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r0ckstarr · 10-05-2010, 09:22 PM

I've been in light rain with my K7 and 18-55WR / 100mm WR.

I've been heavily splashed by salt water crashing up against the sea wall with the K7 / 18-55WR. No problems yet. I just dryed it off with a towel and kept going.

FullertonImages · 10-05-2010, 09:36 PM

I clamped my K-7 and DA* 16-50 to the outside of a VW bus on a road trip to make a time lapse. It got rained on for about 45 minutes while we were driving 50 mph. You camera will be fine.

theeggplanthunter · 10-05-2010, 10:14 PM

Well, I'm not advocating aything, but I took my K100D (not WR) and a sigma 17-70 (not WR either) to the base of a waterfall. The body, lens, my clothes, my bag, my hair, were all drenched but the camera still shot despite the water and it still works.

Then again, this is also the kit I flung in a arc and smashed against a granite cliff, so I think you don't have too much to worry about. Pentax generally knows what they're doing when it comes to building these suckers.

zerodaze · 10-06-2010, 06:54 AM

There is another way to look at this. A lot of people really baby their equipment and don't take it to extremes. It is very good practice to take care of gear (cars, computers, cameras, etc) but if you don't use the gear to its fullest you will miss out on some good stuff. My view is that you take your camera to where and when you want to take pictures. Be reasonable and take precautions (and don't be just stupid), but get your shot. If the worst happens and the K-7 fails, no problem. You now have the excuse to get the K-5

zebrasas · 10-06-2010, 02:16 PM

WR proofing the reason i am going for the k7 and i suppose the k5 will be better WR, maybe i should wait until the k5 i wish .

rblakers · 10-06-2010, 09:13 PM

Originally posted by FullertonImages

It got rained on for about 45 minutes while we were driving 50 mph

Wow. That's more than I'd plan to do with any camera that wasn't in a full waterproof housing!

bats · 10-06-2010, 09:17 PM

I've taken my Pentax K10D out in the driving rain several times and it survived quite nicely. But I always cover the exterior of the non-WR Sigma 18-200 in saran wrap and do my best to keep the lens mount covered as well.

The K10D did fine. But my camera bag was thoroughly soaked and I got drenched.

Rant mode on:

You know all those beautiful, romantic shots of Paris in the rain? You must have seen them. They're lovely. Iconic. Umbrellas. Women in high heels. Car lights reflecting on the wet pavement. You wish you had taken them, right?

Well trust me on this: the photographers were soaked. Totally. Shoes, socks, pants... soaked to the bone.

Oh, and Ansel Adams froze his ass off at Yosemite too. Trust me on that one too.

So much for the romance of outdoor photography. Henceforth, all my photos will be taken from the comfort of my living room.

:-)

Last edited by bats; 10-06-2010 at 09:33 PM.

Groucho · 10-07-2010, 09:19 AM

Originally posted by zebrasas

WR proofing the reason i am going for the k7 and i suppose the k5 will be better WR, maybe i should wait until the k5 i wish .

Same body, almost certainly same seals - I doubt it'll be any better. I would guess that the K20D/K200D/K-7/K-5 are about the same.

Here's one of my favorite shots to show some waterproofing... continuous AF meant that in a series of shots, one of them focused on the water coming at the lens.

Then there's hail...

Besides, the cameras look so good wet.

conradj · 10-07-2010, 10:31 AM

Originally posted by Groucho

Besides, the cameras look so good wet.

... we don't tho. Drowned dogs, the lot of us.

Thank heavens for autofocus. When the glasses bead up, can't see anything.

Flowrider · 10-07-2010, 02:14 PM

depends on the lens your using ... I have taken my k20 with 18-55 WR (kit!) lense into the rain several times without any trouble ...

greetings, flo

zerodaze · 10-07-2010, 05:11 PM

Originally posted by FullertonImages

I clamped my K-7 and DA* 16-50 to the outside of a VW bus on a road trip to make a time lapse. It got rained on for about 45 minutes while we were driving 50 mph. You camera will be fine.

Kids, don't try this at home. He is a professional.

FullertonImages · 10-07-2010, 05:46 PM

Originally posted by zerodaze

Kids, don't try this at home. He is a professional.

Haha. I assure you that my being a professional did precious little to aid the survival of that camera!

brofkand · 10-07-2010, 07:01 PM

If you're at all worried, just bring a clear trash bag or similar to cover the camera.

I wouldn't worry though, the K-7 is very well sealed.

Just like with those expensive waterproof housings, though: you should always treat it like it may flood. I'm sure eventually one of those gaskets will fail and the camera will flood. Maybe not anytime soon, but you can take it to the bank it will.

10-06-2010, 02:16 PM	#20
zebrasas Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: brighton Posts: 6	k7 WR proofing the reason i am going for the k7 and i suppose the k5 will be better WR, maybe i should wait until the k5 i wish .

