Rain/weather cover for the EX3.
 

Has anyone got or tried a good cover for the EX3 yet? Is there anything out there specifically designed for its form factor or should I just 'buy big'?

I recall that Portabrace used to have white covers at one time, to help reflect heat.

Jus.

Porta-
 

Ahhh, I see that Portabrace has one. Is this my only choice? What do stormchasers use!?

Jus.

I'm eagerly awaiting other options here as well, Justin. I believe Kata has a solution as well, but I'm not sold on any of them yet. I think the EX3 should get a 'customized' solution.

Agreed.
 

Me too. Guess I'll improvise for the moment. Been stung twice now, pulling the trigger too early on EX accessories - and getting half baked solutions. From big names too.

J.

I started a discussion on this topic a while ago.
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/sony-xdca...ction-ex3.html

At the moment I'm using the Kata rain cape that I have for my F350. However I do know that Kata have a new camera glove for the EX3 in the works. It's nearly ready. The CRC-11 rain cover is a good fit for a standard EX3 and the CRC-10 fits EX3's that have bigger lenses or add-ons such as battery mounts and radio mics.

Petrol says they have a new one:
Advertisement

The bag is new, but the PRC-XL raincover is the same one they've had for the XL-1/2 and the HD100 series.

Ok
 

Thanks Les.

Ah hah.
 

I just got a Kata bag for my Nikon D300 - pretty well built, so I have high hopes. Any idea of an ETA? Thinking I'll be needing one in the UK from next week or soon after.

J.

The CRC-10 and CRC-11 are available now. The camera glove is a little way off yet. The Glove is designed for protection from day to day wear and getting caught out in the rain. It is not a full rain cover. For proper rain protection you should use the CRC-10 or CRC-11.

Hey y´all

look what I found, from INDIKIT...
Indikit

It´s not custom, but from what I´ve looked at so far, not bad value for money.
What I really like about it, other than the price, is that there is a sleeve for the left had, so shoulder work is made easier.
Still haven´t found anything with a clear window to scope the viewfinder settings if need be.

Porta Brace has got a body armor for the EX3, with intigrated rain slicker, but I don´t really like the look, or the price of the thing (looks like a rather loose scrotum)
PortaBrace - Product Detail:CBA-EX3

From Petrol, this one looks interesting, but again not custom
http://www.petrolbags.com/bigPic.htm.../PRC-XL-01.jpg

The CRC-11 from KATA, I have used a vera similar one on the EX1 and believe me, I haven´t sworn so much during a shoot in a long time, with only 1 entry point for left and right hands, it really hampers the issue considerably when shooting handheld.
The drawstring on the lens opening tends to make itself known in the shots now and then, which is not at all cool, one can tuck it inside the slicker, but this can be easily overlooked.
Video bags camera bags Kata - Manufacturer of camera bags

I was unable to find anything decent from Walkart.

I reckon I´m gonna go for the first option

Anyone got any good ideas for a backpack for the EX3, It does just fit into the KATA BP 207, but doesn´t leave much space for anything else.
The Guy who sold me the cam recommended the KATA BP 602, but that is just too much backpack, I need to be able to ride back country on an Enduro Bike or snowboard with the thing on my back.

Here is the PortaBrace rainslicker. It does appear to be "custom" made for the EX3. And it's considerably cheaper than the body armor.

PortaBrace - Product Detail:RS-EX3

Also, you need to realize that the viewfinder on the EX3 is considerably larger than the one on the XL2. I had an XL2 and a PB rainslicker. The XL2 rainslicker will NOT fit on the EX3 because the of the difference in size. I tried it. It didn't work.

thats the one I was looking at. would love to know if its worth it.

I hadn't seen that one!

That's good that were beginning to see custom solutions for the EX3 - it is a somewhat unique body style/form factor.

I am most interested in getting a 'body armour' that is resistant to a little bit of weather, that I can leave on all the time, and accomodatesaccess to controls, jacks, ports, etc. Perhaps what I'm looking for is more like a 'glove' that you might purchase for a cell phone or ipod.

