“That’s disgusting,” you’d reply. “I know how to protect it.” But, Mom was usually right, and then came that day when you whipped it out and learned your lesson. That trip to the clinic was embarrassing, and everyone laughed at you for not having protected your most valuable property.

Put a UV filter on all your expensive lenses to protect the front element. Oh, you thought I was talking about something else? Get your mind out of the gutter. I should have known seeing you in that raincoat with the bag of candy in the pocket.

Nowadays, most decent cameras are weather-resistant but not waterproof. Still, do you really want to take a six thousand dollar camera and lens and have someone spray you with a hose to prove it?