Weather sealing failed on my new K-5

Hound Tooth · 05-05-2011, 12:19 PM

Originally posted by FullertonImages

So what about this theory...

Not so much a "theory" as a very well-known fact...

And no, the inside of the camera does not turn into a "vacuum" as long as the lens is extended. There is air transfer happening.

FullertonImages · 05-05-2011, 02:49 PM

Originally posted by Hound Tooth

Not so much a "theory" as a very well-known fact...

And no, the inside of the camera does not turn into a "vacuum" as long as the lens is extended. There is air transfer happening.

Ok, well, this was my first time thinking of it. I would say that this is most definitely at play. Can we, therefore, generally assume that external zoom lenses create a less weathersealed package than internal zoom lenses?

Hound Tooth · 05-05-2011, 03:00 PM

Originally posted by FullertonImages

Ok, well, this was my first time thinking of it. I would say that this is most definitely at play. Can we, therefore, generally assume that external zoom lenses create a less weathersealed package than internal zoom lenses?

Again, depends on where the air transfer is happening. If you submerge your camera completely and then extend your lens while the camera is under water, you will get a vast quantity of water in your camera.

...and I will laugh at you and call you names.

On the other hand, if the air transfer is happening where water doesn't typically accumulate, then it should be a non-issue.

This is the mechanism by which dust and mold have gotten into lenses since the dawn of time. It's not limited to zoom lenses, even a prime lens that gets slightly longer as it focuses will draw air into itself (and consequently the camera body).

This is all pretty irrelevant, since there have been other extending lenses that are labeled as "weather resistant", and it's not been an issue before. The DA* 16-50mm extends while zooming. The DA* 60-250mm extends while zooming. The D-FA 100mm WR extends (a lot) while focusing.

This particular instance sounds to me like a defective weather seal in the camera body. So the whole point is moot.

Hound Tooth · 05-05-2011, 03:10 PM

By the way, there's a very easy way to tell where the air transfer is happening in a camera. Just fill it with smoke (cigarette smoke will do, but something more caustic would be great), attach an extended weather resistant lens, then retract it and see where the smoke comes out of. I volunteer Wheatfield to try this experiment with the most expensive camera body and WR lens he owns. Maybe he could try it with every camera body and lens he owns, just to be sure of the results. I'll happily provide some dyed ammonia gas for that purpose.

Chex · 05-05-2011, 03:27 PM

Sorry to hear! I hope it turns out to be a warrantable repair! I haven't had my K-5 + 18-135 out in moderate/heavy rain yet, just some light sprinkling, no problems so far, I'm a bit skeptical about the hotshoe cover and SD card flap being sealed enough to just let wind and rain combo at the camera, just rain is minor, but that damn wind can push water past all sorts of little things.

FullertonImages · 05-07-2011, 11:54 AM

Originally posted by Hound Tooth

By the way, there's a very easy way to tell where the air transfer is happening in a camera. Just fill it with smoke (cigarette smoke will do, but something more caustic would be great), attach an extended weather resistant lens, then retract it and see where the smoke comes out of. I volunteer Wheatfield to try this experiment with the most expensive camera body and WR lens he owns. Maybe he could try it with every camera body and lens he owns, just to be sure of the results. I'll happily provide some dyed ammonia gas for that purpose.

I think Cheez Wiz would work best.

Wheatfield · 05-07-2011, 12:12 PM

Originally posted by Hound Tooth

By the way, there's a very easy way to tell where the air transfer is happening in a camera. Just fill it with smoke (cigarette smoke will do, but something more caustic would be great), attach an extended weather resistant lens, then retract it and see where the smoke comes out of. I volunteer Wheatfield to try this experiment with the most expensive camera body and WR lens he owns. Maybe he could try it with every camera body and lens he owns, just to be sure of the results. I'll happily provide some dyed ammonia gas for that purpose.

It's your stupid idea, why not do it yourself?

Hound Tooth · 05-08-2011, 10:12 AM

Originally posted by FullertonImages

I think Cheez Wiz would work best.

That's true! What a great idea!

Originally posted by Wheatfield

It's your stupid idea, why not do it yourself?

Duh, because I volunteered you. This is your chance to actually contribute something useful back to the community, for once. I thought you'd jump at the chance. Your buddy at Pinocchio Pizza mentioned how badly you wanted to become useful.

Wheatfield · 05-08-2011, 01:13 PM

Originally posted by Hound Tooth

That's true! What a great idea!

