Tripods in the rain?

[keepright]

I have a shoot coming up this weekend, and it's likely to rain. Since I'll be with my club, there's some bonus photographer points up for grabs if I publicly use a tripod. I'm not worried about the camera or lenses, but what precautions should I use with a tripod in the rain?

I use a Gitzo 1930 (basalt) tripod with a Manfrotto 322RC2 head, although I can switch to the smaller 486RC2 if I need to. Any advice or relevant experience?

[brian.austin]

I'm probably the wrong person to give advice on this type of stuff. I abuse the crap out of my equipment. I'm not negligent by any means but if I have to park a tripod and rig in the middle of the rainstorm to get the shot, then that's where you'll find me.

I have the same tripod and 486RC2 head. It's been through a fair amount of wet (ironic, seeing as I'm based in the dry Southwest US), including the Pacific Ocean (at least up to the second leg section). When I bought it, I told the guy at Calumet that I wanted something to put up with that level of abuse. He said that the 1930 would work well but needed to be dried afterward. So in a particularly bad wet situation, I'll usually take it apart and let it dry after I get home.

Other than that and a quick wipe down when I'm out of the rain, I have not done anything to it.

That said, I have no idea how long it might last in that situation. As I mentioned, I buy to abuse. My truck, plane(s), tools, and body all show that same philosophy. Take good care of it but don't baby it. It was meant to be used.

[Not4wood]

Of course hosing the tripod and ball head down with fresh water after the Ocean water, but do you guys use WD40 on it?? I probably use WD on most everything else but I am not sure of these composite Tripods. Tools, gear and everything else that dont use grease...

Great way of thinking BA, I agree completely!! If you cant enjoy life to the fullest, then the alternative is sitting home and waiting for the big one. How boring........

[cyclohexane]

what precautions should I use with a tripod in the rain?

None.

do you guys use WD40 on it?? I probably use WD on most everything else but I am not sure of these composite Tripods

The Really Right Stuff BH series of ballheads come with instructions on how to lube the ballhead with WD40, but they also recommend against it unless absolutely necessary or desired.

[R. House]

Be aware if lightning starts, your tripod may become a lightning rod!

[zero rc]

i wouldent worry too much about the rain, it shoudletn hurt it one bit. a quick wipe with dry towel and it should be good as new. salt water is a bit dif, so id give it a quick spray wiht the hose and let it dry throughly. like brian said, the gear should not be babied ( but in no way mishandled). ive never lubed any of my tripods, so i am not sure about wd-40.

[michaelhcothran]

I own two 20+ year old Gitzo's, and they've been in terrential rain, and have stood 4-5 feet deep in swamps. I don't think you need to worry. They're water proof! Heads may be a little different, especially, if they contain any sort of lubricant, but even there, I've never worried about the rain, and all my head actions work fine after more than 20 years of using them. In fact, when I return from a dirty or muddy day of shooting, I hose down the legs and center post (but I do allow it to dry thoroughly before closing up the legs).
Note - if you take your tripod to the beach, or around salt water, I would hose it off afterwards for sure.

[walter23]

Originally Posted by keepright

what precautions should I use with a tripod in the rain?

Shake it out afterwards and let it dry?

A bit of rain isn't going to hurt it. I stick mine into fresh water all the time (I mean, partial submersion) and I'll even do it in salt water with a liberal fresh-water washing afterwards to stop it from corroding.

Just shake it out and make sure it's loosened up so that the sections and clamps can dry out properly. And in any event, there's no better indicator of your status as a seasoned photographer than a beat up tripod.

[keepright]

Thanks for the responses -- I wanted to make that the joints wouldn't seize or have some other extremely-well-known-but-unstated problem happen. I've never tried this before; usually I just shoot hand-held when it's raining.