In response to the June 2016 issue of Smart Photography (page 43, A Monsoon Query), SP reader Bruce Craig has sent us details about the rig he has made to photograph in the rains. We thought that some DIY SP readers might want to make one for themselves. This is what Bruce has to say:
“This is my umbrella rig. I fabricated an umbrella handle holder using PVC sheet stock and tubing. It uses a standard-thread knob fastener to mount the holder to the tripod mount. The umbrella is compact; it folds and fits, with the holder, into our camera cases. I say “our” because I made two, one for my wife and one for me. My wife uses a Canon 80D with Canon 100- 400 Mk2 IS USM. I use an EOS 7D Mk2 with Sigma 50-500 OS HSM. When birding in a private reserve on Maui, weencountered heavy rain for about 15 minutes. I had this rig ready on my camera, so opened the umbrella and continued to photograph birds. It worked perfectly, kept the camera, lens and me, dry. When disassembled, the knob is stored in a threaded hole in the mount and the umbrella holder is removed; the mount, the holder, and the umbrella are stored in a zip-lock bag in our camera bags”.
Thank you, Bruce, for your idea and the photos. |SP
