Afraid to take my K-5 and 18-135WR out in the rain ?

SteveUK · 07-10-2012, 03:29 PM

I cringe to ask even, but fact is its my first weather resistant camera, so please be kind !

I'm confident enough in the body being ok, but if its exposed to constant English drizzle am I really ok to be zooming in and out with the lens barrel completely sodden for a few hours ? I'm quite attached to this lens and like I said, being new to the letters "WR" it feels... well ....wrong ! Would I be best advised to set the zoom length and not fiddle with it when wet ?

I have an event coming up and sadly the English summer has yet to arrive, or rather it has come (I can tell because the calendar says July), but its an English summer not a Mediterranean one !

Mareket · 07-10-2012, 03:39 PM

I've got the DA* 16-50 which has a similar duo-cam design and yup, I wander around in the good ol' British torrent for la fair while sometimes without issues. Sometimes if I climb around in muddy woods too much I might get dirty hands and the dirt gets under the zoom ring and such, making it feel gritty. In that case I will give it a rinse under the tap at home and that seems to sort it out.

Enjoy the lens and the freedom of WR gear!

**crewl1** · 07-10-2012, 03:54 PM

Yes, I've walked around with my K-5 and 18-135 all day in drizzly/rainy Florida weather with no issues.

You should be OK as long as your camera and lens are in good condition.

**blackcloudbrew** · 07-10-2012, 04:05 PM

Just do it. Never had a problem with my K10, K20, or K5 and DA* or WR lenses. Do keep in mind that they are weather resistant not water proof so no underwater pictures with them! Practically speaking though, while I've been in some really good winter downpours with my K20 and DA*16-50, an umbrella is a good friend to have to keep the viewfinder dry. The lens hoods are are your friends to keep water off the front of the lens as well.

**jatrax** · 07-10-2012, 04:17 PM

I am from Oregon which is supposed to have similar weather, 27 rainy days in June!

We do not get heavy downpours much, just a drizzly, misty sort of thing. I think I would hesitate in a heavy rain but the misty stuff is no problem, just make sure to dry everything carefully when you go back in.

And keep in mind that weather sealed or not the lens will draw in air and then back out on every zoom, so the air inside the lens will be very humid. No problem, unless you go into a cold place (air conditioning) in which case it is possible to get condensation on the inside. This is not likely but it can happen. I had the reverse happen to me in Cartagena, Columbia. After spending some time in very air conditioned building I went outside to normal (105 F and 100% humidity) and my DA*16-50 immediately fogged up and I could take a picture for almost 20 minutes until it warmed up to ambient temperature.

WR does not mean invincible just protected, and if you are out in the weather you need to take due care of your gear when you go back in but a normal drizzle is just fine.

SteveUK · 07-10-2012, 04:19 PM

Thanks for the quick replies, seems clear enough - don't worry ... and it is still in warranty too.

Thanks for the A/C tip, its generally not a problem in the UK !

Adam · 07-10-2012, 04:27 PM

Worst case, the warranty will definitely cover any damage as long as it falls under normal use.

Adam
PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide | Site Help | My Photography)

PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

Docrwm · 07-10-2012, 04:58 PM

Relax, its a good camera with excellent weather seals. I used my K5+18-135 combo in the rain in Florida a couple of months ago at a NASA launch (that was scrubbed because of the weather) and was the only non-Pro out in the much still shooting. No worries.

JinDesu · 07-10-2012, 06:05 PM

As the 18-135WR is an external zoom (as opposed to the 50-135 which is internal), you may want to cut down on the amount of zooming while water is on the barrel of the lens. Other than that, rain does not provide enough pressure to penetrate the seals of the WR lenses.

Chaos_Realm · 07-10-2012, 06:09 PM

There was someone on the forums not so long ago ( I can't find the thread at the minute though) who was photographing sycronized swimming. He would submerge the K-5 and 16-50 DA* to get some of the under water shots. Rain will be fine.

Here is that post:

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-k-5/115277-k-5-sports-photography-50.html#post1961670

**Canada_Rockies** · 07-10-2012, 06:13 PM

Although I would not submerge my K10 and DA* 16-50, I did take it under Moul Falls in Wells-Grey Provincial Park. No problems yet, and that was three years ago. The falls are about 140m high.

jimr-pdx · 07-10-2012, 06:48 PM

Once you see how many photo opportunities await in the rain, you will forget your worries and shoot away!

Bob from Aus · 07-10-2012, 06:56 PM

Better solution - live in Melbourne Australia were you will get some nice weather at regular intervals.

Chaos_Realm · 07-10-2012, 09:18 PM

Originally posted by Bob from Aus

Better solution - live in Melbourne Australia were you will get some nice weather at regular intervals.

LOL Bob, you must be refering to previous years! Apart from last week we have had terrible weather.

And if your work during the week the wet weather times itself perfectly for the weekend.

Bob from Aus · 07-10-2012, 09:35 PM

Originally posted by Chaos_Realm

LOL Bob, you must be refering to previous years! Apart from last week we have had terrible weather.

And if your work during the week the wet weather times itself perfectly for the weekend.

You have been spoilt by 12 years of drought. We have a few days of drizzle not months of the stuff.

07-10-2012, 03:29 PM	#1
SteveUK Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Southern UK Posts: 93	Afraid to take my K-5 and 18-135WR out in the rain ? I cringe to ask even, but fact is its my first weather resistant camera, so please be kind ! I'm confident enough in the body being ok, but if its exposed to constant English drizzle am I really ok to be zooming in and out with the lens barrel completely sodden for a few hours ? I'm quite attached to this lens and like I said, being new to the letters "WR" it feels... well ....wrong ! Would I be best advised to set the zoom length and not fiddle with it when wet ? I have an event coming up and sadly the English summer has yet to arrive, or rather it has come (I can tell because the calendar says July), but its an English summer not a Mediterranean one !

