How water / weather proof are cameras

CrazeUK

CrazeUK

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Hey guys, how water / weather poof is a digi SLR.
I have a D7000, and have decided never to use it in a sand storm lol.

However in the UK i doubt we would have very many of them.
We do have plenty of rain.

How concerned should i be about the elements damaging my cam?
Including humidity, wind, dust etc,
 
i personaly wouldnt let my cameras get wet ,but a tp member i know has a nikon d70 and has taken it out on meets when its been hissing down all day ,he dosen't keep it out of the rain ,when he gets home he takes the battery out wipes the body over then he's good to go the next day ,,as i say i wouldn't do it myself though ( and a d70 is cheap to replace if it does go bang )
 
one of my d3s's gets taken out in all weathers, been absolutely drenched, frozen solid, covered in mud, you name it. hasn't missed a beat
 
Well, its certainly shower proof at the very least... so don't be that precious about it.

When I'm out with my D300 in the hissing rain all day I do tend to use a rain cover - to protect the lens mount area from a massive soaking - thats the weak spot even when using some of the better lenses with seals.

Some rain...

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Some more rain

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As for mud and sand... yeah that too. Just make sure you clean it off afterwards...

Mud...

CH_MMX_AK_090308_7852.jpg


Sand...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/napalm_uk01/3302034692/
 
Three posts on Nikons how about Canons? I was asking myself the same question when it started to rain Saturday!
 
razza said:
Three posts on Nikons how about Canons? I was asking myself the same question when it started to rain Saturday!
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Hardly any difference from what m'learned comrade has said above you. When it comes to Canikon, it's mainly down to the build of the camera series, but most will work fine until it really starts tipping down.
 
Before my D300, I used to use a Canon 30D, the same was pretty much true but the non-pro bodied Canon and non-L lenses didn't have good mount sealing and so the rain cover was even more important.

I manage to spend eight straight hours in the chucking rain with it at a MX meet once though before the dreaded Err01's were so continuous you couldnt get a shot off.

Despite all that, after drying and cleaning it was back to normal.

I appreciate some of you will be terrified by what I've told you, but your kit is far more robust than you might think - it might even be more robust than you ;-)
 
desantnik said:
Before my D300, I used to use a Canon 30D, the same was pretty much true but the non-pro bodied Canon and non-L lenses didn't have good mount sealing and so the rain cover was even more important.

I manage to spend eight straight hours in the chucking rain with it at a MX meet once though before the dreaded Err01's were so continuous you couldnt get a shot off.

Despite all that, after drying and cleaning it was back to normal.

I appreciate some of you will be terrified by what I've told you, but your kit is far more robust than you might think - it might even be more robust than you ;-)
Click to expand...

Except for being dropped :(

Rain though, most of them can take a bit of rain fine. Just don't dunk them in a pond :P
 
Yeah dropping it isn't a good idea...particulary with a big heavy lens on the front!

The only damage we've suffered over the years is sand fowling a button on a D700 that needed one of the buttons replacing... although everyone was surprised at that actually happening.
 
However it doesn't matter how weather sealed the body is, if the lens is like a sieve the water/sand/mud will find its way in past all the seals.

However saying that, I fell into the sea with the D5000 in hand:eek:, wish somebody had filmed that - hand raised out the water like the lady in the lake and excalibur :lol:- but I wiped the salt water off quickly and the camera still works a treat.:thumbs:
 
Yeah - the problem really is that anecdotes about "it was far worse rain than anybody had ever seen and my Handicam got drenched but it's super awesome" aren't going to help you if you wreck your camera.

Pro build bodies are pretty robust and even prosumer stuff like a D700 can take the occasional beating. But one day something will make its way past a seal. maybe the first time you try it. Maybe the 1,001st.

I've done some pretty stupid stuff to cameras. I've also paid for one fairly hefty repair that was mainly caused by sand in a lens (though the fault sheet ran to 2 pages).

If I was using it in a sandstorm I'd wrap every bit of it I could in cling film. Weather seal + cling film has to be more dust proof than just weather seal, right? For heavy rain get a Hydrophilia or something cheaper (even a ziplock). Every little helps.
 
No so much water but i left my A580 outside all night in minus 7 and apart from the battery being dead the front lens element frozen solid and the lcd screen frozen it all thawed out fine
 
Both my Canon 350D and 40D have been completely soaked in rain before. The 350 never missed a beat, the small joystick on the back of the 40D stopped working in one direction until it dried, has been fine since.
 
If I were shooting in this all of the time or as a pro I'd have a better sealing system, but this was just a D90 + 300f4 (the old one) neither of which have any major seals. I was happy to walk out from under the overhang, snap my pictures, and walk back under. It was pouring hard and the camera/lens got soaked, but a quick wipe and it was a bit less sopping.

A handy kit addition that I keep meaning to get another of is a chamois towel like swimmers use. They are only slightly bigger than a lens cloth but soak up a TON of water. Very handy.

Thanks
Rick

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gridlock said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1tTBncIsm8

Skip to 03:40
Click to expand...

Notice how he has the battery out of the cams.. lol, is it good practice to keep them out?

So by that video the Canon is more durable lol.. damn bad purchase if I always wanted to give it to DigiRev to use as a lump of metal. Besides they forgot to show us the photos the cams took!
 
I just put on a rain cover and carry on, just make sure you take the camera out of the bag when you get home:)
 
My 500D+450D have been out in some rough weather rain shooting a rally and cricket fireworks etc usually stick a cloth over the top to try keep the lens mount from getting a soaking or put an umbrella up stuff the handle down my coat for hands free keeping dry it even survived splashes of gravy. I do use L lenses though so it does help I guess.

I think they are tougher than we are meant to beleive but its still a fear with £500+ worth of camera to get it wet.
 
i have 1d series cameras and L lens.. weather sealed.. when it pours down i put covers on them... ..why? well more the point... why not? just because it says weather sealed on the package doesnt mean i should let 17k of cameras and lens get wet while shooting football... no good reason not to cover them up so why not take that extra step..

the worse reason in the world to let your camera get soaked is......just because it says weather proof on the packet :)
 
KIPAX said:
i have 1d series cameras and L lens.. weather sealed.. when it pours down i put covers on them... ..why? well more the point... why not? just because it says weather sealed on the package doesnt mean i should let 17k of cameras and lens get wet while shooting football... no good reason not to cover them up so why not take that extra step..

the worse reason in the world to let your camera get soaked is......just because it says weather proof on the packet :)
Click to expand...

Totally agree, might as well put the cover on and if little rain did hit on the lens/body it will not harm the gear.

Just that extra protection if needed.
 
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