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Weathersealing - what it really means?

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mobi1

mobi1

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What is the exact meaning of weather sealed camera/lens?

Can you really shoot with such camera in the rain? Will it still function if you drop it in a puddle?
Will it be OK to use it in a desert environment?

Does it really help to have a weather sealed camera/lens or it is just a marketing gimmick?
 
mobi1 said:
What is the exact meaning of weather sealed camera/lens?

Can you really shoot with such camera in the rain?
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That's how I use mine.
mobi1 said:
Will it still function if you drop it in a puddle?
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I wouldn't count on it. Weatherproof isn't waterproof.
mobi1 said:
Will it be OK to use it in a desert environment?
Click to expand...
That's how I use mine.
mobi1 said:
Does it really help to have a weather sealed camera/lens or it is just a marketing gimmick?
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Up to you. For me, I like it.
 
mobi1 said:
What is the exact meaning of weather sealed camera/lens?

Can you really shoot with such camera in the rain? Will it still function if you drop it in a puddle?
Will it be OK to use it in a desert environment?

Does it really help to have a weather sealed camera/lens or it is just a marketing gimmick?
Click to expand...
I shoot my Em1 Mk1 in the rain and humid conditions all the time. I shot my Gh5s in pouring rain.

How Olympus does weather sealing
 
It doesn’t really mean anything specific because none of the manufacturers use a standardised rating system.

Having said that, I’ve used sealed Pentax and Olympus cameras in horrendous conditions (winter in the Tasmanian Highlands) without issue, so there’s more to it than marketing.
 
It means exactly what the makers think it should mean. Beyond an implied assertion that each join/hole/door/dial has a rubber seal there is no agreement.

As to rain and deserts people have been taking cameras out in those conditions for years without trouble simply by exercising a bit of care, putting the camera in a carrying bag for example.
 
LensRentals has teardowns on a few cameras. Its meaning is there.

Luckily we no longer have to rely on the subjective forum analysis of " it feel bad in hand" from superheroes who were born with calibrated instruments for limbs.
 
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There are international standards for Ingress Protection (i.e. water and dust) called IP codes. However, AFAIK no camera or lens manufacturers currently use them. Maybe a camera casing is too complex with too major possible entry routes for water or dust to get in for manufacturers to risk quoting standards.

I believe that some camera bodies have had quoted IP codes in the past, e.g. the Olympus E1 4/3 DSLR.
 
mobi1 said:
What is the exact meaning of weather sealed camera/lens?
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As others have said, there is no universally agreed definition. However, there are some things that it definitely doesn't mean.
mobi1 said:
Can you really shoot with such camera in the rain?
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Yes - rain is weather.
mobi1 said:
Will it still function if you drop it in a puddle?
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No - a puddle isn't weather. The puddle might have been caused by weather, of course, but that's not the point.

You haven't mentioned humidity but that, too, isn't weather although it can be caused by weather. If a lens moves in and out while zooming or focusing it can pump air into the insides of the camera-lens. That air can carry water vapour - the seals can exclude liquid water such as raindrops but not vapour.
mobi1 said:
Will it be OK to use it in a desert environment?
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Yes - that isn't weather but the seals give protection against dust.
mobi1 said:
Does it really help to have a weather sealed camera/lens
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Yes - as long as you understand its limitations. You'll see many complaints from people who has suffered because they didn't understand them.
mobi1 said:
or it is just a marketing gimmick?
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No. Like every feature on a camera it has use for some people some of the time.
 
mobi1 said:
What is the exact meaning of weather sealed camera/lens?

Can you really shoot with such camera in the rain? Will it still function if you drop it in a puddle?
Will it be OK to use it in a desert environment?

Does it really help to have a weather sealed camera/lens or it is just a marketing gimmick?
Click to expand...
It usually means rubber gaskets are protecting the electronics in the camera/lens. YMMV. You could dump a bucket of water on a pentax and it will work just fine. I'm not sure I would do the same test on a Sony. Those gaskets I mentioned earlier should help with dust and sand in the desert but they won't help with sand scratching the lens or something else.

It really depends on how you use the camera. If you are shooting indoors all the time for studio work you wouldn't have any use of the weather sealing. If you are outside around water it can definitely be helpful.
 
 
mobi1 said:
What is the exact meaning of weather sealed camera/lens?
Click to expand...
the exact meaning is that no manufacturer will warranty against water damage.
mobi1 said:
Can you really shoot with such camera in the rain? Will it still function if you drop it in a puddle?
Will it be OK to use it in a desert environment?

Does it really help to have a weather sealed camera/lens or it is just a marketing gimmick?
Click to expand...
see above.
 
 
MILC man said:
mobi1 said:
What is the exact meaning of weather sealed camera/lens?
Click to expand...
the exact meaning is that no manufacturer will warranty against water damage.
MILC man said:
Can you really shoot with such camera in the rain? Will it still function if you drop it in a puddle?
Will it be OK to use it in a desert environment?

Does it really help to have a weather sealed camera/lens or it is just a marketing gimmick?
Click to expand...
see above.
Click to expand...
The warranty has nothing to do with the weather sealing in the camera. My samsung S9 can be submerged in water but the warranty doesn't cover water damage. This doesn't change the fact it works perfectly fine under water.
 