07-10-2012, 06:09 PM	#10
Chaos_Realm Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Melbourne, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,251	There was someone on the forums not so long ago ( I can't find the thread at the minute though) who was photographing sycronized swimming. He would submerge the K-5 and 16-50 DA* to get some of the under water shots. Rain will be fine. Here is that post: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-k-5/115277-k-5-sports-photography-50.html#post1961670 Last edited by Chaos_Realm; 07-10-2012 at 06:18 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Blue K-30 + 18-135WR lens	madbrain	Ask B&H Photo!	6	07-04-2012 07:45 AM
Blue K-30 + 18-135WR lens	ramseybuckeye	Ask B&H Photo!	2	07-03-2012 05:09 PM
For Sale - Sold: K20d, da18-135wr, F50/1.7	apisto	Sold Items	5	01-24-2012 09:29 AM
Disappointed in the 18-135WR	Immunogirl	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	121	07-20-2011 03:11 PM
18-55WR vs 18-135WR ?	hoanpham	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	11	02-14-2011 05:48 AM

07-10-2012, 03:39 PM	#2
Mareket Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Chester Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 719	I've got the DA* 16-50 which has a similar duo-cam design and yup, I wander around in the good ol' British torrent for la fair while sometimes without issues. Sometimes if I climb around in muddy woods too much I might get dirty hands and the dirt gets under the zoom ring and such, making it feel gritty. In that case I will give it a rinse under the tap at home and that seems to sort it out. Enjoy the lens and the freedom of WR gear!

07-10-2012, 03:54 PM	#3
crewl1 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,807	Yes, I've walked around with my K-5 and 18-135 all day in drizzly/rainy Florida weather with no issues. You should be OK as long as your camera and lens are in good condition.

07-10-2012, 04:05 PM	#4
blackcloudbrew Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cotati, California USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,460	Just do it. Never had a problem with my K10, K20, or K5 and DA* or WR lenses. Do keep in mind that they are weather resistant not water proof so no underwater pictures with them! Practically speaking though, while I've been in some really good winter downpours with my K20 and DA*16-50, an umbrella is a good friend to have to keep the viewfinder dry. The lens hoods are are your friends to keep water off the front of the lens as well.

07-10-2012, 04:17 PM	#5
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	I am from Oregon which is supposed to have similar weather, 27 rainy days in June! We do not get heavy downpours much, just a drizzly, misty sort of thing. I think I would hesitate in a heavy rain but the misty stuff is no problem, just make sure to dry everything carefully when you go back in. And keep in mind that weather sealed or not the lens will draw in air and then back out on every zoom, so the air inside the lens will be very humid. No problem, unless you go into a cold place (air conditioning) in which case it is possible to get condensation on the inside. This is not likely but it can happen. I had the reverse happen to me in Cartagena, Columbia. After spending some time in very air conditioned building I went outside to normal (105 F and 100% humidity) and my DA*16-50 immediately fogged up and I could take a picture for almost 20 minutes until it warmed up to ambient temperature. WR does not mean invincible just protected, and if you are out in the weather you need to take due care of your gear when you go back in but a normal drizzle is just fine.

07-10-2012, 04:19 PM	#6
SteveUK Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Southern UK Posts: 93 Original Poster	Thanks for the quick replies, seems clear enough - don't worry ... and it is still in warranty too. Thanks for the A/C tip, its generally not a problem in the UK !

07-10-2012, 04:27 PM	#7
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,595	Worst case, the warranty will definitely cover any damage as long as it falls under normal use. Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

07-10-2012, 04:58 PM	#8
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Relax, its a good camera with excellent weather seals. I used my K5+18-135 combo in the rain in Florida a couple of months ago at a NASA launch (that was scrubbed because of the weather) and was the only non-Pro out in the much still shooting. No worries.

07-10-2012, 06:05 PM	#9
JinDesu Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: New York City Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,638	As the 18-135WR is an external zoom (as opposed to the 50-135 which is internal), you may want to cut down on the amount of zooming while water is on the barrel of the lens. Other than that, rain does not provide enough pressure to penetrate the seals of the WR lenses.

07-10-2012, 06:13 PM	#11
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	Although I would not submerge my K10 and DA* 16-50, I did take it under Moul Falls in Wells-Grey Provincial Park. No problems yet, and that was three years ago. The falls are about 140m high.

07-10-2012, 06:48 PM	#12
jimr-pdx Pentaxian Join Date: May 2010 Location: now 1 hour north of PDX Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,897	Once you see how many photo opportunities await in the rain, you will forget your worries and shoot away!

07-10-2012, 06:56 PM	#13
Bob from Aus Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,094	Better solution - live in Melbourne Australia were you will get some nice weather at regular intervals.

07-10-2012, 09:18 PM	#14
Chaos_Realm Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Melbourne, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,251	Originally posted by Bob from Aus Better solution - live in Melbourne Australia were you will get some nice weather at regular intervals. LOL Bob, you must be refering to previous years! Apart from last week we have had terrible weather. And if your work during the week the wet weather times itself perfectly for the weekend.

07-10-2012, 09:35 PM	#15
Bob from Aus Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,094	Originally posted by Chaos_Realm LOL Bob, you must be refering to previous years! Apart from last week we have had terrible weather. And if your work during the week the wet weather times itself perfectly for the weekend. You have been spoilt by 12 years of drought. We have a few days of drizzle not months of the stuff.