Exactly How Water Sensitive are DSLR's ? (Rain etc)

gothgirl

gothgirl

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Now I am not considering trying my hand at underwater photography or, action shots at a water park.

But how exactly How Water Sensitive are DSLR's ?

I'm talking photos in the rain etc.

Where do you draw the line, how wet is too wet ( :naughty:
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) ?

Do you use something to protect the camera ?

Is the lens more sensitive to rain / water ?

Please Discuss.
 
Hi in light rain for a short time you wont have any problems as long as you make sure that you take the camera out of the bag when you get home so it can dry out you will be fine
I would get a rain cover and carry on photographing that's what I do:)
 
The K-series Pentax cameras are quite good in the wet - I am not sure of the cheaper variants (K100D,200D,x,m,r etc) but the K10D, K20D,K-5/7, K-30 etc have all been advertised as water resistant. As long as the lens is WR too and don't go changing lenses in the rain, you are fine. After a trip to Africa I tend to shower my cameras. Compared to SWMBO's EOS 50D my K20D survived unruly Pacific waves while whale watching from Vancouver Island, the 50D just malfunctioned.. A night on an AC unit and the EOS has been fine since..
 
Hmmm I may invest in a rain cover, for rainy day shooting, any recommendations ?

Are the lens generally alright, if I don't expose them to the elements by changing lenses
 
I bought mine on ebay cant remember the seller tho :bonk:
but do a search the waterproof nylon ones with an elasticated front for the end of the lens are what you want
the rain cover will cover lens and camera
 
If you use L series lenses then they have a sealing gasket where the lens meets the body and are considered shower proof but your 40D body isn't so you will have to be careful with that. For the odd light shower a micro fibre cloth is the tool for wiping them dry and draped over the top it will absorb the rain for a while before letting it through to the camera as well.
 
I use a Storm Jacket camera cover similar to the one in this image taken a few weeks ago at Weston Beach Race.
She is gripping the cover to zoom, but my preference is to open up the Velcro strip designed to take the tripod head and stick my hand inside the cover. Keeps my hand warm too :)
There are cheaper options, but I can't fault mine - it does the job extremely well!
i-39PnrPR-L.jpg


The big challenge is keeping rain off the front element as once that happens you can forget printable image quality.
Trying to get the glass dry in conditions like those in the image are VERY difficult.
A large lens hood helps, but a windy day is still a real challenge. :)
 
DuncanDisorderly said:
I use a Storm Jacket camera cover similar to the one in this image taken a few weeks ago at Weston Beach Race.
She is gripping the cover to zoom, but my preference is to open up the Velcro strip designed to take the tripod head and stick my hand inside the cover. Keeps my hand warm too :)
There are cheaper options, but I can't fault mine - it does the job extremely well!
i-39PnrPR-L.jpg


The big challenge is keeping rain off the front element as once that happens you can forget printable image quality.
Trying to get the glass dry in conditions like those in the image are VERY difficult.
A large lens hood helps, but a windy day is still a real challenge. :)
Click to expand...

As awesome as that is, my budget does not stretch that far !

I believe that this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200973316939?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

would probably suit my needs.... does this seem allright ? Just for light rain ? (spitting lol) I can't see myself using my camera in the above situation lol
 
You can get similar covers to the storm jacket on eBay for about £12 that are made from tough waterproof nylon
Not saying that the storm jacket isn't excellent but the eBay one's are still very good if you are on a budget
I've been using them for a few years and have sat in the rain photographing puffins for an afternoon and my camera and lens was still dry
 
I keep an OpTech rain sleeve in my bag but rarely use it - if I need a rain coat myself, I'd rather get out of the rain than hang around shooting! On the rare occasions I am goint to be out in the rain (like at the beach race Duncan mentioned above), I'll take a properly waterproof camera, currently a D-10 Canon but soon a Nikon 1 AW. While I believe my bodies and a couple of my lenses are shower proof, I'd rather not end up testing them to destruction... (A few drops of drizzle wouldn't worry me too much but a downpour would.)
 
Just had a look at GothGirl's link; just one comment...
I noticed on a number of bodies I have owned that when using a lens that extends (e.g. 24-105), I get quite noticeable puffs of air on my eyeball when I zoom.
The air's got to come from somewhere - and I guess it tries to force air out through the gaps in the lens and body.
I've never bothered looking for where the puff of air comes from, but I've assumed it is the dioptre adjustment.
The air has to leak in/out somewhere, or the lens would never zoom!
So much for the idea of weather sealing :)

Which brings me to my comment....
That OpTech rain sleeve has a thingy that allows the viewfinder to stick out the bag.
I'm wondering if the source of the puff of air I spotted would end up sucking water into the camera.
My Storm Jacket keeps the whole camera body covered; only need to expose the viewfinder when you are taking a shot.
 
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Always use something to protect your gear from the rain. Marketing droids will try to add B/S about 'weather-proofing' and other such terms. The truth is that if your camera is damaged by water then your warranty and your statutory legal rights are toast.
 
welshwizard645 said:
The K-series Pentax cameras are quite good in the wet - I am not sure of the cheaper variants (K100D,200D,x,m,r etc) but the K10D, K20D,K-5/7, K-30 etc have all been advertised as water resistant. As long as the lens is WR too and don't go changing lenses in the rain, you are fine. After a trip to Africa I tend to shower my cameras. Compared to SWMBO's EOS 50D my K20D survived unruly Pacific waves while whale watching from Vancouver Island, the 50D just malfunctioned.. A night on an AC unit and the EOS has been fine since..
Click to expand...
My K5 went over in the sea because I hadn't locked a tripod leg properly. Didn't fancy salt creeping in, so washed it under the shower when I got home. Fantastic !!
 
It really depends on the lens and camera as mentioned. I've used my D7000 and 17-55 in tropical rainstorms for short spaces of time and had it out around the Victoria falls walking through the spray (read: half a river falling on you) just covering it a little with my hand in the worst of it. Both times it's been find, however both parts are weather sealed, I wouldn't have done that with the 400D...
 
i got a little rain in the shutter button of one of the non-water resistant canons once, went on rapid fire.

tried optech but found them fragile and they foggy up a tonne. got some stormjackets instead, work a treat and the larger ones have a tripod mount hole. not the cheapest but cheaper alternatives are available.


IMG_7037_800 by neilgates, on Flickr
 
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