Dripstop

So last winter, I was visiting Oregon, and wanted to take some rainy-day shots of the forest. I could have brought the UmbrellaPod, but I was on vacation and had limited space in my car. So I timed my shots between downpours, letting my camera get a little wet. Not the ideal solution, and I spent more time waiting than actually shooting.

So I came up with the Dripstop. It's just a wire coathanger bent into a shape that wraps around the PVC Camera Mount, with a patch of waterproof material to cover it. Slip the Dripstop onto the PVC Camera Mount, attach the camera, then attach the whole thing to your PVC camera equipment of choice, and you're good to shoot in the rain.


The camera in the picture is not the one this Dripstop was designed for (I was using the correct camera to take the pictures). I would recommend having a bit of overhang on the top and all sides, to allow easy access to the buttons and to protect against drips. I also slanted the wires to the back, to let the water drip away from the lens.


This is not meant to be used on windy days or in heavy heavy downpours, but what can you expect from a coat hanger and a scrap of fabric?


Price: Free, if you've got a metal coat hangar lying around and a piece of waterproof fabric.
Build time: 20 minutes, with wire cutters and a sewing machine.
Availability of materials: Readily available.
Durability: Medium. There are no moving parts, but if you just throw it in a bag, you'll bend the wire.
Functionality: Quick and easy, works good for what it's designed for.
Portability: Best if attached to the outside of your bag.