If anyone sees this or has found this, I'm interested. I don't think that the Porta-Brace body armour is there yet.

Funny thing that,

When I found that rain slicker in the Indi kit website, they were advertising it for the ex3 and seem to have changed that????

The one from porta brace looks pretty good, but fairly pricey

the search continues

I'm going to purchase this soon. When I get it, I will report.

Thanks Jay, you saved me making a mistake on that one.

Just recieved the CC-11 from KATA and it fits like a glove (even with the cheekpad flapped out) and hardly hampers the operation at all, although it´s a bit of a mission to get the thing on.

just bummed I can´t see the viewfinder settings from outside the slicker, a clear window(openable/velcro) would be great for that.

at 93 €´s, also quite a bit cheaper than the porta brace one

I have always used porta brace, so I picked up the rain slicker for my ex3....its pretty sweet, fits like it should, even with the anton bauer battery on there.

with the wide eye on, it is a little large, so you have to make sure its cinched down everywhere so the front doesnt slide over the lens and start getting in the shot, but thats pretty easy to avoid.

I was also a little bummed that they used velcro underneath, instead of a zipper like I had on the cover for my HD100. but there isnt much to worry about on the bottom of the ex3, so its not a HUGE deal.

now I just need some bad weather to test it in!

I just received a rain cover for my EX-3 from Cine City in India. The build quality seems just fine, but I haven´t tested the product yet. The quality seems similar to the Porta Brace cover I used on my Canon XL2 a few years back. Like everything else in the video world it´s all about preferences, but for me a rain cover is just an option occasionally. Someone who does a lot of nature work would be wise to spend some time to find a more specialized product, I guess.

Here is the web address: The CineCity*::*DV/HDV Rain covers

At least the price is acceptable, and they have quite a few other interesting video accessories as well.

-terje

I have just come back from a 2 week shoot on a Ice breaker in the North Sea,
Loads of Snow, rain and wind. Minus 8 celsius most days.
I used a Kata RC-10 with my EX3, it was great.
Yes it's a bit "bagy" in places but I found that ideal, as I use a Mattebox and rails.
Plus when you have wet weather gear on and thick gloves there was plenty of room
underneath the cover to operate the camera.
Plus you can attach a camera strap, which is usefull when having to climb ladders
and stuff!
I can recomend it.

I just bought the Kata RC-1 for my EX3 & XS lens combo. Together with the VF Gadgets' base plate and radio mic receiver, the kit is quite long. The RC-1 Gobbles it up with loads of hand/arm room under, in front and behind the cover to access all buttons & controls of the camera. It is big enough to easily accommodate a future Matte Box as well.

The cover has lots of velcro & cord adjustments and the mic cover fits my on camera external ECM-673 with the Rycote Softie and the viewfinder cover fits the eyepiece perfectly.

My camera kit is not going to get smaller, so the RC-1 is the best choice for my requirements.

There are some very snug fitting body amour style covers for the EX1 and EX3 coming very soon from Kata. I've seen the prototypes and they are very nice with clever moulded side panels, plenty of openings for easy access etc. They only protect the main camera body or body plus VF on the EX3. I find the CRC-11 works very well with my EX3.

My experience
 

I got a Petrol rain cover last summer for assignment in Amazon Jungle (Ecuador). At the time, there was no dedicated rain covers on the market (at least non of the major brands did not have an EX1 dressed in the rain cover in their catalogs on line- so I could not see how it fits). Let alone, here in Toronto selections "in store" was very small. So I went with Petrol's cover, after trying it on the spot.
This one looked like the best fit. Funny thing is that ALL covers that I saw had the same flaw: opening between the lens and on camera mic??? Yes, a whole!
I was under the impression that I was doing something wrong when dressing the camera, but all the staff in the store did the same.
So I found a "duck tape" solution: a piece of gaffers tape placed properly, closes the gap between the lens and mic.
Cover turned out to be a great help in rainy Amazon. My EX1 came back with out being wet...
Petrol has a good product.