Weather Sealing is a Gimmick.

mpgxsvcd wrote:

jhinkey wrote:

Just so much not right in this post . . . .

Ok. So let us know what you think is wrong about it.

Ok -

Weather sealing is simply a warranty. It simply says that if you are using a weather sealed camera with one of "their" weather sealed lenses then they will honor the warranty if it was being operated under a limited set of conditions.

And I say if a company puts in weather sealing and it allows me to use the camera under an increased set of adverse conditions, all the better. I've had plenty of buttons that stopped working or viewfinders fog over due to no being weather sealed that weather sealing actually provides value to me.

Weather sealing doesn’t guarantee that it won’t break due to weather. It just simply guarantees that they will cover the repairs if it does break under certain conditions.

And that's fine. Nothing wrong with that.

It is completely up to the manufacturer to determine whether it was being used properly or not. They can easily deny your warranty claim if they feel it was not being used in a “Properly Weather Sealed Configuration”.

They usually state what those conditions are - so adhere to them. If you want a piece of gear to reliably work outside those conditions you'll have to figure out (a) how to do that safely or (b) how much of a chance you will take.

Basically, weather sealing is an absolute gimmick. They determined how many people would actually send their cameras in for repair after weather damage. Then they calculated how much it would cost to fix those few cameras and jacked the price of the “Weather Sealed” cameras up by that amount plus a hefty profit.

One definitiion of the word gimmick: "In marketing language, a gimmick is a unique or quirky special feature that makes something "stand out" from its contemporaries. However, the special feature is typically thought to be of little relevance or use. Thus, a gimmick is a special feature for the sake of having a special feature."

I don't place rubber seals around buttons, windows, etc. as being of little relevance or use.

I use my non weather sealed E-PM2 on my telescope during the winter. It is typically left out at sun down in very humid conditions. Then the temperature drops below freezing and all of the dew freezes on the camera and on the screen.

I also use my non-weather-sealed cameras in some wet/humid conditions and occasionally I've had troubles. I also use my weather-sealed cameras in the same conditions and have yet to have a problem. Sure you can get a piece of gear to work in some adverse conditions, but eventually it will catch up with it.

I come back out 8 hours later and it is still chugging away taking pictures even though it isn’t weather sealed. Even the “not weather sealed cameras” are more durable than you think. I abuse it like this at least once a month during the winter.

So, do you leave it out in the rain? Wind or dust? No one I think is saying that a non-weather sealed camera/lens will instantly fall apart if they get wet, freeze, or are exposed to wind/dust. What they are saying is that a weather sealed camera will have a much higher chance of surviving rain, snow, dust, humidity, cold, etc.

Also remember that the camera is only weather sealed with a weather sealed lens on it. All other lenses will not qualify for the weather sealed warranty if anything weather related happens while you are using them. They are going to want to see both the camera and the lens for the warranty repairs to find out what failed. They won't just take your word for it that you were using a weather sealed lens.

Depends on what failed on the camera now doesn't it? If a back button stops working or the top LCD is fogged over with condensation that wouldn't have anything to do with having a sealed lens.

How many of you have ever sent a non-weather sealed camera in for weather related damage that would have been covered under warranty if it had been weather sealed? I am guessing that number is very, very small.

Why would you send in a non-weather sealed camera for warranty if it's no weather sealed? It's small because it's illogical.

I am guessing that most of the cases involving weather related damage are probably of the “I dropped my camera in the lake” and not the “it was very humid or drizzling” kind. Dropping it in a lake will not be covered under warranty no matter what lens is on it and whether it is weather sealed or not.

Why are you even talking about dropping it in a lake - this has nothing to do with your previous words.

I've taken my pro-level, weather sealed gear out in some bad conditions and not had issues.  I've taken some non-weather-sealed gear out in moderate conditions and had issues with buttons, screens, etc.

"Weather" is not an absolute description of a state to be sealed against - so "weather sealing" or "weather resistant", etc. is as defined by the manufacturer.  If you don't like there definition buy something else.