How weatherproof is weatherproof?

pathdoc · 05-18-2017, 04:04 AM

Originally posted by hcc

Do not swap lenses in bad weather; dust, moisture, ....could too easily damage lenses and cameras; NO lens swapping

This is why I bought the DA 18-135, and this is also why I sort of hope Pentax brings out a D-FA WR 28-200 (or similar) one day.

labidas · 08-24-2018, 05:18 PM - **1 Like**

I went swimming with my Pentax K50 + DA*50-135 today.

Both body and camera are very well sealed. Once I put them underwater and moved around(violently) there weren't any visible bubbles coming out of neither.

The camera continued to function underwater.

But water still got through.

I found that during my ~30second test with the camera under water, water managed to seep in through the Focus Ring which ultimately made it's way onto the glass in form of a fine mist. There was also a small drop of water on the inside of the measuring display.

On the body however, the rubber sealings didn't manage to keep the water out of the PC and intervalometer port. The SD card slot was dry - it has visibly more protection. There were a few drops of water on the battery.
No water managed to get through the mount, it was completely dry.
I have the slight suspicion some water went in through the shutter and aperture selection scrolling buttons, as the aperture selection acted up at one point.

After giving the body a blower treatment, there seems to be no permanent damage.

The lens had some water in it which started misting the glasses. I removed the bottom part of the lens and used a blower to force a little air movement inside the lens. The glasses cleared up slowly and remained clear afterwards.

All signs of water have now disappeared and everything functions.

So to my disappointment I have to say: Pentax SLRs and lenses aren't waterproof enough to use them as underwater cameras

But they sure are weathersealed like crazy.

MarkJerling · 08-27-2018, 04:04 PM

Originally posted by labidas

I went swimming with my Pentax K50 + DA*50-135 today.

Both body and camera are very well sealed. Once I put them underwater and moved around(violently) there weren't any visible bubbles coming out of neither.

The camera continued to function underwater.

But water still got through.

I found that during my ~30second test with the camera under water, water managed to seep in through the Focus Ring which ultimately made it's way onto the glass in form of a fine mist. There was also a small drop of water on the inside of the measuring display.

On the body however, the rubber sealings didn't manage to keep the water out of the PC and intervalometer port. The SD card slot was dry - it has visibly more protection. There were a few drops of water on the battery.
No water managed to get through the mount, it was completely dry.
I have the slight suspicion some water went in through the shutter and aperture selection scrolling buttons, as the aperture selection acted up at one point.

After giving the body a blower treatment, there seems to be no permanent damage.

The lens had some water in it which started misting the glasses. I removed the bottom part of the lens and used a blower to force a little air movement inside the lens. The glasses cleared up slowly and remained clear afterwards.

All signs of water have now disappeared and everything functions.

So to my disappointment I have to say: Pentax SLRs and lenses aren't waterproof enough to use them as underwater cameras

But they sure are weathersealed like crazy.

Did you do this on purpose, or did you fall in?

And if you did do this on purpose - Why would you? It's not designed for underwater use!

**clackers** · 08-27-2018, 05:27 PM

There was a guy on the Pentaxians Facebook group who reported a couple of weeks ago his K-1 and 24-70 went into a lake. Tried rice, everything afterwards, but no luck.

Fenwoodian · 08-27-2018, 05:45 PM

.
I do believe, that some of Pentax's cameras are more WR than others.

For example. The battery compartment door on my K-70 does not seem to seat all that firmly. The same door on my K-1 seals much tighter, and I suspect that my K-1's battery compartment door would do a better job of keeping out water than would the door on my K-70.

labidas · 08-28-2018, 01:24 PM

Originally posted by MarkJerling

Did you do this on purpose, or did you fall in?

And if you did do this on purpose - Why would you? It's not designed for underwater use!