Duh, because I volunteered you. This is your chance to actually contribute something useful back to the community, for once. I thought you'd jump at the chance. Your buddy at Pinocchio mentioned how badly you wanted to become useful.

Wow, aren't we just being the disagreeable little man today.
I suspect I've contributed more to this community this year than you will manage in your entire lifetime of mean spirited bitchiness.

Hound Tooth · 05-08-2011, 01:38 PM

Originally posted by Wheatfield

Wow, aren't we just being the disagreeable little man today.

Just today...?

Originally posted by Wheatfield

I suspect I've contributed more to this community this year than you will manage in your entire lifetime of mean spirited bitchiness.

Right, right... I forgot what a local treasure you are around here.

nah · 05-09-2011, 11:32 PM

I'm thinking it's more a bad seal than anything else. As a few of us have noticed, not all cameras are sealed the same as some have had dust get in under the LCD protector. If dust can get in, no doubt water can also.

masloff · 05-11-2011, 12:49 AM

sorry to hear this...mine k-5 was with me during tropical rains at Sri Lanka, dusty winds at Kerala, India, fogs in Crimea mountians in Ukraine - without any issue

i started to get some dust under LCD screen, but thats inevitable when using 18-55 zoom, or any similar

anyway, hope you`ll get your k5 back on track soon enough

Trysaeder · 05-11-2011, 01:47 AM

Does pentax repair these sorts of things (for a fee) or is it only available under warranty?

**DRabbit** · 05-11-2011, 08:07 AM

I'd love to hear an update from kiwibird...

Is Pentax fixing it under warranty?

kiwibird · 05-12-2011, 06:38 AM

Hello, drabbit,
It's been 2 weeks since I sent the camera to Pentax in Arizona for repair. I had called them initially describing the problem, and they told me to send it in, with proof of purchase. I had to pay for shipping and insurance. Since the camera was only 2 months old, I assume they are doing a warranty repair. I e-mailed C.R.I.S. asking about status, but haven't received any reply. Thanks for everyone's interest; hopefully, I'll have some good news to report in a couple more weeks.

05-08-2011, 10:12 AM	#53
Hound Tooth Banned Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Williston, VT Posts: 268	Originally posted by FullertonImages I think Cheez Wiz would work best. That's true! What a great idea! Originally posted by Wheatfield It's your stupid idea, why not do it yourself? Duh, because I volunteered you. This is your chance to actually contribute something useful back to the community, for once. I thought you'd jump at the chance. Your buddy at Pinocchio Pizza mentioned how badly you wanted to become useful. Last edited by Hound Tooth; 05-08-2011 at 01:50 PM.

05-08-2011, 01:38 PM	#55
Hound Tooth Banned Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Williston, VT Posts: 268	Originally posted by Wheatfield Wow, aren't we just being the disagreeable little man today. Just today...? Originally posted by Wheatfield I suspect I've contributed more to this community this year than you will manage in your entire lifetime of mean spirited bitchiness. Right, right... I forgot what a local treasure you are around here. Last edited by Hound Tooth; 05-08-2011 at 01:44 PM.

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05-05-2011, 12:19 PM	#46
Hound Tooth Banned Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Williston, VT Posts: 268	Originally posted by FullertonImages So what about this theory... Not so much a "theory" as a very well-known fact... And no, the inside of the camera does not turn into a "vacuum" as long as the lens is extended. There is air transfer happening.

05-05-2011, 02:49 PM	#47
FullertonImages Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 883	Originally posted by Hound Tooth Not so much a "theory" as a very well-known fact... And no, the inside of the camera does not turn into a "vacuum" as long as the lens is extended. There is air transfer happening. Ok, well, this was my first time thinking of it. I would say that this is most definitely at play. Can we, therefore, generally assume that external zoom lenses create a less weathersealed package than internal zoom lenses?

05-05-2011, 03:00 PM	#48
Hound Tooth Banned Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Williston, VT Posts: 268	Originally posted by FullertonImages Ok, well, this was my first time thinking of it. I would say that this is most definitely at play. Can we, therefore, generally assume that external zoom lenses create a less weathersealed package than internal zoom lenses? Again, depends on where the air transfer is happening. If you submerge your camera completely and then extend your lens while the camera is under water, you will get a vast quantity of water in your camera. ...and I will laugh at you and call you names. On the other hand, if the air transfer is happening where water doesn't typically accumulate, then it should be a non-issue. This is the mechanism by which dust and mold have gotten into lenses since the dawn of time. It's not limited to zoom lenses, even a prime lens that gets slightly longer as it focuses will draw air into itself (and consequently the camera body). This is all pretty irrelevant, since there have been other extending lenses that are labeled as "weather resistant", and it's not been an issue before. The DA* 16-50mm extends while zooming. The DA* 60-250mm extends while zooming. The D-FA 100mm WR extends (a lot) while focusing. This particular instance sounds to me like a defective weather seal in the camera body. So the whole point is moot.

