Originally posted by DRabbit Christine: Aren't you the one who bedazzled your K5?
I'm curious why you think the FA 43 is better in rain than the 50-135mm DA*?
Yes I have the "Kittycam" (my new name for it)
The DA* is big and difficult to shield from the rain (in fact, impossible). The FA43 on the other hand is completely shielded from the rain when not in use as long as I point the camera downwards, which I do.
For the few seconds I lift the camera up for a photo, the chances of water penetration are pretty negligible.
Worst comes to the worst, I can always shield the camera and lens in a jacket, as Wheatfield suggested. Can't really do that with a DA* lens.
Now, if I was going kayaking, I may consider the DA*, but I probably won't bring a camera at all.
Although I am pretty relaxed about cameras getting wet - I have the Sony Bloggie (which is a tiny handheld HD camcorder) that I mount onto my bike when I cycle. It's not water-sealed at all, yet I have cycled in rain with it exposed and so far it is still okay (of course, I don't actually turn on the camera in the rain).
Originally posted by Eruditass Any lens that transmits aperture on K-mount has electronic parts.
That's just a few resistors, which are not susceptible to water damage. It's paper based caps that you need to be worried about. Actually, any kind of capacitor, since they can potentially discharge. For example, you would not want the flash capacitor in the K-5 to get anywhere near water - won't be a happy outcome!