Curiosity demands answers and I felt adventurous. (and my camera is old and has some problems - I'll get a new body soon. I won't get nothing on ebay for an used old semibroken K50 anyways. I wouldn't do it again with my DA* though. I kinda though the DA* had super airtight sealings. But with a kit lens, anytime

)

As of today, everything still works.
The display did fog up a few days ago. It was cold outside. I put some tissue paper in the battery compartment and let it sit overnight. I think/hope it sucked up all the moisture in the body. Haven't really gone shooting since.

MarkJerling · 08-28-2018, 03:39 PM

Originally posted by labidas

Curiosity demands answers and I felt adventurous. (and my camera is old and has some problems - I'll get a new body soon. I won't get nothing on ebay for an used old semibroken K50 anyways. I wouldn't do it again with my DA* though. I kinda though the DA* had super airtight sealings. But with a kit lens, anytime

)

As of today, everything still works.
The display did fog up a few days ago. It was cold outside. I put some tissue paper in the battery compartment and let it sit overnight. I think/hope it sucked up all the moisture in the body. Haven't really gone shooting since.

Aha. You're a braver man than me!

**clackers** · 08-28-2018, 04:57 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by labidas

Curiosity demands answers and I felt adventurous. (and my camera is old and has some problems - I'll get a new body soon. I won't get nothing on ebay for an used old semibroken K50 anyways. I wouldn't do it again with my DA* though. I kinda though the DA* had super airtight sealings. But with a kit lens, anytime

)

As of today, everything still works.
The display did fog up a few days ago. It was cold outside. I put some tissue paper in the battery compartment and let it sit overnight. I think/hope it sucked up all the moisture in the body. Haven't really gone shooting since.

I normally loan my gear to all sorts of people, Labidas, but I think you've disqualified yourself after that little revelation.

MarkJerling · 08-28-2018, 05:26 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by clackers

I normally loan my gear to all sorts of people, Labidas, but I think you've disqualified yourself after that little revelation.

Yeah! And will watch out for clean, "lightly used" K-50's on ebay too!

08-28-2018, 01:24 PM	#21
labidas Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Tartu Posts: 82	Originally posted by MarkJerling Did you do this on purpose, or did you fall in? And if you did do this on purpose - Why would you? It's not designed for underwater use! Curiosity demands answers and I felt adventurous. (and my camera is old and has some problems - I'll get a new body soon. I won't get nothing on ebay for an used old semibroken K50 anyways. I wouldn't do it again with my DA* though. I kinda though the DA* had super airtight sealings. But with a kit lens, anytime ) As of today, everything still works. The display did fog up a few days ago. It was cold outside. I put some tissue paper in the battery compartment and let it sit overnight. I think/hope it sucked up all the moisture in the body. Haven't really gone shooting since. Last edited by labidas; 08-28-2018 at 01:29 PM.

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05-18-2017, 04:04 AM	#16
pathdoc Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,381	Originally posted by hcc Do not swap lenses in bad weather; dust, moisture, ....could too easily damage lenses and cameras; NO lens swapping This is why I bought the DA 18-135, and this is also why I sort of hope Pentax brings out a D-FA WR 28-200 (or similar) one day.

08-24-2018, 05:18 PM - 1 Like	#17
labidas Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Tartu Posts: 82	I went swimming with my Pentax K50 + DA*50-135 today. Both body and camera are very well sealed. Once I put them underwater and moved around(violently) there weren't any visible bubbles coming out of neither. The camera continued to function underwater. But water still got through. I found that during my ~30second test with the camera under water, water managed to seep in through the Focus Ring which ultimately made it's way onto the glass in form of a fine mist. There was also a small drop of water on the inside of the measuring display. On the body however, the rubber sealings didn't manage to keep the water out of the PC and intervalometer port. The SD card slot was dry - it has visibly more protection. There were a few drops of water on the battery. No water managed to get through the mount, it was completely dry. I have the slight suspicion some water went in through the shutter and aperture selection scrolling buttons, as the aperture selection acted up at one point. After giving the body a blower treatment, there seems to be no permanent damage. The lens had some water in it which started misting the glasses. I removed the bottom part of the lens and used a blower to force a little air movement inside the lens. The glasses cleared up slowly and remained clear afterwards. All signs of water have now disappeared and everything functions. So to my disappointment I have to say: Pentax SLRs and lenses aren't waterproof enough to use them as underwater cameras But they sure are weathersealed like crazy.