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10-05-2010, 09:22 PM	#16
r0ckstarr Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,507	I've been in light rain with my K7 and 18-55WR / 100mm WR. I've been heavily splashed by salt water crashing up against the sea wall with the K7 / 18-55WR. No problems yet. I just dryed it off with a towel and kept going.

10-05-2010, 09:36 PM	#17
FullertonImages Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 883	I clamped my K-7 and DA* 16-50 to the outside of a VW bus on a road trip to make a time lapse. It got rained on for about 45 minutes while we were driving 50 mph. You camera will be fine.

10-05-2010, 10:14 PM	#18
theeggplanthunter Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 29	Well, I'm not advocating aything, but I took my K100D (not WR) and a sigma 17-70 (not WR either) to the base of a waterfall. The body, lens, my clothes, my bag, my hair, were all drenched but the camera still shot despite the water and it still works. Then again, this is also the kit I flung in a arc and smashed against a granite cliff, so I think you don't have too much to worry about. Pentax generally knows what they're doing when it comes to building these suckers.

10-06-2010, 06:54 AM	#19
zerodaze Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 57	There is another way to look at this. A lot of people really baby their equipment and don't take it to extremes. It is very good practice to take care of gear (cars, computers, cameras, etc) but if you don't use the gear to its fullest you will miss out on some good stuff. My view is that you take your camera to where and when you want to take pictures. Be reasonable and take precautions (and don't be just stupid), but get your shot. If the worst happens and the K-7 fails, no problem. You now have the excuse to get the K-5

10-06-2010, 09:13 PM	#21
rblakers New Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 8	Originally posted by FullertonImages It got rained on for about 45 minutes while we were driving 50 mph Wow. That's more than I'd plan to do with any camera that wasn't in a full waterproof housing!

10-06-2010, 09:17 PM	#22
bats Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: San Francisco Photos: Gallery Posts: 102	I've taken my Pentax K10D out in the driving rain several times and it survived quite nicely. But I always cover the exterior of the non-WR Sigma 18-200 in saran wrap and do my best to keep the lens mount covered as well. The K10D did fine. But my camera bag was thoroughly soaked and I got drenched. Rant mode on: You know all those beautiful, romantic shots of Paris in the rain? You must have seen them. They're lovely. Iconic. Umbrellas. Women in high heels. Car lights reflecting on the wet pavement. You wish you had taken them, right? Well trust me on this: the photographers were soaked. Totally. Shoes, socks, pants... soaked to the bone. Oh, and Ansel Adams froze his ass off at Yosemite too. Trust me on that one too. So much for the romance of outdoor photography. Henceforth, all my photos will be taken from the comfort of my living room. :-) Last edited by bats; 10-06-2010 at 09:33 PM.

10-07-2010, 09:19 AM	#23
Groucho Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 416	Originally posted by zebrasas WR proofing the reason i am going for the k7 and i suppose the k5 will be better WR, maybe i should wait until the k5 i wish . Same body, almost certainly same seals - I doubt it'll be any better. I would guess that the K20D/K200D/K-7/K-5 are about the same. Here's one of my favorite shots to show some waterproofing... continuous AF meant that in a series of shots, one of them focused on the water coming at the lens. Then there's hail... Besides, the cameras look so good wet.

10-07-2010, 10:31 AM	#24
conradj Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Photos: Albums Posts: 188	Originally posted by Groucho Besides, the cameras look so good wet. ... we don't tho. Drowned dogs, the lot of us. Thank heavens for autofocus. When the glasses bead up, can't see anything.

10-07-2010, 02:14 PM	#25
Flowrider Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 11	depends on the lens your using ... I have taken my k20 with 18-55 WR (kit!) lense into the rain several times without any trouble ... greetings, flo

10-07-2010, 05:11 PM	#26
zerodaze Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 57	Originally posted by FullertonImages I clamped my K-7 and DA* 16-50 to the outside of a VW bus on a road trip to make a time lapse. It got rained on for about 45 minutes while we were driving 50 mph. You camera will be fine. Kids, don't try this at home. He is a professional.

10-07-2010, 05:46 PM	#27
FullertonImages Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 883	Originally posted by zerodaze Kids, don't try this at home. He is a professional. Haha. I assure you that my being a professional did precious little to aid the survival of that camera!

10-07-2010, 07:01 PM	#28
brofkand Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: North Carolina Posts: 836	If you're at all worried, just bring a clear trash bag or similar to cover the camera. I wouldn't worry though, the K-7 is very well sealed. Just like with those expensive waterproof housings, though: you should always treat it like it may flood. I'm sure eventually one of those gaskets will fail and the camera will flood. Maybe not anytime soon, but you can take it to the bank it will.

K7 and the rain?

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