If you happen to be a pluviophile (someone who really loves rain), then you no doubt may have felt a desire to go outside and take some shots of the awesome natural phenomenon that is rain.
Any reasonable person knows that water and electronics don’t mix. In fact, many people, myself included, have lost a phone or electronic device due to water damage.
So...
Is it possible to take photos with your phone in the rain?
The short answer is yes, but it depends on the phone you’re using and its specs. A number of high-end and mid-range smartphones these days are said to be water-resistant.
To give you an idea of how water-resistant they are, these devices are given an IP rating which measures a device’s ability to keep dust and water from getting inside.
If your mobile phone is said to be water-resistant, then technically you can use it to take photos in the rain, and even underwater, without worrying too much about water damage.
However, this would not be a good idea to attempt if your phone has no ingress protection.
But not to worry. If you’re keen to capture photos in the rain with your non-water-resistant phone, there is a way to work around that, which we’ll look at later.
What does “water-resistant phone” mean?
The term water-resistant should not be confused with waterproof. Something that’s waterproof is impermeable by water no matter how long it remains submerged.
This is not the case with smartphones.
Water-resistance in smartphones means that the device can be immersed in water for a specific period of time and up to a specified depth.
How much water exposure can a phone withstand?
The amount of water exposure a phone can withstand is dictated by its IP (ingress protection) rating. The digits that follow the letters “IP” in the rating refer to dust protection and water-resistance in that order.
So a device with an ingress protection rating of IP68 will be completely dust-proof (6) and water resistant to the manufacturer’s specifications (8).
Our main focus in this article is the water-resistance rating, so for simplicity, I’ll replace the dust protection rating with an “x”.
Most smartphones marketed as water-resistant usually have a rating of IPx7 or IPx8. A phone with an IPx7 rating can be submerged in water up to 1m deep, and for a period of up to 30 minutes.
However, a phone with an IPx8 rating can go down deeper and remain submerged for a longer period, as stated by the manufacturer.
Typically, in smartphones, this would be between 1m to 3m deep for a period of up to an hour, but this varies from device to device.
If a phone can withstand this much exposure to water even at the pressure of being immersed a meter deep, rain should not be much of a problem at all.
What if your phone is not water-resistant?
Of course, not all phones are made equal and as a result not all phones are IP67 or IP68 rated. But that’s not to say that you can’t use them to take photos in the rain.
In fact, you only need a rating of IPx2 to use your phone in certain rain conditions.
That said, it doesn’t hurt to play it safe. There are a couple of solutions you can try to keep your phone dry if you’re not sure about its water-resistance or just don’t want to risk exposing your phone to rainwater.
Waterproof case
Waterproof cases are by far my favourite solution for protecting phones against water and rain.
The term waterproof may be a bit misleading, but these cases do a great job. Not only do they offer protection from water damage, some are also dust-proof, weatherproof,and shock-proof.
My favourite waterproof case is the popular Lifeproof Fre series. It has an IP68 rating and can protect your phone at 2m underwater for up to an hour. Additional accessories make it easy for you to mount it on anything anywhere.
This phone case also fits well with these top-quality smartphone mounts for stands and tripods.
I think it’s a really great investment because the design makes it also suitable for everyday use. What’s more, it’s shock-proof! You won’t have to worry about the rain with this case.
Waterproof pouch
An alternative to waterproof cases is the waterproof pouch. Again, the term waterproof oversells what this accessory can do but that’s how it’s marketed and companies will say anything to sell product. Same thing with the truth about phone camera megapixels.
Pouches like the JOTO Universal Waterproof Pouch are a nice alternative because of how really affordable and universal they are. Unlike with waterproof cases that are phone-specific, waterproof pouches can fit a wide variety of phones.
These pouches can definitely protect your phone from the rain without a problem.
VERY IMPORTANT: Just because your phone is said to be water-resistant doesn’t mean it won’t ever be susceptible to water damage.
Cracked screens, constantly dropping your phone, and general wear and tear over time can impact your phone’s ability to keep water out.
I strongly recommend that you also use the above-mentioned solutions for phones with ingress protection just to be safe.
What else can you do to protect your phone?
Of course, there are other ways to protect your phone from potential water damage besides using a waterproof phone case or pouch. You don’t have to be standing in the rain to capture beautiful images of it and its effects.
If possible, stand somewhere sheltered and take shots from there. If that’s not an option, then an umbrella will have to do.
Obviously, it will be difficult to take photos with one hand while holding an umbrella with the other. In this case, a tripod for your smartphone will be necessary.
Once you’re done taking pictures in the rain with your phone, I strongly recommend that you dry the surface of your phone before you put in away to avoid moisture building up inside.
Also, it would be wise to avoid using headphones or charging your phone after the ports have been exposed to the rain.
I know some phones cut the power to the ports and warn you about moisture when you try to plug anything in before it’s completely dry, but rather play it safe and wait while.
Worried that your phone might have ingested some water?
If you’re worried that some water might have gotten inside your phone, then you need to take remedial action as soon as possible.
Avoid using a blow-dryer to dry your phone or leaving it in the sun or near a heat source. This may damage the internal parts of your phone.
The best thing to do would be to wipe any excess water from the surface of your phone and put it in some uncooked rice. The rice will absorb the moisture from your phone, but you have to act fast.
For more on how to deal with a soaked phone, check out this article from Wired.
So, should you shy away from taking photos in the rain with your phone? Not really, no. Provided your phone is well-protected against rain, either by design or by phone cover, you shouldn’t experience any problem shooting briefly in the rain with your phone.
For some tips on how to capture beautiful shots in the rain, click here.
Please use your own discretion when using your phone in or around water. Waterproof smartphone housings, cases, pouches and dry bags can be defective and can fail. The Smartphone Photographer will not be held responsible for any damage to property as a result of immersing your phone in or exposing it to water with or without any protection.
Comments 2
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