If you shoot often enough, at some point you’re probably going to get caught in the rain when you want to keep on shooting. If your gear’s weather sealed, you might be ok just as you are, but if you shoot Sony you’ll probably want to cover up a little. There are, of course, actual rain covers available for cameras, but sometimes you need to respond quick.
In this video, Jordy from Cinecom shows us how we can easily make our own from a plastic tub, a bag and some gaffer tape. He’s also got four other “lens hacks” to show off, too.
Jordy goes over 5 quick hacks in the video…
- Focus markers using tape & toothpicks
- Paper cup lens hoods
- Coloured blur/flare
- DIY rain cover
- Creating flare with your phone’s LED flash
The focus markers is a handy trick, and one I’ve done myself in the past when I haven’t had a follow focus wheel to mark. But the DIY rain cover is pretty cool.
All you need is a plastic tub big enough to fit around your lens, a plastic bag, and some gaffer tape. Cut the end off the tub, cut a hole in the bag, poke the tub through the hole in the bag and then tape it up well to make sure you’ve sealed the gap.
Just place your camera inside and away you go. Obviously, the front of the tub around the lens is open, so you’ll still want to protect your front element or filter from raindrops unless you want them stuck to the lens in your shot. But the expensive electronics in your camera and lens should be mostly protected.f
I’d still plan ahead and just buy one in advance if you’re expecting to deal with this issue in front of paying clients. But in an emergency, this’ll do.
