So how WR are the Pentax systems, really?

kkoether · 12-13-2013, 03:20 PM

Everyone else was huddled under tents etc. I was standing in the open shooting these. It wasn't a downpour but I was soaked thru by the time I was done. I was shooting with my K200D and DA-L 55-300mm zoom. I dried everything off real well afterwards. No problems to this day. Just use some common sense.

**TopherTheME** · 12-14-2013, 06:35 PM

I decided to go for a nature hike during the snow storm that just hit us in the north east US. I kept the K5 with DA 50-135 slung around me the entire time and even dropped it in the snow a few times. Still works.

Pioneer · 12-14-2013, 07:37 PM

I certainly hope my new K5iis is WR. That is the only reason I bought the silly thing. All the rest of the goodies, IQ, ergonomics, etc are all icing on the cake and I am very glad they are there. But the weather resistance is critical. Up to this point whenever the weather got bad my LX came out, but loading film in a rain, snow or dust storm is a bit of a challenge, to put it mildly. If it is as good as everyone claims it is it will replace the LX as my foul weather tool.

Kozlok · 12-15-2013, 09:19 AM

Originally posted by Pioneer

I certainly hope my new K5iis is WR. That is the only reason I bought the silly thing. All the rest of the goodies, IQ, ergonomics, etc are all icing on the cake and I am very glad they are there. But the weather resistance is critical. Up to this point whenever the weather got bad my LX came out, but loading film in a rain, snow or dust storm is a bit of a challenge, to put it mildly. If it is as good as everyone claims it is it will replace the LX as my foul weather tool.

Don't forget you need a WR or * lens before taking it out in the rain...I don't see one in your signature block. I put my 18-135 on my k-30 and ran it under the sink (at very low pressure) to check while still in my 30 day return window. Took it out in a tropical storm later that summer. 20 inches of rain later, not a single hiccup.

kkoether · 12-15-2013, 11:06 AM

If your really worried there are always "Camera Condems" as a friend of mine calls them. I have even fashioned something similar out of the dreaded plastic grocery bags and a rubber band to hold it around the lens.

OP/TECH USA 18" Rainsleeve (Set of 2) 9001132 B&H Photo

Pioneer · 12-15-2013, 12:54 PM

Originally posted by Kozlok

Don't forget you need a WR or * lens before taking it out in the rain...I don't see one in your signature block. I put my 18-135 on my k-30 and ran it under the sink (at very low pressure) to check while still in my 30 day return window. Took it out in a tropical storm later that summer. 20 inches of rain later, not a single hiccup.

Thanks. I do have the 18-135WR (I think that is the range.) At some point Pentax will build me a WR FA31 and I will become a very happy camper.

Of course I am also looking very closely at the new 20-40 Limited and may end up moving that way in early 2014.

As for my sig, I have so many cameras and lenses there is no possible way to fit them all in there. The ones that I have listed are the ones I seem to use more than any of the others.

I suppose I should figure out how to add in the 18-135 since it will be the primary walk around.

Interestingly, my LX is very reliable in the rain and I still do use it as well. The lenses aren't WR but I set my reliable old M50/2 at f8 or f5.6, wrap a tight rubber band around the base of the lens where it meets the camera, put a UVa filter on the front with a hood and just go do my thing. The camera holds up just fine and has never had any trouble. The lens does end up getting pretty damp sometimes but it dries out inside pretty quickly when I get back to the house. Eventually I imagine it will begin to fall apart, but if it does I'll buy another for $25 and move on. Of course changing film is where things can get dicey. If I can't dry the back of the camera off and get under shelter, I don't open the back. This is really where the K5iis overtakes the LX in my opinion, and was the entire reason I bought it.

TenZ.NL · 12-15-2013, 03:01 PM

I know the system is very well sealed but I wonder about something....I lost that little black plastic hotshoe-cover of my K20d, could the exposed contacts be a risk? My own theory is that little thingy is just a cover and not really a WRseal, are the contacts themselves sealed from inside the body?

