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Weather-sealed gear and lens front element

Started Dec 15, 2019 | Discussions thread
cba_melbourne
cba_melbourne Veteran Member • Posts: 5,850
rain on lens front element - there are solutions, but....
2

Probably overkill for most photographers, but maybe of interest to hardcore rain shooters. This problem has been solved in the cine industry. There are many devices to keep lenses free of rain drops. Just do a google search for "camera lens rain deflector" and you will be surprised at the variety on offer. All need power, either from the cine camera or a battery pack. The smallest such systems are currently for 100mm diameter lenses, and weigh around 500g plus battery.

Many systems simply spin a clear filter at some 3 to 5,000rpm inside a lens hood. The centrifugal force gets rid of any rain drop with great speed and efficiency. They can cope with a garden water hose directed straight at the lens, whilst taking a movie. Examples:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8piyy2yBVA0

There are also smaller systems for DSLR cameras: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqoPeiWoSaY

https://vimeo.com/22731327

http://www.innovision-optics.com/prod/spintec.shtml

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Other systems use air to blow off rain drops. These units seem to be more power hungry. Example:

http://www.schulz-camerasupport.com/sprayoff_overview.php

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In the film industry, such units are rented as needed for a daily fee. But who knows, maybe one day we will see such a system made smaller and lighter and more affordable suitable for photography. Currently, 500 grams and the size of a large ring flash and the need for a battery pack and the noise of the spinning filter makes it nonviable for most all photographers. Such a spinning filter rain deflector lens hood for say 62mm filter thread should be doable for under US$300 and under 250g with battery. But would there be enough interest?

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 Olympus E-M5 II Olympus PEN-F Olympus E-M5 III +16 more
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