How to test water resistance of our DSLR without risk

LeDave · 08-26-2015, 05:52 PM

I am a avid timepiece person and I know that there are pressure testing done to the watch to test it's water resistance. I was wondering if there was a way to test DSLR without bringing it to the source of destruction, water. Like anybody ever attempted to pressure test DSLR? Or know any other way to test the WR?

clockworkrat · 08-26-2015, 05:57 PM

Well, the reverse of getting water in is seeing if it can get out. It's how I test my rain jackets.

stevebrot · 08-26-2015, 06:02 PM

In theory, you could put the camera in a pressure vessel at say 1.5 atmospheres (5.15m immersion) and chart the drop of vessel pressure compared to a non-WR body.

Steve

Not a Number · 08-26-2015, 06:22 PM

I don't think the WR DSLRs, lenses and flashes are intended to be immersed in water. Maybe at most dropped or set down in a puddle of water. Does the "W" stand for water or weather? If they wear meant to be immersed they would probably have some water resistance rating on them - in meters, bars or atmospheres.

I seem to recall the the WR was considered compromised if an external microphone was plugged in. Although it was unclear of whether that meant only while the mic was attached or if the weather seal had to be replaced each time the jack was used.

maltfalc · 08-26-2015, 06:42 PM

a modified body cap with a wr gasket and a connector for an air hose could be used to pressurize the camera at maybe 1 or 2 psi and then the rate of leakage could be measured or the camera could be placed in a smoke filled chamber to pinpoint leaks visually.

reeftool · 08-26-2015, 06:43 PM

As it has been mentioned, I have always understood that our cameras and certain lenses are weather resistant or weather sealed. To me, that means getting caught in a shower, wind kicking up dust, a little snow, etc won't cause any harm. I think it's always good practice to protect the camera and lenses from the weather. I have never carried my camera out in the open in rain. That's what camera bags are for. That said, all of my cameras have been wet at times. I would never "test" my camera by getting it wet. Also, it would be good to keep in mind that with age, weather sealing will loose some of it's sealing properties.

Not a Number · 08-26-2015, 06:48 PM

We could always put the DigitalRev guys up to some water immersion tests. They did freeze a Canon into a block of ice one time.

**ramseybuckeye** · 08-26-2015, 06:50 PM

Originally posted by Not a Number

I don't think the WR DSLRs, lenses and flashes are intended to be immersed in water. Maybe at most dropped or set down in a puddle of water. Does the "W" stand for water or weather? If they wear meant to be immersed they would probably have some water resistance rating on them - in meters, bars or atmospheres..

The "W" stands for Weather Resistant, and sometimes they advertise that as drip proof. I think you are spot on about a rating if immersion was intended. It's not meant to be immersion resistant. I have used my K-30, K-50, DA18-135WR, and DA* 300 in all kind of rain and stow. Even in a hard rain there's really little pressure on the seals. I would think the water would have to "pool" on a seal to create pressure to break it, maybe holding a zoom front element up or something like that. I would guess most failures are from a seal being seated improperly in the manufacture, defective in its own manufacture, or somehow deteriorating from a chemical or age. These are only my theories, I have no way to prove or disprove them.

---------- Post added 08-26-15 at 09:55 PM ----------

Originally posted by Not a Number

We could always put the DigitalRev guys up to some water immersion tests. They did freeze a Canon into a block of ice one time.

Kind of like this:

You Tube

Kozlok · 08-26-2015, 06:59 PM

I put mine under the tap set to a very low flow rate.

Eyewanders · 08-26-2015, 08:02 PM - **1 Like**

I wait until I need to test it to the point of failure which is hopefully never.

---------- Post added 08-26-15 at 08:03 PM ----------

This guy did it though (I remember watching this vid a few years ago - found it easily just now)

You Tube

---------- Post added 08-26-15 at 08:07 PM ----------

I did however do a series of shots in the pouring rain (went out *because* it was pouring rain) a little while back. I had an umbrella but did not have it open more than half the time...and it was POURING indeed as you can probably tell from this shot from the series. This was the K-3 and 50-135/2.8 - both ticked right along and have been fine since. I did towel dry them when I got home - they were VERY wet (as was I) - drenched in fact.

---------- Post added 08-26-15 at 08:09 PM ----------

---------- Post added 08-26-15 at 08:10 PM ----------

**grhazelton** · 08-26-2015, 09:22 PM

Originally posted by maltfalc

a modified body cap with a wr gasket and a connector for an air hose could be used to pressurize the camera at maybe 1 or 2 psi and then the rate of leakage could be measured or the camera could be placed in a smoke filled chamber to pinpoint leaks visually.

