Customer Reviews

Kata E-702 Large Digital SLR Camera Raincover

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Before I purchased the Kata E-702 raincover, I packed my digital SLR and sports lens away whenever the rains came - which meant lots of missed photo opportunities when shooting sports in the Pacific Northwest. Now that I have the Kata raincover, I can shoot high school and select soccer games in a constant downpour and not worry about getting my equipment wet. It fits a Canon 20D with battery grip and 70-200mm f/2.8 lens perfectly - and keeps my hands dry and warm as well. If you use a longer lens (100-400mm, you'll need to get the E-704 extension as well - but for sports, if it's raining, the chances are you won't have enough light anyway to use the bigger lens due to the heavy cloud cover. The E-702 is a snug fit (zippers won't close all the way) when using a Canon 1DMIIN and the 70-200mm lens.

This raincover is an excellent way to protect your large investment, big dollar camera. I shot a professional paintball event in the rain and the raincover took the brunt of the abuse. On more than one occasion, this cover took direct hits from paintballs flying in excess of 300 feet per second and protected my camera and 70-300mm lens flawlessly. I highly recommend this over any homemade trashbag, neoprene and duct tape affair you may have rigged up to protect your camera. I did notice one thing: Condensation will build up in the cover if the weather is really cold. If you find you may be shooting in cold weather, carry a microfiber cloth with you to wipe up the condensation that may obstruct your view.

The build quality of the product is excellent. Used it several times with no problems at all. The plastic sheeting used for the viewing screen is very thick and durable and should last many years to come.

The size of the cover is also good. It fits over my Canon Digital Rebel XTi with a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 lens with a vertical grip attached with plenty of spare room. I've also tried it on a Canon 1D Mark IIN with the same lens and it's a bit tight, but it works perfectly.

I recently purchased the KT-E702 elements cover and Kata E-704 Lens Sleeve Kit for a trip to a fairly remote rainforest in Hawaii (Hakalau). Setup and configuration was easy with a DSLR, and long lens. The conditions were rainy and warm (~25C), and I was handholding the camera. When it came time to shoot, the bag almost immediately fogged up. So much so that I wasn't able to see through the back of the bag. I started wiping the inside of the bag with my hand, but at that point, there was so much condensation accumulating inside the bag, it was a lost cause and I gave up shooting. I can only assume the condensation was a result of my hand in the bag, coupled with the extreme humidity outside? I will be experimenting with this setup again in cold, snowy winter conditions. Regardless, I was very disappointed in the performance of this product. I can only hope that I installed, or used the product incorrectly - otherwise, others would be providing similar feedback? I wanted you to be aware of this potential problem, as it cost me a day of shooting.

I contacted customer support of the problem. They suggested that some of their product testers had a similar experience, and the solution was to ensure that there was adequate ventilation through the bag - the left hand hole should be left open, or the zipper below the camera should remain partially open. In my situation, the left hand hole was open.

As others have said, it is well made and it works. I generally don't use the hand sleeves; instead I put my right hand through the bottom zippered access hole as it is roomier and no need to thread my hand through the sleeve. The left hand sleeves seems mostly useless. Again, it is easier to change lens and camera settings via the bottom access hole.

On cold days the clear plastic fogs up; again, it is easier to wipe off when you use the bottom access hole.

Nice product.

The Kata elements camera cover is a well built strong cover for SLR cameras. The cover takes a little bit of practice to put on quickly. But once on, your camera is not going to get wet.

This is a large cover. It's hard to tell from the product images, but the thick clear vinyl that covers the camera body is very large. It is so big, that I'm able to install my Canon 580EX II flash under the hood. Pop up flashes from the camera body will not work underneath this cover, they don't pop up high enough to clear the black lens cover. I have very large hands, and there's no problem slipping my hands in the hand accesses to the left and right of the camera. There's plenty of space to work the camera controls, front, top and rear of the body. Your hand can also slide up along the lens to turn the zoom or focus rings.

My camera is a Canon EOS Rebel XTi with the standard short kit lens and a Tamron 75 - 300mm zoom. The long lens works the best, and should really be used with the lens hood installed.

The one odd characteristic, if your lenses are front element rotating for zoom or focusing; you will need to take some care with how you attach the front lens covers (there's an inner soft, flexible cover with a pull string; and an outer very stiff plastic with Velcro that serves as a rain hood). If you pull either cover tight to the lens, when you focus or zoom, those covers will turn and twist. This isn't a problem if you are mostly shooting with the zoom at a fairly narrow range and there isn't a huge focus swing. If you aren't careful, you might over stress the focus motor twisting up the covers.

Most consumer grade lenses have rotating front elements for both zoom and focus. The big pro level lenses all have fixed front elements and lens barrels.

Overall, this is a super rugged, well thought out cover that will protect your camera from everything except horizontal rain (and then you probably shouldn't be outside anyway).

Sept. 5, 2010 update: Guess what fits just exactly inside this hood? Yes, the Canon 300mm f2.8 IS monster telephoto. The inner liner just seals over the lens hood, and the great big velcro cover seals exactly right over the lens hood. It was a huge surprise.

I put this item to a true test this weekend. I covered an outdoor action event that required my coverage from 9am till 8pm. The only thing that would have stopped this outdoor event would have been lightning strikes. I shot the entire day from drizzle, sleet, and wind gusts and full on rain. I was able to focus clearly through my D90 viewfinder using the clear vinyl window, my hands stayed warm and dry and most importantly my D90 and 70mm-200mm stayed dry all day during the toughest of weather conditions. The $60 investiment protected my gear and enabled me to capture the moments as I had committed. Keep in mind the Kata raincover is only one part of the ensemble needed for being successful in the Oregon outdoors, the photographer needs to stay dry and warm to be effective. I was wearing a Marmot Precip Jacket, REI Rain pants, Solomon Gortex cross country shoes, Columbia top & bottom base layer and a pull-over fleece jacket. Remember, a true Oregonian does not use an umbrella. Besides, how can a photographer use his camera while holding an umbrella. Enjoy the Kata, I did.

Well constructed and easy to apply in a pinch. I do some serious wildlife photography. So, I am constantly dealing with dust and moisture. This is an easy and cost effective fix. I have found that the clear plastic does not crease or bind. Visibility through it is excellent. The string pulls and zippers are easy to handle and are ruggedly constructed. Excellent product.

The quality is pretty good, but it's kind of a pain to fit over over my camera and lens. It's too small to use with my Canon 200mm f/2. It has the length, but is too narrow to fit the diameter of the lens. They should have made the lens end larger. It would not only fit more lenses, it would make it easier to put the cover on all lenses. And it wouldn't add much to the weight, bulk, or expense of the cover.

It's also rather bulky, because it's so stiff.

I find myself using plastic bags more than this. They are easier to carry, since they fold up small, and fit more lenses.

UPDATE: I recently bought the Camera Rain Cover For Canon Models with lens combinations up to 13" long: XT XTi XSi 5D 10D 20D 30D 40D 300D 350D 400D 450D EOS 1Ds 1D 1V K2 T2 Ti XS Rebel, and find it much more useful than the Kata raincover. Easier to pack, and it fits my Canon 200mm f/2.0. And it's cheaper, too.

Good product, works well except with the Cannon 100-400 auto lense. Hood is too short.