[tmlawes]

The wet weather in the high altitude forests of Hawaii proved too much for the all-weather rating of my 150-450mm lens. Here is the last clear shot that I got on that day before the inside of the front element was completely obscured by moisture. A little more moisture than just condensation, unfortunately. The lens dried out, but a hazy film and water spots were left behind. Hopefully, Precision Camera can clean it up and check the weather sealing.

Attached Images

View Picture EXIF

File Date

 

[Paul the Sunman]

The DFA 150-450 breathes a lot when you zoom in and out (unlike to 70-200), so I'm surprised they gave it an AW tag instead of WR. It can never be as tight as an internal zoom.

[derekkite]

The wet weather in the high altitude forests of Hawaii proved too much for the all-weather rating of my 150-450mm lens. Here is the last clear shot that I got on that day before the inside of the front element was completely obscured by moisture. A little more moisture than just condensation, unfortunately. The lens dried out, but a hazy film and water spots were left behind. Hopefully, Precision Camera can clean it up and check the weather sealing.

You might want to talk to them. Sun Camera couldn't do the service and sent it to Japan.

[tduell]

Immature Black Kite.
K-1, DFA 150-450 + 1.4x TC, handheld. See exif for shot details.

Cheers,
Terry

Attached Images

View Picture EXIF

File Date

 

[Dieseler]

The wet weather in the high altitude forests of Hawaii proved too much for the all-weather rating of my 150-450mm lens. Here is the last clear shot that I got on that day before the inside of the front element was completely obscured by moisture. A little more moisture than just condensation, unfortunately. The lens dried out, but a hazy film and water spots were left behind. Hopefully, Precision Camera can clean it up and check the weather sealing.

Great photo! But not too good about the lens, very disappointing.


Hopefully you can get it fixed without too much hassle.

[SteveinSLC]

Yeah, that's not great on the weather-sealing front. Obviously no lens is perfectly waterproof, particularly an external zoom one. But that weatherproofing is certainly one of the reasons I paid a premium for the 150-450 over the Bigma.
And I'm heading to the Costa Rican jungles myself in a little more than a week. Though I'm planning on doing a lot of hiking, and was thinking I'd mostly use my 55-300PLM and not the 150-450, which isn't really a hikeable lens. I will plan on bringing a towel to wipe as much moisture as possible off the extended barrel.

[Erictator]

Yeah, that's not great on the weather-sealing front. Obviously no lens is perfectly waterproof, particularly an external zoom one. But that weatherproofing is certainly one of the reasons I paid a premium for the 150-450 over the Bigma.
And I'm heading to the Costa Rican jungles myself in a little more than a week. Though I'm planning on doing a lot of hiking, and was thinking I'd mostly use my 55-300PLM and not the 150-450, which isn't really a hikeable lens. I will plan on bringing a towel to wipe as much moisture as possible off the extended barrel.

+1 on why I bought mine with similar expectations. Though, I do understand that condensation is a different matter than a splash, it is still a little unnerving to hear.

Even when I go out on a local shoot, and I bring my camera bag with lenses to my truck from my Air Conditioned home, I try to acclimate them slowly to the outdoors. I'll run the AC but at a warmer setting in my truck and I'll crack the windows and gradually turn the AC off before I get where I am going to hike and have the windows down. Since my bag is insulated, I'll pop it open so the lenses don't stay cold in the bag for the ride.

If I ever do see condensation on a lens element (exterior) when I pull a lens cap outdoors, I turn it up toward the sun until it flashes off and try to avoid wiping elements if possible, and wait until at home where I can do a proper job of cleaning without danger of scuffing an element. The price of living in the tropic's I guess.

Eric

[Fries]

@tmlawes having equipment trouble is never any fun especially when you are at such a special place. Good luck with the repairs and I know how it feels. The first time I tried to photograph the northern lights my tripod with camera fell over and my only F2.8 lens broke almost in two pieces.

Spring has arrived; a godwit. K-3, ISO1600.

[derekkite]

I got water drops on an inside element surface from being dunked camera, lens and all in a pond. I should have taken it home and let it dry off, but I used it afterwards and it sucked some moisture inside.

I've had it in very wet weather without incident. There seems to be an air vent somewhere that can introduce water into the lens from the zoom action. I have a lens sock something like the LensCoat that keeps most of the water off the lens and body, enough that I don't worry about it.

I don't know where the vent is, but I could see moisture on the second set of elements that you see from the front, on the camera body side. So it might be around the barrel that extends when zooming. So keeping running water off that area might be a good idea.

[Mike.P®]

The last shot I took with my K-1 and 150-450mm before they fell off the shelf in a bird hide, bounced on the bench and then hit the floor with a sickening THUD!!


IMGP2380_DxO by Mike.Pursey, on Flickr

[tmlawes]

Ouch, @Mike.P! Is there a thread for "Post your last shot before equipment disaster hit". Seems like there should be... Fortunately, my lens still worked after drying out, and I was able to get more shots during my trip like this one of a red-footed booby. I just want to get it cleaned up and checked over, but I'll be much more cautious in the future. I have a rain cover that I used with old my Sigma 150-500mm, but I put my trust in the AW rating of the Pentax 150-450 and left it behind. I'll be using that in the future for added protection.

[Erictator]

Xposted from the K-1 thread... who knew the 150-450 could pinch hit as a macro?

Future monarch flutterby's are enjoying the giant milkweed this month...

HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW ƒ/7.1 450.0 mm 1/640 iso1000


HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW ƒ/7.1 450.0 mm 1/640 iso1250


HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW ƒ/7.1 450.0 mm 1/640 iso1000

[RobG]

A Darter over Jerrabomberra Wetlands in Canberra. In the USA they are called Anhinga.


Darter by RobGeraghty, on Flickr

[Erictator]

Xpost from K-1 thread:

I think I can, I think I can...

HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW ƒ/7.1 450.0 mm 1/640 iso2000

[Fries]

Lapwing.



Ruff.


Redshank.


Barnacle geese almost ready to leave to there nesting places up north.


Godwit.