8,516ft altitude, wind chill factor of 18ºF, 4 hours of moderate to heavy Snow and Rain.. Can a Canon 7D survive?
Preparation:
It was Friday afternoon and when I heard the forecast for the coming days I decided take an emergency trip up to San Jacinto Mountain to do some filming ( time lapse and interviews). I had just a few hours to prepare my camera, lenses, tripod, and the rest of my gear for what was suppose to be 7″ of snowfall. I went into a camera shop and to my horror they were out of any and all rain gear for DSLRs. I had to figure something out quick with no time to visit another store. After pacing around a bit I found some items and did some simple modifications and pretty effectively weatherproofed my camera. It was quite simple to rig up, and definitely will save you some money if you decide to try it my way.
I used two items at a total cost of about $30.00:
- Domke 19″ x 19″ Protective Wrap @ $19.99
- Generic Lens Pouch @ $8.99
Shooting:
Domke Protective Wrap:
Modifications:
The Domke Wrap is a soft padded Nylon cloth with velcro on each corner meant to cradle your camera body in transport or storage. All I did to make it into a snow cover was turn in upside-down, and secure two ends of the velcro underneath the lens. Having it upside down exposes the Nylon-Backing to the elements which happens to be quite weatherproof.
Generic Lens Pouch:
Modifications:
I was mainly using a Tamron 10-24mm which is NOT weather resistant, unlike L-Series lenses. So as an extra precaution to keep my lens safe when not covered by the Domke I used the above. A generic lens pouch which I simply cut out the bottom with some scissors. The top of the pouch ( where the lens meets the body) had a drawstring type closure which was perfect for protecting the base of the lens when tightened. Also, the sunshade at the end of the lens helped immensely in keeping the lens pouch from extending too far forward creating a solid vignette ( especially on a 10mm).
-INTERMEDIATE:
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Welcome to Part Two of Four, in AmericanDSLR’s quest to uncover The True Cost of Owning a DSLR! This section will cover an estimated true cost for the Intermediate level Filmmaker. We will start off with a list of ongoing equipment that will remain the constant at any level, then I will show pictures, prices, and outline the new products you will be needing as you work your way towards becoming a true pro!
Items carried on from the Beginner level:
- Camera Body
- 18-135mm Lens
- 16 GB CF Card
- 2 Year Accidental Damage Warranty
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5.
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Zoom H4N: $299.99
The Zoom H4n is a must for DSLR filmmaking. This has amazing built in stereo mic recording, as well as 2 XLR inputs on the bottom of the device for up to 4 CH Audio recordings with your Boom, Shotgun, or Wireless Mics. While some don’t recommend using it for recording dialogue, I find it to work fine within 2 or 3 feet from the subject. There are better recorders out there but the Zoom H4n is the best value by far.
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We all know how much a DSLRs costs, from print ads or browsing around online. But once you add that carrying case, an extra battery, maybe even a mic; you may start to question whether your DSLR is going to ‘take’ more money, or ‘make’ more money. Well let’s get to the bottom of this by determining your level of intent, and uncover the True Cost of Owning a DSLR.
-BEGINNER:
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1.
Camera Body: $1,699.00
For the purposes of this article I will be assuming we are buying the 7D and using Canon Lenses. First things first, you need your Camera Body. Once you make your decision on brand and model this will obviously be your first step.
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