**Ex Finn.** · 12-15-2013, 03:11 PM

Originally posted by TenZ.NL

My own theory is that little thingy is just a cover and not really a WRseal,

+1 on that.
I ditched the hot-shoe covers on day one. Have not had any problems so far.

Sandy Hancock · 12-15-2013, 03:23 PM

I took the K-5 and DA*50-135 for a walk with my wife and dog. I didn't have a bag so it just stayed slung over my shoulder....

It rained like this for 30 minutes: no problems.

Kozlok · 12-15-2013, 03:39 PM

Originally posted by Sandy Hancock

I took the K-5 and DA*50-135 for a walk with my wife and dog. I didn't have a bag so it just stayed slung over my shoulder....It rained like this for 30 minutes: no problems.

Sandy looks less amused than the wife!

TenZ.NL · 12-15-2013, 04:00 PM

Originally posted by Ex Finn.

+1 on that.
I ditched the hot-shoe covers on day one. Have not had any problems so far.

That`s good to know, ever since that cover is lost, I try to keep it out of moisture.

**Ex Finn.** · 12-15-2013, 04:43 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by TenZ.NL

That`s good to know, ever since that cover is lost, I try to keep it out of moisture.

Here is an old image...

TenZ.NL · 12-15-2013, 04:46 PM

Now that is reassuring, tfs!

Sandy Hancock · 12-15-2013, 05:26 PM

Originally posted by Kozlok

Sandy looks less amused than the wife!

I'm Sandy. The dog is Sammy

**Canada_Rockies** · 12-15-2013, 07:59 PM

Originally posted by Sandy Hancock

I'm Sandy. The dog is Sammy

My daughter used to get really upset when we would inadvertently say "Go pee, Tanya" instead of "Go pee, Tammy"

12-15-2013, 04:43 PM - 1 Like	#42
Ex Finn. Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern Maryland. Espoo. Kouvola. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,975	Originally posted by TenZ.NL That`s good to know, ever since that cover is lost, I try to keep it out of moisture. Here is an old image... Last edited by Ex Finn.; 11-11-2014 at 05:45 PM.

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12-13-2013, 03:20 PM	#31
kkoether Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Huber Heights, OH, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 731	Everyone else was huddled under tents etc. I was standing in the open shooting these. It wasn't a downpour but I was soaked thru by the time I was done. I was shooting with my K200D and DA-L 55-300mm zoom. I dried everything off real well afterwards. No problems to this day. Just use some common sense.

12-14-2013, 07:37 PM	#33
Pioneer Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Wandering the Streets Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,411	I certainly hope my new K5iis is WR. That is the only reason I bought the silly thing. All the rest of the goodies, IQ, ergonomics, etc are all icing on the cake and I am very glad they are there. But the weather resistance is critical. Up to this point whenever the weather got bad my LX came out, but loading film in a rain, snow or dust storm is a bit of a challenge, to put it mildly. If it is as good as everyone claims it is it will replace the LX as my foul weather tool.

12-15-2013, 09:19 AM	#34
Kozlok Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Albuquerque Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,148	Originally posted by Pioneer I certainly hope my new K5iis is WR. That is the only reason I bought the silly thing. All the rest of the goodies, IQ, ergonomics, etc are all icing on the cake and I am very glad they are there. But the weather resistance is critical. Up to this point whenever the weather got bad my LX came out, but loading film in a rain, snow or dust storm is a bit of a challenge, to put it mildly. If it is as good as everyone claims it is it will replace the LX as my foul weather tool. Don't forget you need a WR or * lens before taking it out in the rain...I don't see one in your signature block. I put my 18-135 on my k-30 and ran it under the sink (at very low pressure) to check while still in my 30 day return window. Took it out in a tropical storm later that summer. 20 inches of rain later, not a single hiccup.

