Whether to weather seal SL2S

[augustwest100]

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Hello all,

I mostly use my M system or my SL2S with a Sigma 28-70 when on the go.

What would you recommend for the SL2S when looking for a no-worry weather sealed solution for more rugged locations, like rainforests or deserts? I don’t think the Sigma is weather sealed…

Knowing I have the Sigma Zoom, would a better option be a Leica SL prime (I would love the 35) or something like the 24-90?

Would be nice to own an SL prime to compliment the zoom I have, but the 24-90 would make more sense for the flexibility of not switching lenses in such locations. It feels like “overlapping” to have a 28-70 and a 24-90. All things considered I prefer less weight but you can’t have it all!

 

[Stuart Richardson]

The mount is dust and water resistant, which means you are unlikely to gather dust in the body or get the body wet. Your only risk is the lens. Even then, I think it is unlikely that the lens will be damaged in light rain. Best practice in bad conditions is to have a bag to put the camera in when you are not actively photographing. Unless you plan to be photographing in a massive downpour, I would suggest just using the lens you have. For the price of the Leica zooms you could buy 5 or 6 replacements if anything went wrong. So that being said, if you want a Leica lens I would highly recommend the APO Summicron 35mm. It is an astoundingly good lens and it will compliment your kit better than another standard zoom would.

[augustwest100]

This makes sense, of course! I never thought about weather sealing until recently. I’ve never actually had a problem with the Sigma lens (or any lens ever in my lifetime, for that matter) except for a little dust. 

[Psrkn]

I have both Leica 24-90mm and sigma 28-70mm. I ended up shooting with 24-90mm almost all the time. I use 28-70mm when I was in a situation where I don't want to carry a heavy lens e.g. walking on the beach.

[Photoworks]

Dust and wind are challenging for the cameras.
I would pick a lens that stays on the camera without changing.

Pick focal length that you may use. and don't take it off.

[Stuart Richardson]

I think a lot of it is also about the degree of dust and wind. Iceland is a very windy place and I change lenses in the wind all the time with no ill effects. I typically turn my back to the wind and hunch over a bit to keep the rain from hitting the camera. Rain is usually sideways here anyway. I do recommend bags, as they protect the camera much better than just carrying it over your shoulder in bad conditions. Change lenses in a sheltered area. For example, you can change lenses in the car. Bags also give you a sheltered area to change lenses in...especially a shoulder bag with a flap that covers it. If I am in rain or snow and wind, I will often change the lenses inside the bag...often without even opening them up enough to see. But it all depends on whether a bag can work for you, and what the conditions are that you are in. Do you really expect to be in rainforests and deserts? If so, then maybe a fully weather sealed lens is right for you. But if you are more just worried about a normal exposure to the elements, then I would mostly say use common sense and don't overthink it. Most cameras can tolerate more than you think...I have shot film M's and the Mamiya 7II in heavy rains where they got quite wet and even fogged slightly in the viewfinder, but in the end they were fine (they would not have been if I did not have a waterproof bag). I have carried the SL and Leica S system in really heavy conditions and never worried about it for a moment, nor had any ill effects. Those were with their native weather sealed lenses, however. But I still think that the Sigma is unlikely to give you much trouble, given that it has a gasket on the lens mount. That is the most obvious point of water ingress.

Edited June 24, 2022 by Stuart Richardson

[laowai_]

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The SL2s is IP54 rated. I think this is the only camera series that has IP rating.

Many years ago the international electronic association, IEC, got fed up with marketing claims of ‘water proof’ or ‘dust resistant’ and developed standard tests to measure exactly how water proof and dust resistant an electronic device is. This is known as IEC60529 IP rating. IP stands for ingress protection. IEC is like our own NEMA (National Electrical Manufactures Association, in the US we tend to use NEMA, the rest of the world uses IEC)

In the IP number the first digit is for the dust protection, the second number is for water proofness.

In the case of the SL2S IP54 means: 

Dust protection: “Ingress of dust is not entirely prevented, but it must not enter in sufficient quantity to interfere with the safe operation of the equipment.”

Water protection: “Water splashing against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effect, utilizing either: a) an oscillating fixture, or b) A spray nozzle with no shield. Test a) is conducted for 10 minutes. b) is conducted (without shield) for 5 minutes minimum.”

I assume that the IP rating of the SL2s is only valid with Leica SL lenses. To be sure one would have to look at the terms and conditions of the L-alliance agreement. BTW a product specialist at Leica USA told me that the SL had similar protection but Leica did not want to delay the product release by going through the certification process.

The fact that Leica spends the time and $$$ having the SL2s IP certified is a clear indicator of where they try to position the SL system.

[JeffWright]

I have used the SL2 and Leica L lenses in very inclement weather, no issues. Most of the time, the camera's naked

I carry a Think Tank Photo emergency camera cover, which works well. Available in a variety of sizes. They make other covers that would be virtually bulletproof even for a non-sealed lens. https://www.thinktankphoto.com/collections/camera-rain-covers/products/emergency-rain-cover-medium

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Edited June 24, 2022 by JeffWright

[beewee]

I wouldn’t worry too much about rain/dust as long as you’re not swapping lenses. Especially if your body and lens mount is already weather sealed.

I’ve shot my M8.2 in some pretty nasty wet conditions in Alaska and Norway and never managed to kill it. The viewfinder might fog up but the camera was fine and I just let the camera dry out overnight when I go inside so it’s not sitting in an damp/wet camera bag. Seeing that the SL2-S and SL lenses are splash/dust resistant, it should be much better than the M8.2 which isn’t advertised as being weather resistant.

As far as the Sigma 28-70 goes, it’s nearly disposable compare to the price of the SL 24-90 so I would just replace it if it actually died. 🙂