Camera waterproofing

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31 Dec 2005
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Always on the M1.....
Just how waterproof are cameras these days when they say they are weather sealed or words to that effect?

My 40D was as far as I know not weather sealed at all but got plenty of reasonable water on it and didn't noticeably come to harm. I obviously can't take one underwater, but is it limited to light rain, or can they put up with a downpour?

I've never really seen any comparisons but I would have thought somebody would have compiled some sort of list. Or if any body has experiences to share, particularly Canon as that is what I have.

Cheers!
 
No camera is waterproof until you put it Ina waterproof housing.

Models with weather sealing offer some additional resistance to water ingress. However, the degree of resistance depends upon the manufacturer and the camera. E.g. Both canon and Nikon pro series can be used in heavy rain with moderate confidence in an emergency when you must have that photo but should really be protected. Lower model on the canon side had fairly poor resistance, e.g. The 5dmkii had a renowned failure rate in adverse conditions which helped bolster its reputation as a studio lens., Apparently the 5dmkiii is better but only time will tell really. Nikon cameras from the d300 are fairly good weather resistance wise. Never heard of a y complaints form d300/d700 owners.

All the lower models should survive light grain but you don't want rain building up and seeping in, I tend to use my d90 in light rain just making sure it is put away in my backpack between shots.
 
It just seems a little difficult to find out what they mean by "weather sealed". Whilst I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way to get them soaked, it would be nice to have an idea of the sort of limits involved.

Assuming of course that the lens doesn't upset things and let water in!
 
My 7D got absolutely drenched at the Jubilee Flotilla, similarly did my 5D during the women's road race at the Olympics. Naturally you worry about your gear getting so wet, but you don't want to miss the shot. Both held up with their weatherproofing perfectly though which gives me more than enough peace of mind.
 
Nexus said:
My 7D got absolutely drenched at the Jubilee Flotilla, similarly did my 5D during the women's road race at the Olympics. Naturally you worry about your gear getting so wet, but you don't want to miss the shot. Both held up with their weatherproofing perfectly though which gives me more than enough peace of mind.
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You and Prince Philip too!

I had my 40D soaked on a boat transfer and other than wet lens filter, it performed fine. Has also been through sand and jungle with little problem, but hence part of the reason for upgrading to a "weather sealed" body. I think it was more luck than anything else.
 
Taken my D3 and weather sealed lenses out in the worst of rain and snow in below 0 temperatures and it just keeps on going. Important thing to note is most lenses aren't weather sealed, so its not just your camera body you have to worry about. Out of my lenses, my nikon 24-70G F2.8 and 105G F2.8 VR are both fully weather sealed from front to back.
 
D.P. said:
No camera is waterproof until you put it Ina waterproof housing.

Models with weather sealing offer some additional resistance to water ingress. However, the degree of resistance depends upon the manufacturer and the camera. E.g. Both canon and Nikon pro series can be used in heavy rain with moderate confidence in an emergency when you must have that photo but should really be protected. Lower model on the canon side had fairly poor resistance, e.g. The 5dmkii had a renowned failure rate in adverse conditions which helped bolster its reputation as a studio lens., Apparently the 5dmkiii is better but only time will tell really. Nikon cameras from the d300 are fairly good weather resistance wise. Never heard of a y complaints form d300/d700 owners.

All the lower models should survive light grain but you don't want rain building up and seeping in, I tend to use my d90 in light rain just making sure it is put away in my backpack between shots.
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Pro series bodies and lenses are made to be used in poor weather :P it's not really an emergency situation.....

Seen loads of cool vids of people caking their cameras in snow etc in sub zero conditions. I've had my cameras and lenses covered in mud, rain and snow recently with no problems at all. That includes a 7D and 5d mk iii.
 
Most nature pros sitting it out in the luring rain will have their camera inside protective bags. No camera, including the pro desires have a defined ISO waterproof rating, not even showerproof which is some thing like 2000mm. That is mostly because the manufacturers don't want to guarantee that the cameras are waterproof to any particular level because for the most part they are not. The seals around battery and mem card compartments don't withstand any significant water ingress.

In harsh environments the lower camera models do start to break.
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/antarctica-2009-worked.shtml
25% failure rate on 5DMkII s.
 
You are linking to a very extreme scenario. For the UK, I would say that most pro bodies are absolutely fine in the downpour and snow. You are linking to a scenario which to me looks more like condensation and freezing temperatures, not a downpour. How would a lens jacket protect a camera in this situation? Surely it would make it even worse?

I have been out with the 70-200, 400 and 7d/5d mk iii/1dx in snow, got the 1dx and 400mm covered in mud, in downpours with no issue whatsoever. They are built to be used.

I own the Canon jackets for my lenses but yet to bother using them, unless we have a polar meltdown or something.
 
londonbairn said:
You are linking to a very extreme scenario. For the UK, I would say that most pro bodies are absolutely fine in the downpour and snow. You are linking to a scenario which to me looks more like condensation and freezing temperatures, not a downpour. How would a lens jacket protect a camera in this situation? Surely it would make it even worse?

I have been out with the 70-200, 400 and 7d/5d mk iii/1dx in snow, got the 1dx and 400mm covered in mud, in downpours with no issue whatsoever. They are built to be used.

I own the Canon jackets for my lenses but yet to bother using them, unless we have a polar meltdown or something.
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Weather was anything but extreme, a typical winters day in the UK

Shooting conditions were mostly benign, though we did have light rain on a couple of days early-on during some shore landings, and salt spray was always an issue. Temperatures were moderate, ranging from about +2C to -3C during our two weeks at the Peninsula
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I am regularly in much colder conditions and much wetter conditions!
 
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