12-15-2013, 11:06 AM	#35
kkoether Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Huber Heights, OH, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 731	If your really worried there are always "Camera Condems" as a friend of mine calls them. I have even fashioned something similar out of the dreaded plastic grocery bags and a rubber band to hold it around the lens. OP/TECH USA 18" Rainsleeve (Set of 2) 9001132 B&H Photo

12-15-2013, 12:54 PM	#36
Pioneer Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Wandering the Streets Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,411	Originally posted by Kozlok Don't forget you need a WR or * lens before taking it out in the rain...I don't see one in your signature block. I put my 18-135 on my k-30 and ran it under the sink (at very low pressure) to check while still in my 30 day return window. Took it out in a tropical storm later that summer. 20 inches of rain later, not a single hiccup. Thanks. I do have the 18-135WR (I think that is the range.) At some point Pentax will build me a WR FA31 and I will become a very happy camper. Of course I am also looking very closely at the new 20-40 Limited and may end up moving that way in early 2014. As for my sig, I have so many cameras and lenses there is no possible way to fit them all in there. The ones that I have listed are the ones I seem to use more than any of the others. I suppose I should figure out how to add in the 18-135 since it will be the primary walk around. Interestingly, my LX is very reliable in the rain and I still do use it as well. The lenses aren't WR but I set my reliable old M50/2 at f8 or f5.6, wrap a tight rubber band around the base of the lens where it meets the camera, put a UVa filter on the front with a hood and just go do my thing. The camera holds up just fine and has never had any trouble. The lens does end up getting pretty damp sometimes but it dries out inside pretty quickly when I get back to the house. Eventually I imagine it will begin to fall apart, but if it does I'll buy another for $25 and move on. Of course changing film is where things can get dicey. If I can't dry the back of the camera off and get under shelter, I don't open the back. This is really where the K5iis overtakes the LX in my opinion, and was the entire reason I bought it.

12-15-2013, 03:01 PM	#37
TenZ.NL Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Below sealevel Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,100	I know the system is very well sealed but I wonder about something....I lost that little black plastic hotshoe-cover of my K20d, could the exposed contacts be a risk? My own theory is that little thingy is just a cover and not really a WRseal, are the contacts themselves sealed from inside the body?

12-15-2013, 03:11 PM	#38
Ex Finn. Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern Maryland. Espoo. Kouvola. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,975	Originally posted by TenZ.NL My own theory is that little thingy is just a cover and not really a WRseal, +1 on that. I ditched the hot-shoe covers on day one. Have not had any problems so far.

12-15-2013, 03:23 PM	#39
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,275	I took the K-5 and DA*50-135 for a walk with my wife and dog. I didn't have a bag so it just stayed slung over my shoulder.... It rained like this for 30 minutes: no problems.

12-15-2013, 03:39 PM	#40
Kozlok Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Albuquerque Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,148	Originally posted by Sandy Hancock I took the K-5 and DA*50-135 for a walk with my wife and dog. I didn't have a bag so it just stayed slung over my shoulder....It rained like this for 30 minutes: no problems. Sandy looks less amused than the wife!

12-15-2013, 04:00 PM	#41
TenZ.NL Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Below sealevel Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,100	Originally posted by Ex Finn. +1 on that. I ditched the hot-shoe covers on day one. Have not had any problems so far. That`s good to know, ever since that cover is lost, I try to keep it out of moisture.

12-15-2013, 04:46 PM	#43
TenZ.NL Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Below sealevel Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,100	Now that is reassuring, tfs!

12-15-2013, 05:26 PM	#44
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,275	Originally posted by Kozlok Sandy looks less amused than the wife! I'm Sandy. The dog is Sammy

12-15-2013, 07:59 PM	#45
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	Originally posted by Sandy Hancock I'm Sandy. The dog is Sammy My daughter used to get really upset when we would inadvertently say "Go pee, Tanya" instead of "Go pee, Tammy"