Pelpa78 Posted January 2, 2014 Share #1 Posted January 2, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) I know that new M 240 is weather sealed... but no Leica lens is, so I was wondering how much could it be safe to shoot under the rain with a M 240 and a Leica lens... Since no lenses are weather sealed, is it not useless to have a weather sealed camera? thank you Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 2, 2014 Posted January 2, 2014 Hi Pelpa78, Take a look here M 240 weather sealing: is it safe. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jaapv Posted January 2, 2014 Share #2 Posted January 2, 2014 According to Leica the lenses are made to such narrow tolerances that they do not break the weather sealing. For anybody wanting to bring up the ND-filter-light leak discussion: Water behaves differently from light… One of both getting into a narrow space does not imply the other will. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CheshireCat Posted January 2, 2014 Share #3 Posted January 2, 2014 According to Leica the lenses are made to such narrow tolerances that they do not break the weather sealing. Is there an official statement from Leica ? Also, does this mean that all lenses, including very old ones, are ok ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted January 2, 2014 Share #4 Posted January 2, 2014 Yes there was on introduction. My brain refuses to find the exact location… Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted January 2, 2014 Share #5 Posted January 2, 2014 The M isn't weather sealed, rather it is weather resistant, a sensible move given that it's full of electronics. Leica lenses don't have any electronics inside them so there's nothing that can't be fixed if they do get a soaking. That said, apart from press/sports photographers, I don't think I've ever seen someone outside in a torrential downpour using their camera. In reality, used with some care, there shouldn't be any issue with using them in wet weather conditions. Alternatively, if your intention is to use your camera in very wet conditions on a regular basis then I would say that there are more suitable options available including underwater housings. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted January 2, 2014 Share #6 Posted January 2, 2014 Maybe THIS THREAD can bring some perspective to the whole discussion. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pelpa78 Posted January 2, 2014 Author Share #7 Posted January 2, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) That said, apart from press/sports photographers, I don't think I've ever seen someone outside in a torrential downpour using their camera. In reality, used with some care, there shouldn't be any issue with using them in wet weather conditions. Alternatively, if your intention is to use your camera in very wet conditions on a regular basis then I would say that there are more suitable options available including underwater housings. No, I was thinking about using it in light rain or some snow, not in heavy rain. Being a 7000 dollars camera, I want to be sure before putting it out of my bag while raining... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted January 2, 2014 Share #8 Posted January 2, 2014 From the Leica website..... Splash-proof camera body Thanks to the many years of experience gathered by our engineers in the construction of camera bodies, the new Leica M is built without compromise for maximum stability and perfect sealing. Its top and base plates are machined from solid brass, and its full-metal body is manufactured in one piece from high-strength magnesium alloy. Specially designed rubber seals protect the camera body against dust and water spray. The glass covering plate of its high-resolution monitor screen is manufactured from particularly tough and scratch-resistant Corning® Gorilla® glass. All this makes the Leica M particularly resilient and helps guarantee it a long and reliable working life Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stickan1 Posted January 2, 2014 Share #9 Posted January 2, 2014 I gave mine a test this summer on the coast of Brittany. Rather heavy rain and gale force winds for twenty minutes or so. I used a simple plastic bag as protection but the camera got really wet. First I didn't notice any problems, but later in the day when it was sunny again I had some moisture inside the rangefinder window, but it disappeared during the afternoon. No other problems. So the lesson for me is to be careful in heavy rain. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 2, 2014 Share #10 Posted January 2, 2014 ... In heavy rain or snowfall one should prefer a waterproof camera, which is useful even at high humidity, fog and sandstorms, however. In earlier times, this was a Minolta Weathermatic and later digital an Olympus 1050 SW. A Nikonos remained the dream camera for underwater and wet land areas. Some use a plastic bag with a hole, from which sticks out the hood of the lens. An UV filter to protect the front lens element is mandatory. In heavy rain the Leica should be used only under an umbrella. There are umbrellas available, which are attached to the backpack. This leaves both hands free to take pictures: Swing-handsfree - the first real handsfree backpack umbrella Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted January 2, 2014 