May I have some suggestions on some good rain gear and a good place to purchase for a Canon XL1s...Thank you...

Regarding "where to buy," it's the most common question I get, so I posted a permanent message at the top of the forum addressing it. See http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=22 -- basically, you should consider buying from our site sponsors, because they're simply the best, most honest and reputable dealers in the business, and they also help make these forums possible.

As for rain protection, your choices are KATA (green) and Porta-Brace (blue) rain slickers. Either one is an excellent choice. Someday soon I'll get my KATA rain slicker review up on the XL1 Watchdog website. Hope this helps,

I'll personally vouch for the PortaBrace Rain Slicker, I got the extended one with room for the MA-200. It already paid for itself when I was taking footage of crashing waves along the Canadian Maritimes coastline.

Pricier than the KATA however, but a great investment.

I'll second Andrew's recommendation for the PortaBrace slicker. It's very carefully designed and crafted with significant details. And it's sewn to last long enough to become an heirloom for your children. IMO, nobody knows camera weather protection better than PortaBrace. Ever see anything else on eng cameras?

I also have been happy with my Portabrace Rain Slicker. I haven't used it too much, but when I did need it, it came through with flying colors. I was shooting an outdoor bull riding competition and it started raining after the first bull. It poured for the rest of the show( about three hours) and my XL1s came through totally unscathed. I ordered mine by email from ZGC and it arrived in a day and a half (to Canada).

I'll fourth the Porta-Brace. I'm a cheap b*st*rd (of Scottish descent), and even *I* think it's worth the money!

Phil, how much did yours come to after shipping and taxes?

I also use the PortaBrace Slicker (MA200 version) and am quite happy with it. It is on the camera more than it's off, mainly to protect the camera from dust rather than rain and it serves that purpose fairly well.

The only problem I have with it is the necessity to remove the mic and eyepiece when installing and removing the cover. Others may not do it that way, but I find it necessary. It is difficult to attach and remove the mic with the cover on because of the tight fit in that area. Fortunately I'm almost always using external mics through the MA200 so in those instances just leave the onboard mic off, but that leaves another opening for dust to get inside.

In reply to Dylan's question, I paid $175 (for the MA-200 compatible version) plus $37 for shipping (Fed Ex). I believe these were in American dollars - so do the math (that's always the killer in Canada). I was only able to find one place in Canada that would order it for me. It would have taken weeks and cost almost the same price after conversion and shipping.

I guess it's unanimous...I'm glad I didn't go ahead and get the KATA gear...This might be the first post where all of the respondents agreed...Thank you all for your time...

Nothing wrong with the Kata cover either. I'm not sure what the price difference is between the two, but if it's at all close, I'd go with the Porta Brace. It seemed sturdier/better made to me. Just my opinion, I could be wrong.

WHoa!
I just checked out the price for the Kata cover, it's almost half the price of the Porta Brace cover. I expected them to be somewhat similar, but I was way wrong. The PB is around $200 ($175 at ZGC), where the Kata can be found for $100. The PB cover is nicer (imho) but I'm not sure if it's worth double the price.

Dylan,
Where YOU live it probably is worth double the price <g>. Seriously, though, the craftsmanship and generally higher quality of the PB slicker would be worth it for someone who expected to use it heavily in a wet climate. The Kata would be fine for an occasional user.

I dunno what you are talking about Ken. It never rains HERE. Heh heh heh...
Heck, maybe Vancouverites should invest in one of those Eva-Marine submersible bags for casual use. :)

MATH is always the killer in Canada???
:-)
(sorry, Phil!)
But seriously folks, this is how it has worked with me with Porta Brace...you grit your teeth real hard when shelling out the money to buy it, and have a smile on your face every day thereafter.

Plus when you show up with your gear swaddled in PB, they know you mean business. I have even had stewardesses (ooops, flight attendants I mean) give a knowing smile when I show up aboard with a PB bag, they ask me who I'm shooting for, etc. cuz they've seen all the network boys carry their Betacams in PB rags.

I have never regretted having "too good" quality in any of my gear.

How does the Porta Brace rain slicker work out with a camera loaded down with assorted gadgets. My XL1 uses a Lightwave system isolater with a ME66 shotgun mounted on it along with one of their windscreens. Add a battery pack, XLR adapter and a wireless receiver and you have a lot of stuff sticking out in all sorts of weird shapes.
I was also looking at their quickdraw cases with the same concern as their website fails to give any inside dimensions.

Fitz

Fitz,
The PB QuickDraw case will work with your loaded rig. One end of the case is expandable and can accommodate variable cam lengths (which is the real issue). I'm also -pretty- sure that you'll be ok with the rain slicker. It's not form-fitting and has a bit of play with respect to the relative locations of the lens hole and mic hole.

Fitz, I use the PB Rain Slicker, the larger one designed for an XL1 with MA200, and I'm gonna have to disagree a little with Ken on this one. The Rain Slicker, while not exactly form fitting, is still designed to cover just the basic camera without too many accessories. Just about anything that mounts on the MA100/200 (12v batteries for lights, the CH910 with two Canon batteries attached or wireless receivers) will probably have to extend out the back of the cover. Not a problem because the openings are designed with that in mind, unless you expect all that stuff to be protected from the elements.

Also, you could probably manage to use the LightWave System Isolator and ME66, provided you do not also have the LightWave Mini Mount. I've used mine with the SI, but don't own the Mini Mount. It is a fairly tight fit in the area of the microphone, so I just don't think you could squeeze that accessory in there. If I'm wrong about that, someone please let me know. The windscreen shouldn't be a problem since it would be outside the cover anyway.

There is enough slack vertically to cover a BeachTek or Studio 1 XLR adapter without much problem. If possible, you might want to try before you buy.

I'll be getting a minimount soon, and I already have the PB extended slicker, so I'll let everyone know exactly what can all fit in there :)

Alas, I am using the Minimount. I wish Porta Brace had posted the dimensions on their website for their products. I also own a GL1 that I use a Porta Brace rain slicker on and it is one snug fit.
I'm an airshow junkie and am currently using a homemade cover made out of Gor-Tex which works fine mounted on a tripod, but to put it bluntly, sucks big time, for hand held shooting.
The quest continues...

Fitz

<<<-- Originally posted by SyneticDV : I'll be getting a minimount soon, and I already have the PB extended slicker, so I'll let everyone know exactly what can all fit in there :) -->>>

Did you get your minimount and how did it all fit in there?

By the way, I am using the Kata RC11 raincover, and I have to say that it is a very fine cover. Excellent quality and great in use. I think I will buy a new cover soon, but I still think it will be a Kata, because I like it a lot. The reason I will buy another one is that I should have bought the Kata RC10, because it is more room for the MA200, minimount and so on.

Ivan