gutguido Posted January 14, 2009 Share #1 Â Posted January 14, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi all. Does anyone here have any experience using the M8 in rain or snow? Not pouring rain or a blizzard of course, but enough so that the camera would get wet? Â I'll be going on a trip to Hokkaido in northern Japan soon, and I'm itching to take the M8 along, but I'm also concerned that the camera isn't weather sealed. Â If anyone has any experience to share I would be very grateful. Thanks! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 14, 2009 Posted January 14, 2009 Hi gutguido, Take a look here Using the M8 in adverse weather. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Anguish Posted January 14, 2009 Share #2 Â Posted January 14, 2009 It will tolerate a little, perhaps even a moderate amount of snow/mist/rain. Mine gets moisture drops on it regularly w/o any problems. Of course, I protect it as much as is practicable and dab it off regularly. But I am not obsessive with keeping it completely dry. A friend claims to have (ab)used his in the rain w/o failure. There was some discussion when the camera came out regarding the ledge above the rear screen and whether it would be a collecting gutter for seepage into the camera. But thinking about this will probably just make you paranoid. I say just use it within reason. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
barjohn Posted January 14, 2009 Share #3 Â Posted January 14, 2009 If I remember Mark's comments the two areas of concern are the shutter dial and the shutter button as two places that moisture can easily migrate in. While there have been those on the forum that swear that they have been in the most horrid conditions without any problems there are others that have had their camera die from very little moisture. Given the cost and the likelihood that a failure due to moisture would not be covered under warranty and that it could be very expensive to fix, I would suggest staying on the side of caution. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfokevin Posted January 14, 2009 Share #4 Â Posted January 14, 2009 Please Please take the camera you love on your adventures!... Â The one piece of advise (If you are new to the M8?)... Is to learn how to clean you sensor... Using wet method... Temperature changes from cold outdoors to humid indoors can cause condensation and with dust can mix to make for a messy sensor... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dseelig Posted January 14, 2009 Share #5 Â Posted January 14, 2009 It takes time before the affects of bad weather can hurt a camera. After a storm with a canon eos 1 years ago my camera was fine for about 6 months, I traded both my bodies in one day I knew which one I had exposed to the elements went to my local store told them I was getting rid of both they wanted the better looking one I told them don't take it I told them it had been in a storm they insisted , they sold it 3 weeks later about 7 months after the storm, later it died. Moisture in electronics can slowly eat away at the camera. If I have to shoot in bad weather I take out a canon 1d series and then put an aquatec cover on the body. I do not care how much weather sealing the camera has an M8 has no weather sealing. Be smart use the right tool for the right job. David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trs Posted January 14, 2009 Share #6 Â Posted January 14, 2009 I took my M8 to Hokkaido last year in late December. But, I was not in extreme weather. They just had their first snow. It was way more than what Seattle area had it just recently. But, snow does not even seem to register in Hokkaido people's mind at all where we were totaly disfunctional around Seattle area. Â Anyway, I was mostly in tour bus. So, not much exposure to extreme. In addition, I always have small towel or something similar wrapped around except when I am actually focusing and clicking shutter. No problem. Â Having said that, I would not expose directly to extreme wetness like direct rain or snow since it does not have any weather sealing. Â -T Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speenth Posted January 14, 2009 Share #7 Â Posted January 14, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Over the last two years I've used my M8 in serious weather of every kind - rain, snow, heat and dust. Its been OK ... so far. Right now, here in Austria, my M8's weather-proofing is being seriously tested. Temperatures are well below zero and the snow is falling but the camera works just fine (although in these temperatures a fully charged battery gives up within a few shots taken in rapid succession). Â The potential problems begin when I enter a warm hostelry to thaw myself out. As many will know, the frozen, metal-bodied M8 quickly becomes soaked in condensation. I can wipe away all that appears on its external surfaces, but who knows what kind of flood may be going on inside the camera body and lens barrels! This may do significant damage in time, but c'est la vie. If the camera dies in the line of duty, so be it. For me it is a tool and I am not going to molycoddle it. Â I've said on this forum before that I'd be amongst the first in the queue were Leica to offer a properly weather-proofed digital rangefinder. The combination of portability and durability would surely guarantee them a much needed winner. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
imported_reinierv Posted January 14, 2009 Share #8  Posted January 14, 2009 mine died due to condensation in greenland..it doesn't need much condensation to die and Leica will claim water damage and send you a cost estimate that exceeds the value of the camera  direct water/snow contact doesn't seem to bother much but I'm now extremely carefull to allow the camera "to breath" when going from cold to warm. This winter I took it into a dampy bus so to reduce the risc I took it out of the bag... Insane that you have to take these kind of measures with a 4K camera but well, its part of M8 life Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted January 14, 2009 Share #9 Â Posted January 14, 2009 I wouldn't let the M8 sit in a downpour, but rain hasn't proved to be a problem. If it is raining hard then keep the camera in a bag when it's not being used. If it gets really wet it may be a good idea to wipe it down before putting it in the bag. Â If you have been using the camera in the raid you may want to remove the battery and let it dry out slowly once you get into a dry environment. This isn't something I've bothered with so far. Â To be honest I don't treat my M8 any differently to how I treated my film Ms and haven't had a problem. In fact the only camera that I've ever had a problem with was a Hexar RF that died after being kept in a rucksack that was a lot damper than I thought. Once dried slowly the camera was ok. