Shootin' in the Rain

Come April showers, street sweepers will clean better, umbrella salesmen will clean up, and outdoor photographers will fret. That's when attaching a specialized umbrella to the tripod socket of your camera can be as vital as doing what your mother always said: if it's going to rain, take an umbrella! The Omega Probella Portable Protective Umbrella is made from water-repellent nylon. With slide bar, it weighs only 4.5 ounces.

 The umbrella provides a 20-inch diameter of coverage, but you can also adjust the tilt and height of the dome. (See diagram, left.) Available as well is a smaller version called the Popabrella that sports a 12-inch diameter and weighs 3 oz. Both "'brellas" will shield the lens and viewscreen from sun glare when it's time for May flowers. As for protecting your sinuses from the pollen that blooms in June, bring tissues.