Share #11 Posted January 2, 2014 Being a 7000 dollars camera, I want to be sure before putting it out of my bag while raining... Well that's the reason most people won't be using their M in the rain even if it is weather sealed, the price they paid. While Leica lenses are not advertised as weather sealed I've been using them for thirty years and at least once a year one or two of them would get a good soaking. And apart from condensation on the inside (often foolishly caused by me putting my warm hand over the front to try and stop rain drops landing on the front element/filter) none of them has ever leaked water into the lens. When I got my M9 I carried on my wet weather habits and that got quiet a few soakings without anything going wrong. So they are tougher than people suspect, unless the M's weather sealing is there to protect something inside that is now more delicate than the M9.........? Just go out and use it and be sensible, take a cloth to wipe it down every now and again, but I bet your main problem would be not the camera getting wet, but trying to keep the front element dry, and that can be the self limiting safety valve to say when to give up. Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaques Posted January 2, 2014 Share #12 Posted January 2, 2014 i shot mine in light rain this afternoon- then wiped it down with a cloth. I did wonder about the microphone holes on the top plate? I assume they are sealed? A drop formed right on them... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pelpa78 Posted January 2, 2014 Author Share #13 Posted January 2, 2014 I think I'll never use it in heavy rain but I was thinking about using it in drizzle, heavy fog or light snowfall. I have 3 lenses from '90ies so I'll give it a try as soon as I can. Any suggestion about how let camera and lenses dry up after getting them wet? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted January 2, 2014 Share #14 Posted January 2, 2014 I think I'll never use it in heavy rain but I was thinking about using it in drizzle, heavy fog or light snowfall. I have 3 lenses from '90ies so I'll give it a try as soon as I can. Any suggestion about how let camera and lenses dry up after getting them wet? I wouldn't worry about using any camera in those conditions. As mentioned just wipe them off when inside (or periodically outside to avoid too much build up) and you should be fine. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pelpa78 Posted January 2, 2014 Author Share #15 Posted January 2, 2014 It could be (indeed it is) a stupid question but anyone think that could be ok to put lens and body in a oven (warm temperature) to dry it faster? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted January 2, 2014 Share #16 Posted January 2, 2014 I would never go over 50 degrees as there are lubricants in there Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotoism Posted January 2, 2014 Share #17 Posted January 2, 2014 I think I'll never use it in heavy rain but I was thinking about using it in drizzle, heavy fog or light snowfall.......Any suggestion about how let camera and lenses dry up after getting them wet? I once used an M8 (which was never even advertised as "splash proof") in light to moderate rain on a beach and did not have any problems. What I did was I wore a poncho and hid the camera inside the pocho and took it out only when I shot. Also at hand was a piece of absorbant cloth I could quickly wipe off excess water drops form the camera and the lens when needed. Afterwards I just left the camera on the table with lens cap off to let remaining moisture, if any, escape. In situations you mentioned I believe there is little to worry about your M240. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted January 2, 2014 Share #18 Posted January 2, 2014 It could be (indeed it is) a stupid question but anyone think that could be ok to put lens and body in a oven (warm temperature) to dry it faster? If you've come in from the cold heating it will just cause condensation to form inside, so leave it to adjust gently to room temperature. The same is true if outside and it gets wet, don't put a cold camera under your warm coat, it will do better staying on your shoulder out in the cold. Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdlaing Posted January 2, 2014 Share #19 Posted January 2, 2014 i shot mine in light rain this afternoon- then wiped it down with a cloth. I did wonder about the microphone holes on the top plate? I assume they are sealed? A drop formed right on them... Yes, they are. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted January 2, 2014 Share #20 Posted January 2, 2014 This issue comes up repeatedly, and my solution is always the same....have insurance that covers all damage or loss, regardless of cause, including my own stupidity. I like that my M is weather sealed, but that's because it should operate more reliably in inclement weather than my M8.2. But damage/loss is more an inconvenience, and the price is of no consequence, since my insurance would cover either camera. Simple, really. As long as we're discussing weather sealing, I thought the comments by Roger at lensrentals at the end of this article are noteworthy on a general level, not necessarily specific to Leica. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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