5DMkii weather sealing

Digifrog

Digifrog

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Scott
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Hello

I've heard from various photographers (some who are 5D2 owners) who say that the weather sealing on the 5D2 is not as good as it can be, compared to the D700 for example.

Is this generally the case?

Scott
 
i think you posted in the wrong section, and from what i understand the 5dmk11 is not as good as the d700
heres the 5dmk11 seals are red. notice none around the dial on back or shutter or hotshoe,
green is just rubber.
seals.jpg

d700 seals all yellow.
Nikon_D700_seals.jpg
 
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I have read on other forums that others have shot in the rain for 45 mins without any issues, however I would not be trying that.

I was advised to carry a clear bag and elastic bands, makes a great rain coat for the camera.

Heres Canons Quote:

Resistance to dust and water has been enhanced through the use of sealing material around openings for the battery compartment, memory card slot, and buttons (red). Additional protection is provided by highly accurate alignment of seams on the magnesium-alloy chassis and rubber grips as well as precision construction of each dial’s axis (green)..
 
this migh be of some interest.
http://www.jimreedphoto.com/content.html?page=5

http://prakashphotography.blogspot.com/2009/02/nikon-d700-vs-canon-5d-mk-ii-weather.html

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/antarctica-2009-worked.shtml
line from this.
The largest group of failures through were among the Canon 5D MKIIs. Of the 26 samples of this camera onboard, one quarter (six) failed at one time or another, and while three recovered, the other three never did. In all cases it appeared to be water or humidity damage. Of particular concern were two cameras which stopped working while completely protected within Kata rain covers during a light rain ashore. They came back to life the following day though and were mostly fine for the rest of the trip, but one died permenently just before the end of our voyage
No Nikon bodies (mostly D700s) failed in any way
 
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Thank you. Don't ask me how I posted this in this section, I've no idea :).

While on holiday in Devon a massive wave all but killed my Nikon D80 and as I was considering an upgrade anyway the weather sealing issue has become a bit of a priority.

I was tempted to get the 5D2 straight away but with this issue I think I'm going to stick to my plan and wait for the 5D3/D800 and take the decision from there.

Matt, the plastic bag set up might not be as daft as it sounds, the Aquapac is an option I suppose but it looks silly. It's a shame the 5D2 isn't fully weather protected. I suppose I could always get one of these...

558387729.jpg


scottthehat said:
this migh be of some interest.
http://www.jimreedphoto.com/content.html?page=5

http://prakashphotography.blogspot.com/2009/02/nikon-d700-vs-canon-5d-mk-ii-weather.html

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/antarctica-2009-worked.shtml
line from this.
The largest group of failures through were among the Canon 5D MKIIs. Of the 26 samples of this camera onboard, one quarter (six) failed at one time or another, and while three recovered, the other three never did. In all cases it appeared to be water or humidity damage. Of particular concern were two cameras which stopped working while completely protected within Kata rain covers during a light rain ashore. They came back to life the following day though and were mostly fine for the rest of the trip, but one died permenently just before the end of our voyage
No Nikon bodies (mostly D700s) failed in any way
Click to expand...

Aye, I've heard the Antarctica story before and it sticks in my mind every time I think of the 5D2. Which is a shame because I think I would prefer the 5D2(3) given if they were both equal in this respect.
 
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Trouble is the 5d mk2 is a studio/portrait/wedding camera. I guess if they put all the features of the 1D series into the lessor cameras no-one would buy the flagship models.

For what it's worth, I've shot in pouring rain several times with plastic bags over my cameras (300D, 400D, 40D & 50D) and none have died due to rain. In drizzle I've often just got a beer towel over my camera & lens.

Andy Rouse's last chat, he said he just used supermarket carrier bags and elastic bands.
 
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Trouble is the 5d mk2 is a studio/portrait/wedding camera
Click to expand...

And a hell of a good Landscape camera amongst other uses.

I just take care with mine and make sure it doesnt get soaked. Mine survived a trip round the butterfly house at Chester Zoo where the whole camera suffered terrible condensation.

Get yourself a second hand 1d3 and you'll have no worries about weather sealing.
 
shifted to correct section.