08-27-2018, 04:04 PM	#18
MarkJerling Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Wairarapa, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 20,408	Originally posted by labidas I went swimming with my Pentax K50 + DA*50-135 today. Both body and camera are very well sealed. Once I put them underwater and moved around(violently) there weren't any visible bubbles coming out of neither. The camera continued to function underwater. But water still got through. I found that during my ~30second test with the camera under water, water managed to seep in through the Focus Ring which ultimately made it's way onto the glass in form of a fine mist. There was also a small drop of water on the inside of the measuring display. On the body however, the rubber sealings didn't manage to keep the water out of the PC and intervalometer port. The SD card slot was dry - it has visibly more protection. There were a few drops of water on the battery. No water managed to get through the mount, it was completely dry. I have the slight suspicion some water went in through the shutter and aperture selection scrolling buttons, as the aperture selection acted up at one point. After giving the body a blower treatment, there seems to be no permanent damage. The lens had some water in it which started misting the glasses. I removed the bottom part of the lens and used a blower to force a little air movement inside the lens. The glasses cleared up slowly and remained clear afterwards. All signs of water have now disappeared and everything functions. So to my disappointment I have to say: Pentax SLRs and lenses aren't waterproof enough to use them as underwater cameras But they sure are weathersealed like crazy. Did you do this on purpose, or did you fall in? And if you did do this on purpose - Why would you? It's not designed for underwater use!

08-27-2018, 05:27 PM	#19
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	There was a guy on the Pentaxians Facebook group who reported a couple of weeks ago his K-1 and 24-70 went into a lake. Tried rice, everything afterwards, but no luck.

08-27-2018, 05:45 PM	#20
Fenwoodian Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,875	. I do believe, that some of Pentax's cameras are more WR than others. For example. The battery compartment door on my K-70 does not seem to seat all that firmly. The same door on my K-1 seals much tighter, and I suspect that my K-1's battery compartment door would do a better job of keeping out water than would the door on my K-70.

08-28-2018, 03:39 PM	#22
MarkJerling Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Wairarapa, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 20,408	Originally posted by labidas Curiosity demands answers and I felt adventurous. (and my camera is old and has some problems - I'll get a new body soon. I won't get nothing on ebay for an used old semibroken K50 anyways. I wouldn't do it again with my DA* though. I kinda though the DA* had super airtight sealings. But with a kit lens, anytime ) As of today, everything still works. The display did fog up a few days ago. It was cold outside. I put some tissue paper in the battery compartment and let it sit overnight. I think/hope it sucked up all the moisture in the body. Haven't really gone shooting since. Aha. You're a braver man than me!

08-28-2018, 04:57 PM - 1 Like	#23
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by labidas Curiosity demands answers and I felt adventurous. (and my camera is old and has some problems - I'll get a new body soon. I won't get nothing on ebay for an used old semibroken K50 anyways. I wouldn't do it again with my DA* though. I kinda though the DA* had super airtight sealings. But with a kit lens, anytime ) As of today, everything still works. The display did fog up a few days ago. It was cold outside. I put some tissue paper in the battery compartment and let it sit overnight. I think/hope it sucked up all the moisture in the body. Haven't really gone shooting since. I normally loan my gear to all sorts of people, Labidas, but I think you've disqualified yourself after that little revelation.

08-28-2018, 05:26 PM - 1 Like	#24
MarkJerling Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Wairarapa, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 20,408	Originally posted by clackers I normally loan my gear to all sorts of people, Labidas, but I think you've disqualified yourself after that little revelation. Yeah! And will watch out for clean, "lightly used" K-50's on ebay too!