[ChrisTrevino]

So....I've been trying to find some actual sample pictures shot while it was raining with a WR or DA* Lens and I can't seem to find any.

I thought the whole point of going out of your way to buy a weather resistant lens was so you could shoot in the rain without worry?

I've seen plenty of videos where people rinse their cameras and WR or DA* lenses in the shower or a hose. I have not seen an pictures that were taken in the rain though. There are a lot that look like they were taken maybe AFTER it had rained, but none in the actual rain.

I bring it up because I'm looking for a lens to go with my K-5 so that I am not stuck in the house just because it's raining. Something I can go for a walk for an hour or 2 and not have to worry. It rains here a lot in Spring/Summer but it's normally warm enough to be out. Since only my camera is sealed I generally don't go out when it rains. Obviously I would be carrying a rag with me to keep it wiped off. I'm not a complete idiot after all, just a partial one.

So, to be honest DA* lenses are out of my price range as I am saving up for other lenses I want like an 85 1.4, 70-200 2.8, 10-24, 120-400 and a 90 or 100mm Macro. I'm not looking for a super fantastic lens. Just one I can safely take out in the rain without too much worry. A "Walk Around" as I have no intention of swapping lenses in the rain. I was looking at the 18-135mm or the 50-200mm and I was kind of leaning towards the 50-200 as I generally don't shoot much wider than 50mm anyway. Plus it's sub $300 price range is nice. I could also always get the 18-55 later on in case I change my mind and want to take that lens for a walk one day instead of the 50-200. Combined both lenses are still cheaper than the 18-135.

I need a safe to use in the rain lens because I am the king of excuses. "I can't do this because it's raining/snowing." "There's nothing to shoot because it's raining/snowing." So it's a process of eliminating excuses.

I've read stories of people who say they've shot in hurricanes even without a WR lens and have not had an issues. I have not seen any of the images they shot though.

If you won't post pictures you shot in the rain how am I to believe you actually did?

So, I'm asking for WR Lens opinions and samples of a lens in actual use in the rain. Video or Stills is fine. I'm just looking for something substantial so I can settle on something. I'd rather not risk killing my K-5.

Plan B is to just buy a WG-3 and hope that it can take some decent images.

Here's my objectives to use the WR for:

Street: Downtown Detroit in the Rain
Nature: Wildlife around Creeks, Train Tracks, Birds bathing in puddles.
Portraits: Art Portraits and Fashion Portraits in the rain.(I know a kit WR lens will not be that sharp but with off camera flashes in 1 gallon freezer bags I can still pull it off.)
General: Reflections off Wet Roads @ Night, General Shooting, Scenery.

As these are my interests in a WR lens I have been leaning towards the 50-200mm.

I'd likely have the camera Body bagged for the Portraits but not the lens. My Wireless Triggers are not WR so keeping the top of the camera dry is good for them. I'm also not sure how sealed the Pop Up Flash is. If the camera is full sealed with the pop u in use I'd prob skip the bag and triggers as well and just use it to trigger the speedlights.

Anyway, Samples? Real Life Stories? Videos? Stills? Anything to help me solidify my decision?

[Mareket]

Not a WR lens, but it's a shot from the DA* 16-50 in the rain. I can vouch for the sealing in DA* zoom lenses, I've taken both of them through rough weather and I've not mollycoddled them and they're absolutely fine. Also, you might not see that many shots in the rain because it's difficult to shoot without getting droplets on the front element, as seen above.

If I were you I'd buy a DA* zoom and skip the other lenses if you want to settle on something. Probably not what you wanted to hear.

Other than that you'll probably be fine with the 50-200, it's a good lens and the WR of the kit lenses is still very good in my experience.

I would implore you to go for the DA* 50-135 though, it's an absolute gem of a lens. I've veered myself away from an 85/1.4, 77/1.8, 90/2.8, 100/2.8 and various others simply because the 50-135 is just too good for it to be worth shelling out for an entirely different lens that will only be better in one specific respect.