05-05-2011, 03:10 PM	#49
Hound Tooth Banned Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Williston, VT Posts: 268	By the way, there's a very easy way to tell where the air transfer is happening in a camera. Just fill it with smoke (cigarette smoke will do, but something more caustic would be great), attach an extended weather resistant lens, then retract it and see where the smoke comes out of. I volunteer Wheatfield to try this experiment with the most expensive camera body and WR lens he owns. Maybe he could try it with every camera body and lens he owns, just to be sure of the results. I'll happily provide some dyed ammonia gas for that purpose.

05-05-2011, 03:27 PM	#50
Chex Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: The 'Stoke, British Columbia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,678	Sorry to hear! I hope it turns out to be a warrantable repair! I haven't had my K-5 + 18-135 out in moderate/heavy rain yet, just some light sprinkling, no problems so far, I'm a bit skeptical about the hotshoe cover and SD card flap being sealed enough to just let wind and rain combo at the camera, just rain is minor, but that damn wind can push water past all sorts of little things.

05-07-2011, 11:54 AM	#51
FullertonImages Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 883	Originally posted by Hound Tooth By the way, there's a very easy way to tell where the air transfer is happening in a camera. Just fill it with smoke (cigarette smoke will do, but something more caustic would be great), attach an extended weather resistant lens, then retract it and see where the smoke comes out of. I volunteer Wheatfield to try this experiment with the most expensive camera body and WR lens he owns. Maybe he could try it with every camera body and lens he owns, just to be sure of the results. I'll happily provide some dyed ammonia gas for that purpose. I think Cheez Wiz would work best.

05-07-2011, 12:12 PM	#52
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,981	Originally posted by Hound Tooth By the way, there's a very easy way to tell where the air transfer is happening in a camera. Just fill it with smoke (cigarette smoke will do, but something more caustic would be great), attach an extended weather resistant lens, then retract it and see where the smoke comes out of. I volunteer Wheatfield to try this experiment with the most expensive camera body and WR lens he owns. Maybe he could try it with every camera body and lens he owns, just to be sure of the results. I'll happily provide some dyed ammonia gas for that purpose. It's your stupid idea, why not do it yourself?

05-08-2011, 01:13 PM	#54
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,981	Originally posted by Hound Tooth That's true! What a great idea! Duh, because I volunteered you. This is your chance to actually contribute something useful back to the community, for once. I thought you'd jump at the chance. Your buddy at Pinocchio mentioned how badly you wanted to become useful. Wow, aren't we just being the disagreeable little man today. I suspect I've contributed more to this community this year than you will manage in your entire lifetime of mean spirited bitchiness.

05-09-2011, 11:32 PM	#56
nah Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: New Westminster, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 282	I'm thinking it's more a bad seal than anything else. As a few of us have noticed, not all cameras are sealed the same as some have had dust get in under the LCD protector. If dust can get in, no doubt water can also.

05-11-2011, 12:49 AM	#57
masloff Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Kiev Photos: Albums Posts: 59	sorry to hear this...mine k-5 was with me during tropical rains at Sri Lanka, dusty winds at Kerala, India, fogs in Crimea mountians in Ukraine - without any issue i started to get some dust under LCD screen, but thats inevitable when using 18-55 zoom, or any similar anyway, hope you`ll get your k5 back on track soon enough

05-11-2011, 01:47 AM	#58
Trysaeder Junior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Melbourne Posts: 29	Does pentax repair these sorts of things (for a fee) or is it only available under warranty?

05-11-2011, 08:07 AM	#59
DRabbit Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Long Island, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 593	I'd love to hear an update from kiwibird... Is Pentax fixing it under warranty?

05-12-2011, 06:38 AM	#60
kiwibird Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: New York City Photos: Gallery Posts: 43 Original Poster	Hello, drabbit, It's been 2 weeks since I sent the camera to Pentax in Arizona for repair. I had called them initially describing the problem, and they told me to send it in, with proof of purchase. I had to pay for shipping and insurance. Since the camera was only 2 months old, I assume they are doing a warranty repair. I e-mailed C.R.I.S. asking about status, but haven't received any reply. Thanks for everyone's interest; hopefully, I'll have some good news to report in a couple more weeks.