Using a camcorder outside is lots of fun but sometimes the weather doesn’t co-operate. Storms can move in quickly and sometimes the only day you’ve set aside to shoot video it’s raining. Camcorders are electronic and lenses are glass and neither likes water or humidity. There are several ways to keep your camcorder dry and happy. Here are some tips for cheap rain covers that work pretty well.  

A Flip style camcorder will fit perfectly in a sealable plastic sandwich bag. Put the Flip in, zip it closed and pull the plastic tight and flat around the lens to get a reasonably clear shot and go ahead, shoot in rain. Because it is solid state, flash memory, it has few moving parts so it makes a rugged outdoor camcorder and is easier to replace if damaged. This would be a good severe weather set up for getting videos in nasty weather.

 For a larger camcorder with a flip out LCD screen, use a larger plastic storage or freezer bag. These fit right over most camcorders, even with the LCD open and being clear you can still see all the controls. They fold up and you can stash one in your bag or case. I like the cheap ones because they are thinner plastic so when you pull it flat over the lens you can shoot through it and still get a somewhat clear image.  This also helps protect the lens from rain and water.  If you have your camcorder on a tripod you can cover it with an extra large freezer bag and let it come down covering the top of the tripod too.  Shooting through the plastic may distort the video image slightly but you won’t notice it much if it’s really raining or you are going for severe storm footage. It’s better to protect your camcorder from damage.

flip rain cover front

 

flip rain cover back

 

 

 

 

 

 If your camcorder has filter threads on the lens install a U.V. filter to protect the lens and cut a hole in the plastic for the now protected lens to shoot through. You can seal the plastic tight around the lens with a rubber band.

bigger camcorder front viewbigger camcorder in freezer bag

 

 

bigger camcorder in freezer bag

 

 

 

 

 

 For light rain or rain that may not last long, you can use the good old stand- by umbrella. It works for rain or even really hot, sunny shoots. You can attach it to your tripod or hold it by hand.  It does double duty by also keeping you dry or shaded as well.

front view rain cover

These are just a few ideas to help keep things dry.

Have Fun.