Another one from the 50-135 this time in salty sea wind off the scottish coast:

[ChrisTrevino]

Ya, water drops are an issue with shooting in the rain. But if you never shoot in the rain you'll never figure out how to minimize them. In the shot you shared it looks like you are shooting straight up as well.

If I could afford the $1600 I'd be all over that. I love Pentax but due to the cost of their lenses I generally buy 3rd party.

I am going after those other specific lenses for those reasons actually. I want lenses that are good for just 1 thing. Plus, at the cost of the 50-135 I could buy 3 of those other lenses.

I have the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 and I love it. I'm planning on getting the Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 to go with it. These will be my general lenses for most shooting. Then there's the Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Macro for...well...macros. The Tamron 10-24mm for Wide Angle and the 85mm f/1.4 from Samyang for portraits. The 85mm will be combined with the 50mm f/1.4 I have and go with my K-01. <3 Focus Peaking The 120-400 is a Sigma and mostly for Wildlife.

Like I said, I'd love to buy Pentax Lenses, they just cost more than their cameras do and it already took me a year to save up for my K-5 & Tamron 28-75mm.

I do not have a job and photography is barely making me any money. People can't justify paying for pictures like they can paying $500 on a new coach bag. Priorities eh?

So, I always try to go Bang For Buck which is why I got the Tamron 28-75 which is a fantastic lens that rarely leaves my K-5. The K-01 usually has my old Pentax M 50mm f/1.4 on it.

Thank you for sharing you experience and opinions with me.

[kh1234567890]

Will snow do ?

18-55WR, 50-200WR and 18-55WR again. There is nothing wrong with that pair of WR lenses if you don't want to splash out for DA*s.

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Last edited by kh1234567890; 04-12-2013 at 07:27 AM.

[TER-OR]

My profile pic was shot in the rain, hence the 20yr old oilcloth hat.

[mike.hiran]

How about a speed boat on the ocean (tons of sea spray...) - da* 50-135


more sea spray and a salty dog (da18-55)


basic rain (da 18-55)


or sleet and freezing rain da*50-135 (and no, that is not a macro snowflake )


more rain makes flowers happy! dfa100wr


2 hours of solid torrential rains da*50-135


a true oregonian - another 2 hours in heavy rain da*50-135

[ChrisTrevino]

Thanks guys. Nice to see some real pictures in not so great conditions.

It's really helpful. Feel free to keep them coming.

[blackcloudbrew]

Well here's two with the K20d and DA*16-50 shot in pouring rain.

One



Two



And this was in a heavy drizzle
Three



WR works.

[TER-OR]

Great park trail shot!

[wullemaha]

Here a few taken with K-30 and 18-135 lens.

I like the shot with the Canonikon guy who actually needs an umbrella - I did not have one with my Pentax ;-)

[blackcloudbrew]

Honestly, even with WR umbrellas are sometimes necessary. The biggest problem I've had in rainy conditions is 1) keeping the viewfinder dry, and 2) keeping water off the front element (lens hoods help there but not always). If I'm shooting in rain with a tripod an umbrella comes in handy for shooting.

[wullemaha]

actually lens hood was enough for me up to now... but maybe you are right about tripod, never did that in the rain

[NitroDC]

This shot is just to show what the K-x and DA55-300mm lens can handle. Only the pop-up flash was covered by my cap and where I normally hold my hand under the lens when shooting, I held it over the lens, not that it helped much. After about 20min of this the lens and camera, especially the dials, were thoroughly wet. I took about 500 shots before the rain stopped. My Canicon friends all ran for cover. The K-x and lens are still working

The 55-300 isn't weather sealed though...

[Canada_Rockies]

My K10d with DA* 16-50 survived a trek under these falls without any damage. Under the falls on the path is worse than West Coast rainfall, believe me. The path goes under the falls from the right, where my friend Kirby is just going underneath in the red T and with his K200d. The snap with kids was taken from the left side of the first picture after passing underneath with my K10d and DA* 16-50. Neither camera suffered.

[ChrisTrevino]

The 55-300 isn't weather sealed though...

The K-x isn't weather sealed either lol.