protection from bad weather?

[jimbib]

Hey guys, this is sort of a repeat of an earlier post and is kinda 2 questions:

1) What's the best way to protect a camera from harsh wind and rain without a proper rain jacket ? Any suggestions, apart from umbrellas?

2) If i cannot use the sound at all, and I have to dub (don't cringe) is there any way with premiere pro to make dialogue sound more 'outside' rather than recorded in a room? I'm talking effects like reverb, etc

Thanks

[The-Video-Company.co.uk]

Hi Jimbib,

These may not be the answers you want but:

1) If it's raining, you 'should' use some form of rain jacket for your camera. I would imagine the camera may be worth something, so spending a bit on a proper jacket to protect makes a great deal of sense.

2) To make the audio sound like it's recorded outside, you should record outside. This would surely help more than any effects could.

I know these answers may be a bit cheeky, but trust me when I say it isn't worth looking for clever answers when the simple ones are best. I should know, I've learn't almost everything the hard way, and usually at an expense.

Cheers,

TVC.

[Alan Roberts]

Rain covers are worth it. They work.

Two things mark studio vs outside recordings; reverb and ambient sound. You can always add the ambient from effects discs, but you can't get rid of the reverb unless you use a dead-room.

[jimbib]

Thanks alot guys. We were lucky with the weather, but my polythene did shield the camera from a torrential downpour - though you're right, I will invest in a rain jacket now. About the outside thing...it was so incredibly windy today, the dialogue was completely inaudible, however, we found some sheltered trees and did just an audio recording of the scenes, and in my rough edit tonight I can say I am the luckiest man alive as far as dubbing goes...somehow it just happens to match up. I put it down to my actors who did the scenes so many times they probably had it timing-perfect. Excellent stuff!

[DV_Ed]

I was caught in a storm filming plymouth fireworks last week, I have a rain cover it worked prefectly I cant recommend it enough. It didnt however stop rain getting on the lense. I may try some kind of matt box and see if that helps (suggestions welcome). But definately get a rain cover they are great and also look the part other than plastic bags!

[Alan Roberts]

It isn't just the direct rainfall that hurts, it's having the camera casing wet. A decent rain cover isn't just a layer of plastic, it allows some air circulation within it, and that stops condensation.

A couple of years ago I was in Siena for a day and set my camera up on a tripod in the middle of the Palio to do a full 720 swing. It was drizzling very lightly while I was setting up. As I pressed Record, the heavens opened. Undaunted, I finished the shot before grabbing the camera and running for cover. I got the shot all right, but the camera wouldn't work for the next 50 minutes while the insides dried out.

[jimbib]

Actually come to think about it Alan, could that be why my battery decided to die on me? The indicator said I had a good hour left on it, but it kept cutting out then after 5 mins of on-off, it cut out completely and said it was low.

[mooblie]

Originally posted by Alan Roberts:
......to do a full 720 swing..... Why did you go round twice, Alan?

[Alan Roberts]

Yes, it could be why the battery died.

ASnd I went round twice so that I had a complete 360 at constant speed.

[Jim Bird]

Hi,

I always ware a cap with a sun visor when filming the great outdoors, you know the type I mean, the ones the farmers all ware when driving tractors with the little bit of advertising on the front (John Deere).

I enjoy filming nature scenes and I often want to film in the rain if an opportunity arises, like a sunset or a rainbow for example.

The easy option for me is to pull the hood of my Gortex jacket over my head and place my sun visor on top of the camera with the viewfinder squeezed into the hole at the back of the cap formed by the adjustable band with the peek at the front of the cap over the lens at the front of the camera (I know you know where the lens is).

It’s very simple, very quick and it works for me.

But of course it would be a good idea to buy a rainproof camcorder jacket as previously stated and someday I’m sure I will.

BTW I have a Canon XM1.

Jim Bird.