I've shot in some really heavy rain and humid environments with my 5d2, never had a problem with it. Common sense applies in all cases though with a little care and consideration for your equipment it'll last. A quick wipe with a cloth to keep the water build up down to a minimum at regular intervals is all it takes :)
 
My 5D2 multi-controller (joystick) started playing up in 20 minutes of light drizzle, making it impossible to select the AF point I wanted for certain compositions. Everything was fine once dried out, but I thought the performance was monumentally lame. It strikes me as an utter waste of time to bother sealing anything when such a trivial problem can render the camera all but unusable. Weakest link in the chain etc..

I haven't dared use the 5D2 in anything but the dry ever since. Fortunately I have a 1D3 and 7D for moister conditions, not that I've needed to put either one to the test. I don't want to shoot in the rain.
 
People go outside to take photos when it's wet :thinking: ;)
 
The big point I see missing on the is the weather sealing between the body and weather sealed lenses!

It's all well and good some of the Canon L lenses having the weather sealed mount if only a small proportion of the bodies (1D series) have the corresponding seal!
 
tdodd said:
My 5D2 multi-controller (joystick) started playing up in 20 minutes of light drizzle, making it impossible to select the AF point I wanted for certain compositions. Everything was fine once dried out, but I thought the performance was monumentally lame. It strikes me as an utter waste of time to bother sealing anything when such a trivial problem can render the camera all but unusable. Weakest link in the chain etc..

I haven't dared use the 5D2 in anything but the dry ever since. Fortunately I have a 1D3 and 7D for moister conditions, not that I've needed to put either one to the test. I don't want to shoot in the rain.
Click to expand...


In keeping with its XD designation, the 7D shares the same extensively-sealed magnesium construction as the 5D Mark II. Canon again claims the same degree of moisture and dust resilience as the EOS-1N pro-level film SLR from the 1990s.
sealing.jpg
 
Just to compare, this is the sealing from an Oly E-5, which I'd be happy to dip under water for a few seconds, as I have seen people doing in videos with no adverse effects.

Olympus-E-5-seals.jpg


DSC_0255v.jpg

DSC_0261v.jpg
 
scottthehat said:
In keeping with its XD designation, the 7D shares the same extensively-sealed magnesium construction as the 5D Mark II. Canon again claims the same degree of moisture and dust resilience as the EOS-1N pro-level film SLR from the 1990s.
sealing.jpg
Click to expand...

Hmmm? I thought the 7D was supposed to be a bit better than the 5D2. Oh well.....
 
tdodd said:
Fortunately I have a 1D3 and 7D for moister conditions, not that I've needed to put either one to the test. I don't want to shoot in the rain.
Click to expand...

The 7D has superior weather sealing to the 5D2? Or would you risk the 7D in wet conditions because it's a cheaper camera?
 
Have used both bodies loads in all conditions at rallies etc, water dripping off, covered in gravel dust, covered in snow in sub zero temperatures

It's a camera, it's meant to be used everywhere in all conditions
 
Digifrog said:
The 7D has superior weather sealing to the 5D2? Or would you risk the 7D in wet conditions because it's a cheaper camera?
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The price has nothing to do with it. I thought the 7D had advanced on the weather sealing protection offered by the 5D2. According to the Canon literature I have read that would appear to be true. To quote from the White Paper for the 50D and 5D2....

In both camera bodies, the weather and dust seals have been improved around the battery compartments and memory card doors, and increased precision in the alignment of the magnesium alloy external cover seams and in the optimal design of camera parts and structures contribute to the cameras’ dust and water resistance. Internal gaskets and sealing materials are used extensively at the cameras’ buttons, tripod sockets, and surrounding the LCDs. As a result, the EOS 5D Mark II now has dust and water resistance that is almost equal to that of the EOS-1N—Canon’s top-of-the-line professional 35mm SLR for most of the 1990’s.
Click to expand...

I'm not aware of a White Paper for the 7D, but to quote from page 14 of this website - http://www.canon-europe.com/cpn_eos7d/....

In terms of weather sealing, the EOS 7d features the same level of weather resistance as the old EOS-1N film camera.
Click to expand...

I've highlighted the subtle difference. The distinction may be small and unquantified, but the 7D should be better. Quite honestly, for the claims for the 5D2 to be worth squat I would think that light drizzle, even for 20 minutes, should not cause a malfunction. I would not expect the same disappointment from my 7D. Of course, I did not expect it from my 5D2 either.
 
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