[pacerr]

Manila, huh?! The tropics? Hot and humid or dry(-ish) and dusty as I recall - unless it's changed a lot in the last 45 years.

The S1a with M42 primes in '65 or modern WR gear today? No question in my mind. I'd go with the WR gear and enjoy a little less worry about protecting camera stuff. Rain drops aren't the only reason to value WR attributes. For instance, it'll be interesting in 10-20 years to see if WR has a statistically significant effect on fungus.

If you spend a little more for quality gear that actually suits your purposes you'll soon forget the extra cost -- after all, you did manage to finally afford it. But if you go cheap you'll be reminded of it almost every time you use it.

H2

[brecklundin]

Manila, huh?! The tropics? Hot and humid or dry(-ish) and dusty as I recall - unless it's changed a lot in the last 45 years.

The S1a with M42 primes in '65 or modern WR gear today? No question in my mind. I'd go with the WR gear and enjoy a little less worry about protecting camera stuff. Rain drops aren't the only reason to value WR attributes. For instance, it'll be interesting in 10-20 years to see if WR has a statistically significant effect on fungus.

If you spend a little more for quality gear that actually suits your purposes you'll soon forget the extra cost -- after all, you did manage to finally afford it. But if you go cheap you'll be reminded of it almost every time you use it.
H2

Or more importantly you'll be reminded that ya went a tad too cheap everytime you CAN'T use the less expensive lense because it's wet outside. And for $40-$60 more you can at least give yourself a chance at some shots.

[SpecialK]

I think you can get 2 camera condoms for under $10.

[bdery]

I think you can get 2 camera condoms for under $10

Yeah, this is EXACTLY the same thing as using a WR kit

[TZH]

Yeah, this is EXACTLY the same thing as using a WR kit

But you can't wear "condoms" all around

[reeftool]

None of my lenses are WR. I regularly take my K10D with me for kayak trips, hiking, skiing, etc and haven't had any issues. Any splash water and droplets seem to collect on the back of the camera body and I'm far more concerned about a little water leaking in around all the knobs and buttons on the body. When I bought my camera, only the * lenses were weather sealed. However, if I was buying my camera today, I would certainly go for the WR kit lens which wasn't available 3 yrs. ago. The same will hold true for future purchases. If I have a choice, I will go for the WR version. I am not going to replace any lenses I already own with a WR version.

[kevinschoenmakers]

I recently bought a DA18-55WR to team up with my K10D as a weatherproof set, and I love it. The lens isn't very expensive (compared to other lenses), and it's weatherproof, so you get 2 kinds of piece of mind. Nothing will happen to it, and if something happens, it wasn't very expensive to begin with.

I recently took it on a long trip through the Philippines and southern China, and I'm very glad I did. I got some great shots with it, that I otherwise could or would not have taken because of the rain or bad weather (or my anticipation of it). As a Philipino I'm sure you know it can rain quite badly sometimes

Though it can't really be pushed to its extremes, the lens is capable of very decent Image Quality. I often mistake one of my photos as taken by one of my limiteds, while actually it was the DA18-55WR

[redeleon]

I recently bought a DA18-55WR to team up with my K10D as a weatherproof set, and I love it. The lens isn't very expensive (compared to other lenses), and it's weatherproof, so you get 2 kinds of piece of mind. Nothing will happen to it, and if something happens, it wasn't very expensive to begin with.

I recently took it on a long trip through the Philippines and southern China, and I'm very glad I did. I got some great shots with it, that I otherwise could or would not have taken because of the rain or bad weather (or my anticipation of it). As a Philipino I'm sure you know it can rain quite badly sometimes

Though it can't really be pushed to its extremes, the lens is capable of very decent Image Quality. I often mistake one of my photos as taken by one of my limiteds, while actually it was the DA18-55WR

yeah I am actually sold on the WR since Manila do have some sudden rainfalls..
and I'm worried about the Image Quality,... thanks for this!

thanks for all your inputs guys!
I'll be purchasing an 18-55mm WR this wednesday

if you got something more to share about DA WR lenses, please do so.
thanks!