ELAN Posted November 5, 2016 Share #1 Posted November 5, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) In March I'm traveling to India to photograph the Holi Festival where colored powder is thrown everywhere, akin to the Color Run events. I'd love to shoot the Holi with my M and 28 Summilux, but I don't know how to protect the camera and lens from the fine powder particles that are thrown at the camera all day long. Protecting a dSLR is relatively simple where it's entirely sealed in a plastic bag with UV filter protecting the lens. But with the M the viewfinder and focus patch windows need to be clear to focus, and one needs good access the the focus tab, which is cumbersome with plastic wrapping the lens. I though of buying a beat up M8 and 28 Elmarit just for the Holi and use it unprotected, but that doesn't seem right - I could ruin the camera and I won't be using my preferred gear. I would appreciate any and all advise. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 5, 2016 Posted November 5, 2016 Hi ELAN, Take a look here Protecting M240 at Holi Festival. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Hamad Posted November 5, 2016 Share #2 Posted November 5, 2016 Well thats one place i wont miss shooting M. I would use a wider 12mm or 18mm lens mainly set to infinity and use a non permeant tap and wrap the body and lens with it. It be easy to peal the tape off the camera and clean few pits and of course u will have some color on ur dials which u can use air squeezer to dust it off. U will need a micro cloths with u to constantly keep cleaning ur lenses and from view finder. Best of luck You still have plenty of time may be getting a cotton full body and lens cover tailored by any tailor shop be good too. There are cotton elastic materials available in the market and they hug the camera as a one unite. Normally the same material is used to cover seats for weddings or conferences or if it helps Ferrari's every day cover is made out of similar material. [emoji4] Share ur photos once u return Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kwesi Posted November 5, 2016 Share #3 Posted November 5, 2016 This sounds like a perfect job for a DLux 109. You get great detail, same color palette as the Type 240, excellent battery life and a wonderful fast zoom lens that extends from 24 to 70mm Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim0266 Posted November 6, 2016 Share #4 Posted November 6, 2016 See How to Ruin Your Gear in 5 Minutes by shooting a color run. From the folks at LensRentals. Enough to scare me away from events like these... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted November 6, 2016 Share #5 Posted November 6, 2016 The only camera I would contemplate taking there unprotected is an X-U. A D-Lux 109 would expire on the spot. The zoom lens would suck in all the dust. If you want to take the M the solution is here: http://www.ewa-marine.com/index.php?id=92 Hyperfocal focus; forget about the rangefinder... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ELAN Posted November 6, 2016 Author Share #6 Posted November 6, 2016 Thank you all for your comments and advise. It appears I won't be able to shoot the Holi with my beloved M - there's just no reasonable way to protect it and still shoot comfortably. I am down to one of two options; dig up my old Canon 5D + 16-35 L lens, or buy a Leica Q. Not wild about either of these options... I really wanted to shoot with the M. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manoleica Posted November 6, 2016 Share #7 Posted November 6, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) Get insurance before you go and a CLA when you get home... M all the way... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlashGordonPhotography Posted November 7, 2016 Share #8 Posted November 7, 2016 Are you going on Nick's tour? If so I'll see you there. If you are prepared to use an EVF on your M I would think it could be used without too much hassle. Of course there's the shutter lag on the M but it might be doable. There's an awesomely expensive Subal dive housing available that will for sure protect your camera. But it costs about the same as the camera. You could modify an Ewa marine bag with a clear panel for the rangefinder focusing. A custom made Silicon skin with a glass insert for the RF and a finger pouch for the focusing. (I already have the design in my head). Use aperture priority. Rent buy or steal a Q. Or an SL. Me. I'm taking my SL. Gordon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brill64 Posted November 7, 2016 Share #9 Posted November 7, 2016 preset aperture to f8, lens to 6 feet & iso to whatever required to shoot at 1/125s. or faster. auto iso maybe. place camera with lens attached (say, 35mm) in a large kitchen ziploc bag where a small hole has been cut out of the un-open end for the lens to push tightly through. screw a cheap filter on the outside of the lens then use sellotape plentifully to seal around the edges. don't change lenses, obviously. enjoy Holi. if you need a neckstrap, follow same method sealing tightly around the strap lugs or strap where it peaks through the ziploc bag & if you want to protect your strap as well, use cling film. i found wide sellotape worked well with my m9. