M8 in a thunderstorm..

[Jamie Roberts]

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Well, it happened. Yesterday, at an outdoor wedding, I was shooting with the M8 (and a 5d, the DMR was there also but in the car at the time). The ceremony had finished, and the impromptu receiving line was just about over.

 

It had been threatening rain all day, but the sun had actually come out once or twice; it was very hot. But just as we were going to take a lot of formal and portrait photography outdoors, the heavens opened and we were caught in a true late-summer thunderstorm.

 

We were waiting, with the wedding party, for the rain to let up. These things can, after all, blow over quickly, and so I was continuing to shoot with both cameras.

 

It didn't clear up. In fact, it got worse--a lot worse--and both cameras were soaked (and I was too!).

 

By the time I finished shooting and got back to the car, both cameras were dripping, on and working just fine. I dried them off (after I dried myself off) and went to the reception hall and just kept working.

 

Now, I'm not saying you should go out and try this--I was caught, and I had brought plastic along for the cameras, but didn't use it. D'oh. FWIW, my camera bag seemed to hold water out and off my other lenses, flashes and stuff. So that was great.

 

But the M8 came through with flying colours, so I'm not going to worry quite as much about it.

 

This is just an illustrative shot--not even a pose, but as the water was at that point starting to run off me and the cameras, I turned to grab my bag and have one last check of the site--these three bridesmaids were stranded for a few moments just before everyone ran for it and it really started raining hard!

 

(BTW... this is the 21mm Elmarit Pre-ASPH--a wonderful lens on the M8. Thanks to Jack for that recommendation, and for all his lens recommendations!)

 

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[sean_reid]

Hi Jamie,

 

I'm glad to hear it and I look forward to a sealed digital M where we won't need to worry about this so much.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[cbretteville]

Jamie,

Thanks for posting your experience.

- C

[etrigan63]

Wishful thinking Sean, or do you know something we don't?

[LichMD]

Great to know it did so well Jamie, thanks.

I went kayacking recently down the Delaware and decided not to carry my M8 with me, a decision I was happy with as everything got completely soaked and we almost flipped over a few times when we hit some choppy water. But the trip was completely beautiful and I was saddened not to have captured any of it on "film".