Umbrella for Tripod?

Ralph Javins

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Good morning, Sinar;

Does anyone have a suggestion for an umbrella and a mounting that can go onto a tripod for keeping an F1 dry in light to moderate rain?

Out here in Latte Land, rain does happen.
 

David A. Goldfarb

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While I've seen such things, I'd worry about the umbrella causing the tripod to vibrate or in a strong wind even tip over.
 
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Ralph Javins

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Good morning, David;

Yes, I did mention only rain. I am aware of the sail area that an umbrella can present in the wind. If there is more than calm to a mere light breeze, then there will also be mist and small droplets being carried by the wind and blown onto the equipment. Under those conditions, photography may need to be suspended, or changed to a smaller, more easily protected format. The Nikonos is an obvious contender in that application.

By the way, David, do you recall where you have seen such things?
 

David A. Goldfarb

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If you try an art supply shop, there are umbrellas designed to clamp to an easel. In general, I think these are designed to diffuse the light, but I think they would also keep off a Seattle drizzle.

There is a photograph of Strand photographing under an umbrella, but I think it is being held by an assistant.
 

Lee L

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From the tripod leg up: Bogen Super Clamp on the tripod leg, Bogen Magic Arm, Bogen Mini Clamp to generic umbrella of your chosen size. No, I haven't done this. Just a thought exercise and suggestion for low turbulence weather.

Lee
 
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Ralph Javins

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Good morning, David, Ray, and Lee;

Gentlemen, thank you. I admit that, like Ian Grant and our other friends in Great Britain, I have commonly associated an umbrella with weather. It is surprising to even me that I did not think of the photographic application for an "umbrella;" reflecting and diffusing light.

David, your suggestion for a visit to an artist's supply house is another one that I should have remembered. However, I think that I can be forgiven for my lack of thought in that direction. My former wife was (still is?) an artist, so there might have been some psychological factors at play in repressing memories in that field. I will plan a trip to Daniel Smith's.
 

AgX

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What about exchanging the umbrella for a rain cover just prior to the exposure? Thus there would be no problem of vibration any longer.
 

Lee L

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Was just thinking a little more about alternatives myself. If you cut an oversized piece of the Coroplast material (a bit like corrugated plastic) that's now used for yard signs, etc, it would make a very lightweight board to rest on top of the camera with some overhang, supporting some waterproof material with enough extension on all sides of the camera to give your hands some working room and the lens and ground glass some coverage from above. You could anchor it loosely to compendium bellows attachment points on the standards.

Lee
 

ROL

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I use a small Totes style umbrella and still carry it with me always, but attaching it to the tripod, while seeming to be a logical idea, has never worked because of wind issues. I met an Irishman in Yosemite a few years ago who claimed that umbrellas are included with every camera sold in the Isles I cover my LF with my waterproof Blackjacket darkcloth, when necessary. When shooting 35 and 120 I always pack a couple of gallon size zip-lock bags with rubber bands - and just realized that I can now add a 2 1/2 gallon size to supplement my LF kit (at least for short focal lengths).
 
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