′.

Fighting fogging

All waterproof camera cases can fog up. To gainsay this:

When you put your camera in the example, do and so in a cool, dry environment if you can to prevent introduction of moisture.
Go on newly-charged desiccant packets (1 or 2) in the case during your shoot.
Never leave the case directly in the sun, as this volition cause whatever moisture in the case to condense and the lens can fog. Keep it covered with a moist towel if you can.

The Lowepro DryZone 40L

Storage & Transportation

Even just table salt in the air can cause invisible impairment. I had kept my Catechism 5DII in a regular camera purse while I was gone sailin', and after a while noticed some green corrosion on the lens contacts and hot shoe. About of information technology cleaned upwards, but it scared me to imagine what was going on inside the photographic camera.

A waterproof camera bag or dry out bag is a must in these environments. You can still utilize your mean solar day-to-day photographic camera bag if you lot tin can find a dry pocketbook big enough for it.

There are also dedicated camera dry out bags. I used the older Lowepro DryZone Rover years ago and was very happy with it. Lowepro makes other camera dry out numberless, like the newer DryZone numberless pictured here, and they all come with a removable padded inner bag. These outer bags can then be used as regular dry bags for other items after removing the padded inner bag.

The Lowepro DryZone 20L

These are great bags to transport your gear to and from the boat, and besides used to store your gear while on the boat or beach. You'll want to use desiccant packs in these also, and probably larger ones capable of holding more moisture similar twoscore Gram Silica Gel Desiccant.