Panasonic 100-300mm II may not be splash proof

Wasabi Bob wrote:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2014/12/18/phone-drying-systems/20212889/

Looks like USA Today ran the same story.

Rice is not the answer

Actually, they are not saying that rice does not work. They are saying that the system(s) they are trying to sell are better. I am pretty sure that they are right.

Still, rice seems to be a valid first aid in many situations, because it is readily available, simple to use, cheap and applying it does not have any special requirements such as electricity.

Wasabi Bob wrote:

drj3 wrote:

LMNCT wrote:

"Splashproof" is not listed under the specs for the 100 - 300 II. Guess you destroyed your own lens. The 100 - 400 is "Splashproof, but reasonable care should still be taken.

It takes about one minute to go to the Panasonic web and find

"Upgraded support for harsh weather conditions (Splashproof / Dustproof).:

http://shop.panasonic.com/cameras-and-camcorders/lumix-camera-lenses/H-FSA100300.html

Define "splash"?

If you order a drink at the bar and tell the bartender "with a splash", is that much water? Trust me, you are playing a game of semantics in what will likely be a loosing game.

Unless you see "water proof", you are only getting a small advantage, most likely very effective against condensation. And even with waterproof, the list of maintenance requirements is quite long.

If I through a quart of water at you, is that a "splash"?

I do understand that the equipment is not water proof and that it is unlikely that the manufacturer will repair a lens with salt water intrusion.  However, if the lens cannot withstand the splash of ocean water or a moderate amount of water on top of the camera, then, one may as well treat all cameras as not weather resistant.

I have had my Olympus E5 & E-M1.1 with the 12-60 and 50-200 SWD on the beach with ocean wave splashes, I have used both in moderate rain and both have had trips to a gentle running shower with no problems.  I am very careful not to zoom the lenses, without first wiping excess water from the zoom barrel or not zooming the lenses.

I suspected the rice would not work, and it didn't.

I'll take it in to Sanford Camera repair (in Arlington, MA) to see if they can fix it.  I suspect I will have to wind up sending to Panasonic repair in McAllen Texas.

Unfortunately, since McAllen is south of Houston, I don't know how the recent hurricane effected them.

Just send it to Panasonic.  Sorry for your troubles.

FWIW I've used my 100-300 II in a light drizzle for a few minutes to photo/video a family of bears at Yellowstone.  No issues, but I just wiped the barrel dry with my t-shirt before I retracted it.

DDWD10 wrote:

FWIW I've used my 100-300 II in a light drizzle for a few minutes to photo/video a family of bears at Yellowstone. No issues, but I just wiped the barrel dry with my t-shirt before I retracted it.

Though there is a bit of difference between rain and salt water.  If it had just been rain, I would have done the same.  But with salt, it is important to try and get the salt out of the system.  But what's done is done.

As I said earlier, even if what I did caused it, I no longer have the trust in Panasonic's weather sealing on lenses and will only get Olympus sealed lenses in the future.

One of the reasons I may, just may, be interested in the new Sony miniature model that fits in the palm of a hand.  Total waterproof and shockproof.  It may not be good for whale watching but it would be useful in a downpour and to have on hand for day to day stuff.  I am sorry the lens is funky sounding....with luck it will not cost you much except the nuisance factor.  I like the quality of Lumix product.  Never have stress tested them.  Live and learn I guess. Good observations here from others.

Wasabi Bob wrote:

Michael Meissner wrote:

I suspected the rice would not work, and it didn't.

I'll take it in to Sanford Camera repair (in Arlington, MA) to see if they can fix it. I suspect I will have to wind up sending to Panasonic repair in McAllen Texas.

Unfortunately, since McAllen is south of Houston, I don't know how the recent hurricane effected them.

1. McAllen was not effected by the storm.

2. In most cases they will not repair water damaged products, especially lens, since related corrosion can takes months to occur. I was told that long term reliability could not be guaranteed. They will usually offer you a good deal on a factory refurbished lens.

In my opinion,. that's a very honest approach. I'd be very upset if a repaired product failed shortly after it was repaired.

Thanks for the info.

I found my lost (5 weeks) GF1 and 20mm 1,7 in a snow bank, and put them in rice for 2 and a  half weeks. They were fine.

F.

FrankS009 wrote:

I found my lost (5 weeks) GF1 and 20mm 1,7 in a snow bank, and put them in rice for 2 and a half weeks. They were fine.

In this case, given it is salt water, it may be more problematical than normal water damage.  I've seen many people who recovered electronic gear with just rain/snow/etc. using rice or other methods to dry out the camera.

FWIW, the lens was working fine while it was getting splashed.  So perhaps it was the rinising off, perhaps something else.

Michael Meissner wrote:

DDWD10 wrote:

FWIW I've used my 100-300 II in a light drizzle for a few minutes to photo/video a family of bears at Yellowstone. No issues, but I just wiped the barrel dry with my t-shirt before I retracted it.