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanhulsenbeek Posted January 14, 2009 Share #10 Â Posted January 14, 2009 .............. If you have been using the camera in the rain you may want to remove the battery and let it dry out slowly once you get into a dry environment. This isn't something I've bothered with so far. ............. Â This point is usually overlooked and forgotten, but is in my humble experience the most important thing to remember. I have even made it my closing motto for every post here on this Forum. Â A Canon 20D died in 2005 in extreme moist and heat in Borneo (Bako N.P.) A subsequently bought 350D also started to act funny in those conditions but was consistently saved, several times, by whipping out the battery - and the card - and letting things dry. Back home the 20D showed considerable build-up inside of salty erosion at the contact points: moisture and electrical current is a lethal combination for your camera. Took quite some arms-twisting to get a new camera. Â My Leica M8 did well in Indonesia in Bali and Lombok. When it rained I kept it dry in an Ortlieb case. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fefe Posted January 14, 2009 Share #11 Â Posted January 14, 2009 I have used my M8 under the rain 3 times and the snow 2 times in the past month alone (took ~ 200 shots). Not a bad storm, but it happened to drizzle during all one of my weekend trips and that didn't prevent me taking pictures. I have done this since I bought my M8 and it did get its share of dust, snow, rain, cold, heat, humidity... and it still works and never failed me. Â I read somewhere on this board that the place where the water could get in is around the on switch, so I try to prevent water to get there but that's about it. When I am not taking a picture, I try to keep the camera under the coat. Â About condensation, I had multiple occurences of getting the glass covered with fog (especially moving from a place with AC to outdoors in tropical countries) but it never prevented me from taking a picture (I got a few very fogged up pictures...) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyp Posted January 14, 2009 Share #12 Â Posted January 14, 2009 I "always" put my R cameras and lenses in a plastic bag when coming into a warm room from outside...always. Seems to work and it is cheap and easy way to avoid trouble. If you don't have a bag handy, then tightly wrap the cameras in your coat with the colder outside part of the coat closest to the cameras. If you are out in falling snow, I find it best to let the cameras get cold as quick as possible. That way, the snow does not melt on the items as quickly and can be wiped off more easily. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olsen Posted January 14, 2009 Share #13 Â Posted January 14, 2009 I live in Norway which have a similar climate to Hokkaido. I took my M8 along at skiing trips - both down hill and cross country, this last Christmas and New Years holiday. I carried the camera unprotected, just by the neck strap across my chest. I have also used it extensively outdoor in heavy rain. Several times. I take care that the camera is not soaked, and treat it as an ordinary camera. With usual caution, seeing to that it is not soaked in water and later frozen stiff, I have not hesitated using my M8 in rain and snow. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Luis D Posted January 14, 2009 Share #14 Â Posted January 14, 2009 I have used my M8 in soft rain, also when my hands was dripping from rain or perspiration, and it has not problems. I also have used many other digital cameras, such as Canon Kiss and point-n-shoot, and also these did not have problems in soft rain. In fact I have not ever had a camera what was called by the maker weather sealed. Maybe if I was in hard rain or someone opened a champagne on my camera I would not be happy without weather seals. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Printmaker Posted January 14, 2009 Share #15  Posted January 14, 2009 A little way up the hill from where I live is the Waialeale Summit, reputed to be the wettest spot on earth. 450 inches of rain per year is average. The last few years it has been considerably more. Down the hill, where I live it, rains a little bit each day and from December through March getting 5 inch per hour rains is a near daily occurrence. I'm careful with my M8 but not fanatically so. It gets wet often enough. I keep the body wrapped in a cloth in my bag when not in use and let the condensation air dry after use. So far. so good. No rain, no rainbows. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/74091-using-the-m8-in-adverse-weather/?do=findComment&comment=778124'>More sharing options...
grduprey Posted January 14, 2009 Share #16 Â Posted January 14, 2009 The M8 is just fine in rain or snow, I have had both on mine and no problems at all. Just take normal precautions and you will be fine. My M8 has seen -17 F temps and no problems even after hours in the cold. Just keep your spare batteries in a warm pocket and you will be fine. Â Gene Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eudemian Posted January 15, 2009 Share #17 Â Posted January 15, 2009 After being caught in a heavy shower and having my M8 repaired as water damaged I would categorically state that bad weather and the M8 do not mix, mildly inclement weather and the M8 do not mix, even slight water vapour and the M8 do not mix. Â I am amazed at how cavalier some people are about the M8 and water. They do not mix, try it and you will have a large bill, even if you take all precautions, just once in a shower was enough to prove this to me. Â Be warned. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean_reid Posted January 15, 2009 Share #18 Â Posted January 15, 2009 Some people have had good luck with the M8 and moisture and some have not. Unfortunately, since the camera is not sealed, luck is an important factor. Â Sorry to hear about your camera Tom. Â Cheers, Â Sean Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gutguido Posted January 15, 2009 Author Share #19 Â Posted January 15, 2009 Thank you so much to all for being so helpful. I think I will take the camera with me, but at the same time be quite conservative when it comes to its use, i.e. even a very moderate amount of rain / snow and I'm keeping it indoors. Â Tom, I'm very sorry to hear about your camera too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanhulsenbeek Posted January 15, 2009 Share #20  Posted January 15, 2009 After being caught in a heavy shower and having my M8 repaired as water damaged I would categorically state that bad weather and the M8 do not mix, mildly inclement weather and the M8 do not mix, even slight water vapour and the M8 do not mix. Be warned.  Tom,  Sorry abour your camera, but:  Risking bringing back bad memories and an iritated response : Did you take out the battery when it got wet? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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