Hmmm. We're concerned with keeping something OUT of the camera, rather than keeping something IN. The seals might be very effective in one direction, so to speak, but not in the other. Of course, YMMV.

maltfalc · 08-26-2015, 10:29 PM

Originally posted by grhazelton

Hmmm. We're concerned with keeping something OUT of the camera, rather than keeping something IN. The seals might be very effective in one direction, so to speak, but not in the other. Of course, YMMV.

i haven't inspected every seal in every pentax camera, but none of the ones i've seen so far have been designed that way. testing the seals with both compressed air and suction would cover that possibility though. just skip the trick with the smoke when using suction.

**southlander** · 08-26-2015, 10:49 PM - **1 Like**

Q. How to test water resistance of our DSLR without risk?

A. Use someone else's camera.

focusr3 · 08-27-2015, 04:27 AM

I went to an indoor water park and got my K-50 soaked. It was close or maybe worse than this Wata fest video

You Tube

**realitarian** · 08-27-2015, 06:16 AM

Last month I dunked my K-50 and 18-135mm WR in the ocean and got splashed with powerful waves...see picture below while the evil wave was attacking us. Both still work excellent. I did have to clean the crystallized salt and sand off of the lens and camera the next day, especially from the little nooks and crannies and the underside of the camera.

There was salt in the focus and zoom rings of the lens - between all those square nubbies - that had to be cleaned off with a wet paper towel the next day. And the lens did have a B+W filter on it.

08-26-2015, 05:52 PM	#1
LeDave Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Minneapolis - St. Paul Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,067	How to test water resistance of our DSLR without risk I am a avid timepiece person and I know that there are pressure testing done to the watch to test it's water resistance. I was wondering if there was a way to test DSLR without bringing it to the source of destruction, water. Like anybody ever attempted to pressure test DSLR? Or know any other way to test the WR?

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08-26-2015, 05:57 PM	#2
clockworkrat Veteran Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Black Isle, Scotland Posts: 405	Well, the reverse of getting water in is seeing if it can get out. It's how I test my rain jackets.

08-26-2015, 06:02 PM	#3
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	In theory, you could put the camera in a pressure vessel at say 1.5 atmospheres (5.15m immersion) and chart the drop of vessel pressure compared to a non-WR body. Steve

08-26-2015, 06:22 PM	#4
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	I don't think the WR DSLRs, lenses and flashes are intended to be immersed in water. Maybe at most dropped or set down in a puddle of water. Does the "W" stand for water or weather? If they wear meant to be immersed they would probably have some water resistance rating on them - in meters, bars or atmospheres. I seem to recall the the WR was considered compromised if an external microphone was plugged in. Although it was unclear of whether that meant only while the mic was attached or if the weather seal had to be replaced each time the jack was used.

08-26-2015, 06:42 PM	#5
maltfalc Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Winnipeg Photos: Albums Posts: 396	a modified body cap with a wr gasket and a connector for an air hose could be used to pressurize the camera at maybe 1 or 2 psi and then the rate of leakage could be measured or the camera could be placed in a smoke filled chamber to pinpoint leaks visually.

08-26-2015, 06:43 PM	#6
reeftool Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Upstate New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,555	As it has been mentioned, I have always understood that our cameras and certain lenses are weather resistant or weather sealed. To me, that means getting caught in a shower, wind kicking up dust, a little snow, etc won't cause any harm. I think it's always good practice to protect the camera and lenses from the weather. I have never carried my camera out in the open in rain. That's what camera bags are for. That said, all of my cameras have been wet at times. I would never "test" my camera by getting it wet. Also, it would be good to keep in mind that with age, weather sealing will loose some of it's sealing properties.

08-26-2015, 06:48 PM	#7
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	We could always put the DigitalRev guys up to some water immersion tests. They did freeze a Canon into a block of ice one time.

08-26-2015, 06:59 PM	#9
Kozlok Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Albuquerque Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,148	I put mine under the tap set to a very low flow rate.

08-26-2015, 09:22 PM	#11
grhazelton Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Jonesboro, GA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,972	Originally posted by maltfalc a modified body cap with a wr gasket and a connector for an air hose could be used to pressurize the camera at maybe 1 or 2 psi and then the rate of leakage could be measured or the camera could be placed in a smoke filled chamber to pinpoint leaks visually. Hmmm. We're concerned with keeping something OUT of the camera, rather than keeping something IN. The seals might be very effective in one direction, so to speak, but not in the other. Of course, YMMV.

08-26-2015, 10:29 PM	#12
maltfalc Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Winnipeg Photos: Albums Posts: 396	Originally posted by grhazelton Hmmm. We're concerned with keeping something OUT of the camera, rather than keeping something IN. The seals might be very effective in one direction, so to speak, but not in the other. Of course, YMMV. i haven't inspected every seal in every pentax camera, but none of the ones i've seen so far have been designed that way. testing the seals with both compressed air and suction would cover that possibility though. just skip the trick with the smoke when using suction.

08-26-2015, 10:49 PM - 1 Like	#13
southlander Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Adelaide Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,364	Q. How to test water resistance of our DSLR without risk? A. Use someone else's camera.