Camshield rain cover L (for handheld photography)

Camshield L rain cover for handheld photography with super-telephoto lenses when the weather just won’t cooperate

You know how it is: the light is perfect, the action is happening, but the sky closes in and suddenly your session turns into an involuntary shower for your camera. This is exactly where the Camshield L rain cover for handheld photography comes into play, a robust weather protection solution developed specifically for large super-telephoto lenses and handheld use.

Optimized for large super-telephoto lenses from Nikon, Canon and Sony

The Camshield L rain cover is designed for long, fast telephoto focal lengths that are constantly used in sports, wildlife or nature photography. It’s a perfect match for typical 400 mm f/2.8 and 600 mm f/4 heavyweights and is compatible with, among others:

Nikon F super-telephoto lenses:
Nikon 400mm f/2.8E FL ED VR AF-S NIKKOR
Nikon 600mm f/4E FL ED VR AF-S NIKKOR
Nikon 600mm f/4G ED VR AF-S NIKKOR
Nikon 400mm f/2.8G ED VR AF-S NIKKOR

Canon EF super-telephoto lenses:
Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS II
Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM
Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS
Canon EF 600mm f/4 L IS III USM

Sony FE super-telephoto lenses:
Sony 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS FE [SEL400F28GM] (2018)
Sony 600mm f/4 GM OSS FE [SEL600F40GM] (2019)

In short: if you’re out with a big 400 or 600 and shooting handheld, this rain cover keeps you on the safe side.

Designed for true handheld photography

This rain cover is not just some plastic bag over your camera, but is designed for handheld operation. The construction is laid out so that the lens foot points upwards while you can shoulder the setup or hold it in shooting position. That may feel a bit unusual at first, but in practice it turns out to be extremely comfortable when you need to react quickly and still don’t want to get soaked in the rain.

Included in the package is a ¼-inch mounting screw with ring that is screwed into the 1/4" UNC thread of the lens foot. You can attach a strap to it so you can carry camera and lens comfortably over your shoulder without the combination constantly slipping from your hands. This is a real blessing, especially on longer walks to your shooting spot.

Secure, flexible attachment to lens hood and viewfinder

At the front, the Camshield L rain cover is secured with a sturdy rubber band on the front edge of the lens hood. It fits tightly but not excessively, so the cover holds reliably without damaging your equipment. At the back, a silicone eyecup provides the connection to your camera’s viewfinder. This eyecup fits snugly around the eyepiece and seals the transition cleanly.

Another silicone eyecup runs along the mounting tab of the telephoto lens foot. Together this creates an almost continuous seal that prevents rain, spray and droplets from penetrating into critical areas. The silicone components are easy to attach and are compatible with the common viewfinder shapes of most camera brands. So you don’t have to look for a separate solution for every system.

Large viewing window for full control of camera and settings

On the back of the cover there is a large, flexible, transparent plastic window. This allows you to see the monitor, menus and all control elements of your camera. The material is chosen so that you can operate the buttons and dials through the cover and viewing window without having to open the cover.

Especially in rain, sleet or spray this is worth its weight in gold, because you don’t have to reach into the housing with wet hands all the time. This way you retain full control over exposure, focus modes and burst rates while your camera stays protected. After a short familiarization period it feels surprisingly natural.

Front cap against droplets and stray light

A particularly practical detail is the removable cap on the front of the lens hood. It is attached to the front of the rain cover and prevents water droplets from entering the lens hood and splashing onto the front element. Anyone who has ever tried to constantly wipe the lens dry in pouring rain knows how annoying that can be.

In addition, this cap can help to reduce unwanted reflections and stray light in certain lighting situations. Especially with side backlight or low sun, this can visibly improve contrast. So you not only get weather protection, but also a small plus in image quality in tricky lighting conditions.

Robust, waterproof material for real weather protection

The Camshield L rain cover is designed as reliable weather protection and uses a material combination that is built to withstand tough outdoor use. The outer material is made of a waterproof poly-cotton fabric with water-repellent coating. This is complemented by TPU and silicone in the relevant areas to combine flexibility, tightness and durability.

The camouflage pattern “Understorey All-Seasons” ensures that you don’t stand out like a colorful foreign object in the field. Especially in wildlife photography it can be helpful when the equipment visually recedes a bit and does not immediately draw attention.

Dimensions, weight and everyday handling

The rain cover is dimensioned so that it safely covers long super-telephoto lenses without being unnecessarily bulky:

• Maximum length from the front of the lens hood to the viewfinder eyepiece: 85 cm
• Length of the rain cover: 63 cm
• Maximum diameter of the lens hood: 20 cm
• Cap size flat: 30.5 x 20.5 cm
• Weight: 203 g in the pouch

At around 203 g, the Camshield L rain cover remains pleasantly light, so it hardly adds any weight in your backpack or camera bag. At the same time, it feels sturdy enough in use that it doesn’t immediately deform or flap around in windy, changeable weather.

Practical storage pouch for on the go

The scope of delivery includes a compact storage pouch in which you can stow the rain cover after use. Folded up, the package measures about 33.5 x 21 cm and thus fits easily into most camera bags or backpacks.

Especially when the rain cover is still slightly damp after a shoot, this pouch is very helpful to keep the rest of your gear clean. This way you always have the Camshield L rain cover ready to hand without having to search for it.

Who the Camshield L rain cover is particularly suitable for

If you regularly shoot with a 400 mm f/2.8 or 600 mm f/4, whether at rainy sports events, with birds on the lakeshore or on a windy coastal cliff, this rain cover is a pretty logical companion. It is aimed at photographers who:

• use their super-telephoto lenses actively and often handheld
• don’t want to pack up even in rain, drizzle, snow or spray
• need full operability of the camera despite the cover
• are looking for a robust, reusable solution instead of disposable emergency fixes

This way your gear stays protected while you can focus on what really matters: catching the subject at the right moment without constantly having to worry about the whims of the weather.