AwesomeIan said:
MILC man said:
mobi1 said:
What is the exact meaning of weather sealed camera/lens?
Click to expand...
the exact meaning is that no manufacturer will warranty against water damage.
AwesomeIan said:
Can you really shoot with such camera in the rain? Will it still function if you drop it in a puddle?
Will it be OK to use it in a desert environment?

Does it really help to have a weather sealed camera/lens or it is just a marketing gimmick?
Click to expand...
see above.
Click to expand...
The warranty has nothing to do with the weather sealing in the camera.
Click to expand...
one-off experience with some random camera doesn't change the fact that there is no warranty against water ingress.
 
MILC man said:
AwesomeIan said:
MILC man said:
mobi1 said:
What is the exact meaning of weather sealed camera/lens?
Click to expand...
the exact meaning is that no manufacturer will warranty against water damage.
MILC man said:
Can you really shoot with such camera in the rain? Will it still function if you drop it in a puddle?
Will it be OK to use it in a desert environment?

Does it really help to have a weather sealed camera/lens or it is just a marketing gimmick?
Click to expand...
see above.
Click to expand...
The warranty has nothing to do with the weather sealing in the camera.
Click to expand...
one-off experience with some random camera doesn't change the fact that there is no warranty against water ingress.
Click to expand...
You missed the point. Camera manufacturers will not warranty against water damage regardless of the weather sealing on the camera (and for good reason).

I could say the same thing about Pentax K-1. It is as weather sealed as any DSLR ever made but if you somehow manage to get water on the inside it won't be covered under warranty.
 
Most weather 'sealed' cameras have tight joints and o-rings that won't let water pass naturally. I've blown melting ice off of a control by mouth and blew water past the seal, though. . .

Since then I'll take my waterproof cameras out, will let them get saturated, but don't just leave them exposed when not in use (bag 'em). Sony, Olympus, Fuji, since that other incident I've no apprehensions about taking them out in precipitation. I don't treat them like they're impervious, however - reasonable expectations. Having more than one waterproof camera available does give me more courage than if I only had one, admittedly (won't have to cry for being w/o if I do let the smoke out of one of them).

I used "waterproof", but I mean "weather sealed" (there's a difference). I don't own a submersible camera.

--
...Bob, NYC
.
"Well, sometimes the magic works. . . Sometimes, it doesn't." - Chief Dan George, Little Big Man
.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bobtullis/
http://www.bobtullis.com
.
 
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AwesomeIan said:
MILC man said:
AwesomeIan said:
MILC man said:
mobi1 said:
What is the exact meaning of weather sealed camera/lens?
Click to expand...
the exact meaning is that no manufacturer will warranty against water damage.
AwesomeIan said:
Can you really shoot with such camera in the rain? Will it still function if you drop it in a puddle?
Will it be OK to use it in a desert environment?

Does it really help to have a weather sealed camera/lens or it is just a marketing gimmick?
Click to expand...
see above.
Click to expand...
The warranty has nothing to do with the weather sealing in the camera.
Click to expand...
one-off experience with some random camera doesn't change the fact that there is no warranty against water ingress.
Click to expand...
You missed the point. Camera manufacturers will not warranty against water damage regardless of the weather sealing on the camera (and for good reason).

I could say the same thing about Pentax K-1. It is as weather sealed as any DSLR ever made but if you somehow manage to get water on the inside it won't be covered under warranty.
Click to expand...
I didn't miss anything, and since you are repeating what I already said, it sounds like we agree.

it's far more accurate to call this weather resistance, because it's not weather sealing.
 
MILC man said:
AwesomeIan said:
MILC man said:
AwesomeIan said:
MILC man said:
mobi1 said:
What is the exact meaning of weather sealed camera/lens?
Click to expand...
the exact meaning is that no manufacturer will warranty against water damage.
MILC man said:
Can you really shoot with such camera in the rain? Will it still function if you drop it in a puddle?
Will it be OK to use it in a desert environment?

Does it really help to have a weather sealed camera/lens or it is just a marketing gimmick?
Click to expand...
see above.
Click to expand...
The warranty has nothing to do with the weather sealing in the camera.
Click to expand...
one-off experience with some random camera doesn't change the fact that there is no warranty against water ingress.
Click to expand...
You missed the point. Camera manufacturers will not warranty against water damage regardless of the weather sealing on the camera (and for good reason).

I could say the same thing about Pentax K-1. It is as weather sealed as any DSLR ever made but if you somehow manage to get water on the inside it won't be covered under warranty.
Click to expand...
I didn't miss anything, and since you are repeating what I already said, it sounds like we agree.

it's far more accurate to call this weather resistance, because it's not weather sealing.
Click to expand...
No, you did miss the point. A camera can have all sorts of weather sealing but not be covered under warranty for water damage. You seem to think that a camera is not weather sealed if the warranty doesn't cover water damage which is simply untrue.
 
MILC man said:
mobi1 said:
What is the exact meaning of weather sealed camera/lens?
Click to expand...
the exact meaning is that no manufacturer will warranty against water damage.
Click to expand...
That's not a meaning, it's a fact. But that fact has no bearing on what weather sealing means. The lack of warranty is because water can enter a camera as vapour in moist air and moist air isn't weather.
 
mobi1 said:
Does it really help to have a weather sealed camera/lens or it is just a marketing gimmick?
Click to expand...
No camera manufacturer that I know of warrants against water damage. That's your answer.
 
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