Though there is a bit of difference between rain and salt water. If it had just been rain, I would have done the same. But with salt, it is important to try and get the salt out of the system. But what's done is done.

As I said earlier, even if what I did caused it, I no longer have the trust in Panasonic's weather sealing on lenses and will only get Olympus sealed lenses in the future.

when we went to vietnam in 2014, my gh-4 w/ 12-35 f2.8 lens took a swim in halong bay.

1 meter for more than 30 seconds, definitely salt water.

everything except the polarizing filter was just fine after a fresh water rinse.

my iPhone 3 was not as fortunate.

drj3 wrote:

......... I am very careful not to zoom the lenses, without first wiping excess water from the zoom barrel or not zooming the lenses.

beside's the unfortunate event of a ruïned 100-300mmii, what's the point of a moderate rain waterresistant lens if you can't use the zoom barrel freely? ( it is my first rw set by the way g80 12-60mmkitlens)

offcaorse you don't  dangle the camera+ lens when rain is  poring down just outside your own rainprotecting clothes. And  keep it as dry as posible but stil if you need to make a image you don't want to need to remember to use your feet as zoomlever....

spike29 wrote:

drj3 wrote:

......... I am very careful not to zoom the lenses, without first wiping excess water from the zoom barrel or not zooming the lenses.

beside's the unfortunate event of a ruïned 100-300mmii, what's the point of a moderate rain waterresistant lens if you can't use the zoom barrel freely? ( it is my first rw set by the way g80 12-60mmkitlens)

offcaorse you don't dangle the camera+ lens when rain is poring down just outside your own rainprotecting clothes. And keep it as dry as posible but stil if you need to make a image you don't want to need to remember to use your feet as zoomlever....

i think i've violated all of these rules since i tend to use my trio of panasonic splash proof lenses and GH4 in torrential conditions.

lcubed11 wrote:

spike29 wrote:

drj3 wrote:

......... I am very careful not to zoom the lenses, without first wiping excess water from the zoom barrel or not zooming the lenses.

beside's the unfortunate event of a ruïned 100-300mmii, what's the point of a moderate rain waterresistant lens if you can't use the zoom barrel freely? ( it is my first rw set by the way g80 12-60mmkitlens)

offcaorse you don't dangle the camera+ lens when rain is poring down just outside your own rainprotecting clothes. And keep it as dry as posible but stil if you need to make a image you don't want to need to remember to use your feet as zoomlever....

i think i've violated all of these rules since i tend to use my trio of panasonic splash proof lenses and GH4 in torrential conditions.

well if they still work the WR is quite good then. and also zoom in and out wile water is dripping of the barrel?

I am not experienced in WR gear and don't want to find out the border of the resistance the wrong (money costing) way.

Michael Meissner wrote:

My local store had a near mint Panasonic 100-300mm mark II lens for sale, and I bought it on Saturday to add to my weather sealed lens collection (Olympus 12-50mm, Olympus 12-40mm, Olympus 14-150mm mark II, Panasonic 12-60mm [G85 kit lens], plus the classic 4/3rds lenses 11-22mm, 14-54mm, 50-200mm, and 50mm).

I went on a whale watch on Monday (US Labor Day), and had the 14-150mm mark II mounted on the E-m1 mark I and the 100-300mm mounted on the G85. While the day was sunny, we got splashed quite a lot.

I had distilled water in the car to rinse everything off, and later rinsed everything under the tap once again to get any salt off the gear.

The E-m1 mark I works fine. The 14-150mm mark II works fine. The G85 works fine. They've been on whale watches before. However, the 100-300mm mark II unfortunately makes a loud buzzing when I turn it on.

So, I'm putting it in a sealed box with uncooked rice for a few days to see if the rice can draw out the water. Hopefully it will work, otherwise I will probably need to find where the Panasonic lens repair facility is. Bummer.

Michael,

I recently bought the 100-300 zoom (severe GAS attack to supplement primes) and while I'm sorry to hear of your predicament I thank you for the information. I otherwise have E-M1.2s and all Oly PRO lenses and so will be very careful on a two-week birding trip along the south coast of Western Australia where some spring rain is always around the corner.

I hope the repair is quick and inexpensive.

MarkDavo wrote:

I hope the repair is quick and inexpensive.

OP has got my chance imo.

As soon as Panasonic opens the lens and see salt deposit inside it's over and done.

If i think of the carscreen wipers the drops are gone after the sealrubberstrip but the miccroscopic film of water not, i think. (window is still wet) thats why the wipers start squeeking when the window gets dry.

So  i could think of the same system when the barrel moves the drops are wiped off but the moistfilm is going inside the outerlensbarrel wile the inner barrel retracts?

In this matter only a innerzoomsystem can be truly waterresistance because of  the static seals.

So if i follow this theory WR means Dust resistance wile zooming and raindrop resistance wile you don't retract the barrel when wet.

Good to know when i go for a walk and it starts to rain and i still want to make pictures.