Shooting Hurricane Sandy with the Canon 5D Mk II and 24-70mm f2.8 USM L II

Lead Photo shot by Gretchen Robinette

As many of you know, New York City is going through quite a bit right now. The subways are shut down, there is torrential rain and winds from Hurricane Sandy, and police are even out and around ensuring that people don’t get too close to the coast. Being a native New Yorker, I tend to get cabin fever. I decided to grab my new friend Gretchen Robinette and go out and shoot with my 5D Mk II and the 24-70mm f2.8 USM L II.

The good news: The lens survived; and so did the camera for the most part. Plus, Gretchen and I narrowly avoided being clipped in the head by a large section of roofing shingle that flew at us.

The bad news: the multi-controller joystick on the back of my 5D Mk II is now defunct. It was running into problems when I was out there shooting. I figured out it was the camera because I put Gretchen’s lens on my camera, and still ran into the same issues. She used the 24-70mm f2.8 L USM II and it worked fine. I now need to press the focus selector button and then turn a dial. I was forced to use the center point and then recompose instead of using the actual focusing point. The camera may also have been getting AF issues out in the rain.

At least we know that the new lens can survive quite a bit of abuse. But at the moment, I’m wondering whether I should get the 5D MK II repaired or replaced.

Here are some sample photos from the walk we took in Bushwick and Williamsburg. Also be sure to check out my time with the lens on the 1D X. Lastly, the staff of The Phoblographer wishes everyone in the storm a safe time. Nearly half of the staff is suffering the same thing right now.

Editor’s Note: After 24 hours in a bowl of rice, my 5D Mk II is restored to full functionality.

Gear Used

Sample Images

Thoughts?

We’d love to hear your feedback in the comments below.

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Tagged as: 24-70mm f2.8 USM L II, 5d Mk II, autofocus, canon, Hurricane Sandy, image quality, nyc

Storm180

Why in the world would you not use a camera cover. I know its a L lens and I know the 5D Mark II is weatherproof to a certain extent but it seems like the situation could have been avoided using a camera condom. My 5d Mark II has seen rain and snow before and always with the cover on it and have never had issues with it. Not sure why you decided to risk it.
- ChrisGampat
  
  My 5D Mk II has been through hell and back with me. I shouldn’t need to use one to begin with if it works as advertised.
  
  My job in the end is to put manufacturers claims to the test.
  
  *Chris Gampat*
  Editor in Chief
  The Phoblographer
  Check us out on Twitter and Facebook
  - http://twitter.com/codiac2600 Chris Warkocki
    
    Ummm… the 5D MKII and MKIII are not weather sealed. Weather sealed in technical terms means gasket seals which neither camera has. They are environmentally sealed. This term refers to it’s ability to not pass air through it’s joints providing a safe measure when leaving a hot environment and entering in to a cold environment without fogging internally. Anyone taking a 5D MKII, MKIII or 7D into the rain need to be cautious as only a gaskets can provide a secure enough seal to prevent wanter leaking in that accumulates on the exterior of the body. Grab a D700 or D800 or pretty much any Pentax camera and you’ll find yourself with flawless operation in the worst of rainy conditions.
    - ChrisGampat
      
      Wrong
      
      http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=1998.0
      
      - Chris Gampat
      Editor in Chief
      The Phoblographer
      - http://twitter.com/codiac2600 Chris Warkocki
        
        Thanks for being ignorant. Check Canon’s own website and look at the feature list for the 5DMKII vs 5DMKII vs 1DX. There is a clear distinction in their verbiage on the sealing of the camera and humidity range for each camera. Sending me to Canon rumors is a joke! There was also a study when the 5DMKII launched that took 20 photographers to greenland for photos to test the durability and all the 5DMKII’s failed. If you read the comments form the users in that post you’ve sent many say what they’ve heard from canon about the sealing and how it is NOT as durable as the 1 series cameras. You can stop making stuff up now. Thank you!
- Peter Walkowiak
  
  I use my D700 in the rain without care also… I personally get a thrill out of pushing my equipment. I have a wheel that gets finicky from time to time but besides that I have had a blast . I have a couple of plastic type protectors but I find them such a pain with my wide angle lens and just a plain hassle.
  - http://twitter.com/richmack06 Richard Reed
    
    Speaking for a number enthusiasts (read: non-pros) it’s a little unsettling using our expensive equipment in conditions they were actually designed to be used.
    - ChrisGampat
      
      While I understand where you’re coming from, many enthusiasts often flood the streets when something like this is happening. And the thrill is more than worth it.
      
      *Chris Gampat*
      Editor in Chief
      The Phoblographer
      Check us out on Twitter and Facebook
    - Peter Walkowiak
      
      I am a bit confused by your statement because you say “using equipment in conditions they were designed to be used” and this is what I (we) are doing. It comes down to common sense and knowing the difference between safe and unsafe amount of rain. I want to get a Pentax and shoot without care in these situations…(plus they are a tad cheaper than my FF nikons .
tweixian

I’ve used my 7D in heavy tropical rain before and the joystick failed. It wasn’t completely unresponsive but it was moving in only one direction. I had to let the water dry out and it worked after that.
http://twitter.com/richmack06 Richard Reed

Glad to see you all made it through the storm. Thanks for venturing out and sharing your photos.
paul theuma

What F stop where these shot at
- ChrisGampat
  
  Anywhere from f2.8 to f5.6.
  
  *Chris Gampat*
  Editor in Chief
  The Phoblographer
  Check us out on Twitter and Facebook
SpoorthyVemula

A hurricane for a canon d mark ii is like a little drizzle for the k-5. Nice pics by the way
- ChrisGampat
  
  Unfortunately you have no full frame options
  
  - Chris Gampat
  Editor in Chief
  The Phoblographer
- Peter Walkowiak
  
  I will forever be jealous of Pentax and their aquaman abilities…
http://www.facebook.com/ryan.is.out.there Ryan Villanueva

I was caught in heavy rain twice with my 5D Mark III and its 70-200mm IS II while shooting events. Got soaked because had to keep on shooting. The camera just shrugged it off. Pretty impressive. I’m guessing the 5DM3 has a bit better weather resistance then the older Mark 2.