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ELAN Posted November 7, 2016 Author Share #10 Posted November 7, 2016 Thanks @Gordon, I am traveling to the Holi with some friends. I will consider the EVF. I also like your silicon skin idea - if you make one let me know My intent is to get into the thick of things and photograph the festivities from very close. I think the 28 Summilux will make incredible images. But I'm afraid that nothing will properly protect the M. My friend was at the Holi last year, his Canon 5D was wrapped in a zip-lock bag with lots of duct tape and rubber bands, leaving only a small opening for the viewfinder window. He never opened the bag or changed lenses or batteries in the field, yet he later found color powder on his sensor and inside the lens. I don't want to chance it with my M. Yet I am considering chancing it with a new Q... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted November 7, 2016 Share #11 Posted November 7, 2016 As I said -an X-U. Guaranteed to be water- and dustproof. https://us.leica-camera.com/Photography/Leica-X/Leica-X-U Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanJW Posted November 7, 2016 Share #12 Posted November 7, 2016 +1 on an XU. Or if that's too expensive, an Oly TG4 or similar. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmradman Posted November 7, 2016 Share #13 Posted November 7, 2016 Thanks @Gordon, I am traveling to the Holi with some friends. I will consider the EVF. I also like your silicon skin idea - if you make one let me know My intent is to get into the thick of things and photograph the festivities from very close. I think the 28 Summilux will make incredible images. But I'm afraid that nothing will properly protect the M. My friend was at the Holi last year, his Canon 5D was wrapped in a zip-lock bag with lots of duct tape and rubber bands, leaving only a small opening for the viewfinder window. He never opened the bag or changed lenses or batteries in the field, yet he later found color powder on his sensor and inside the lens. I don't want to chance it with my M. Yet I am considering chancing it with a new Q... Whichever camera you decide to take put it to test beforehand - dip it in a can of paint and rinse afterwards, if your equipment is functioning well after the torture test than it will be safe during the festival. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocalHero1953 Posted November 7, 2016 Share #14 Posted November 7, 2016 Whichever camera you decide to take put it to test beforehand - dip it in a can of paint and rinse afterwards, if your equipment is functioning well after the torture test than it will be safe during the festival. Just don't tell your insurance company that you did this deliberately........... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ELAN Posted November 7, 2016 Author Share #15 Posted November 7, 2016 As I said -an X-U. Guaranteed to be water- and dustproof. https://us.leica-camera.com/Photography/Leica-X/Leica-X-U I did consider the X-U but no viewfinder makes it a non-starter for me, and I want a lens wider than 35mm. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnwolf Posted November 7, 2016 Share #16 Posted November 7, 2016 If I were shooting Holi, I'd consider a Ricoh GR with an actual or improvised housing and optical finder. The finder would not have to be covered. The lens is incredible and there's no AA filter. I'll bet you could easily operate everything through plastic. Or you could use TAv and snap focus. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted November 7, 2016 Share #17 Posted November 7, 2016 I did consider the X-U but no viewfinder makes it a non-starter for me, and I want a lens wider than 35mm. You can always use an optical viewfinder (voigtlander has a nice and robust one) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
satijntje Posted November 7, 2016 Share #18 Posted November 7, 2016 The only solution if you want to shoot with a Leica would be indeed only with an X-U! John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted November 7, 2016 Share #19 Posted November 7, 2016 As mentioned in the Lens Rentals article, are you taking precautions to preserve your own health as well as that of any camera you use?! If it were me, I'd just buy one of the various waterproof P&S models available, so that I can use it without any thought of protecting it from potential damage. I'm sure you'll get better images that way even if the ultimate IQ may not be as good. https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/2014-15-waterproof-camera-roundup I think I'd wear goggles and a painters mask as well!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ELAN Posted November 7, 2016 Author Share #20 Posted November 7, 2016 place camera with lens attached (say, 35mm) in a large kitchen ziploc bag where a small hole... .... i found wide sellotape worked well with my m9. Thanks. How was the view through viewfinder with the ziploc bag in front? And how did you clean the ziploc when powder landed in front of the viewfinder window? Did you find the images adequately in focus setting the lens to f/8 and 6 feet? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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