how good are the weather seals on the star * lenses?

kauaiguy · 03-05-2009, 10:53 PM

just curious, how good ARE the weather seals on the DA * lens?

can you take your k10d and this lens out in the pouring rain or shoot on a boat in high seas? i checked at the pentax site and didn't find anything specific, though i might have missed something.

any real world examples?

many thanks! mahalo,

d

ps, i did search the forums, but weather sealing is mentioned a lot, but mostly in regards to "thank god for weather sealing!" without specifics. thanks!

Last edited by kauaiguy; 03-06-2009 at 11:46 AM. Reason: didn't know only DA* had weather seals

blende8 · 03-06-2009, 12:45 AM

Originally posted by kauaiguy

can you take your k10d and this lens out in the pouring rain or shoot on a boat in high seas?

Rain is absolutely no problem.
I was in rain several times already with this lens.
I even rinsed it once under the water tap because it was full of sand.

Not sure about the sea though, because salt is destructive for the coating.
A filter is a must in this case I would say.

fwcetus · 03-06-2009, 07:17 AM

Originally posted by kauaiguy

just curious, how good ARE the weather seals on the * lenses, especially the 50-135?

Just to make clear (because the subject line does not), for future readers of this thread, you're discussing the weather-resistance of the line of DA* lenses, and not all * lenses (i.e., M*, A*, F*, etc.). The older "star" lenses are not any more weather sealed than their more mundane siblings.

[Back in January I was caught on my bicycle in a Florida cloudburst carrying my K20D and an F* 300/4.5 dangling from my neck - I sacrificed the wearing of the sweatshirt I had with me to wrap it around the camera and lens until I could get under cover (the closest car port roof) - I certainly did not want the F* 300 to get wet.]

Gooshin · 03-06-2009, 08:09 AM

bout a year and a half ago i saw pictures of some dude with mud on his camera in some safari trip, he then washed down his camera in a stream, still works.

**Just1MoreDave** · 03-06-2009, 10:14 AM

Originally posted by blende8

Not sure about the sea though, because salt is destructive for the coating.
A filter is a must in this case I would say.

Yes, that would be my concern. The salt will remain a problem after the water is gone. The weather sealing will help a lot because you can rinse salt water off. Filters are a good idea because the dried salt is abrasive. I would still consider some protection for the lens body from salt water even with seals, just to minimize salt water exposure.

kauaiguy · 03-06-2009, 11:47 AM

Fred, thanks, after all this time reading the forums, i didn't know only the DA* has weather sealing. i've changed the title to reflect this.

Gooshin · 03-06-2009, 11:48 AM

Originally posted by Just1MoreDave

Yes, that would be my concern. The salt will remain a problem after the water is gone. The weather sealing will help a lot because you can rinse salt water off. Filters are a good idea because the dried salt is abrasive. I would still consider some protection for the lens body from salt water even with seals, just to minimize salt water exposure.

so wash your lens :ugh:

03-05-2009, 10:53 PM	#1
kauaiguy Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: hawaii Photos: Gallery Posts: 62	*how good are the weather seals on the DA 50-135 lens?** just curious, how good ARE the weather seals on the DA * lens? can you take your k10d and this lens out in the pouring rain or shoot on a boat in high seas? i checked at the pentax site and didn't find anything specific, though i might have missed something. any real world examples? many thanks! mahalo, d ps, i did search the forums, but weather sealing is mentioned a lot, but mostly in regards to "thank god for weather sealing!" without specifics. thanks! Last edited by kauaiguy; 03-06-2009 at 11:46 AM. Reason: didn't know only DA had weather seals*

03-06-2009, 07:17 AM	#3
fwcetus Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New England Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,286	*DA Only** Originally posted by kauaiguy just curious, how good ARE the weather seals on the * lenses, especially the 50-135? Just to make clear (because the subject line does not), for future readers of this thread, you're discussing the weather-resistance of the line of DA* lenses, and not all * lenses (i.e., M, A, F, etc.). The older "star" lenses are not any more weather sealed than their more mundane siblings. [Back in January I was caught on my bicycle in a Florida cloudburst carrying my K20D and an F 300/4.5 dangling from my neck - I sacrificed the wearing of the sweatshirt I had with me to wrap it around the camera and lens until I could get under cover (the closest car port roof) - I certainly did not want the F* 300 to get wet.]

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03-06-2009, 12:45 AM	#2
blende8 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bremen, Germany Photos: Albums Posts: 1,521	Originally posted by kauaiguy can you take your k10d and this lens out in the pouring rain or shoot on a boat in high seas? Rain is absolutely no problem. I was in rain several times already with this lens. I even rinsed it once under the water tap because it was full of sand. Not sure about the sea though, because salt is destructive for the coating. A filter is a must in this case I would say.

03-06-2009, 08:09 AM	#4
Gooshin Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, the one in Canada. Posts: 5,610	bout a year and a half ago i saw pictures of some dude with mud on his camera in some safari trip, he then washed down his camera in a stream, still works.

03-06-2009, 10:14 AM	#5
Just1MoreDave Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,340	Originally posted by blende8 Not sure about the sea though, because salt is destructive for the coating. A filter is a must in this case I would say. Yes, that would be my concern. The salt will remain a problem after the water is gone. The weather sealing will help a lot because you can rinse salt water off. Filters are a good idea because the dried salt is abrasive. I would still consider some protection for the lens body from salt water even with seals, just to minimize salt water exposure.

03-06-2009, 11:47 AM	#6
kauaiguy Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: hawaii Photos: Gallery Posts: 62 Original Poster	Fred, thanks, after all this time reading the forums, i didn't know only the DA* has weather sealing. i've changed the title to reflect this.

03-06-2009, 11:48 AM	#7
Gooshin Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, the one in Canada. Posts: 5,610	Originally posted by Just1MoreDave Yes, that would be my concern. The salt will remain a problem after the water is gone. The weather sealing will help a lot because you can rinse salt water off. Filters are a good idea because the dried salt is abrasive. I would still consider some protection for the lens body from salt water even with seals, just to minimize salt water exposure. so wash your lens :ugh: