Is the SL2-S somewhat watertight with M lenses and the M-L Adapter?

[algrove]

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Contemplating this camera for bad weather use and would like some input from users who often use M lenses in rain on their SL2S. Thanks.

Edited July 8, 2023 by algrove

[frame-it]

"Is the SL2-S somewhat watertight with M lenses and the M-L Adapter?"

No

[jdlaing]

No.

[JohnathanLovm]

No don’t do it.

[algrove]

I was hoping someone would say it is better than using an M11 in the rain.  No luck I guess.

[frame-it]

9 minutes ago, algrove said:

I was hoping someone would say it is better than using an M11 in the rain.  No luck I guess.

the lenses aren't waterproof, so even if you get two of those rubber rings for the mount, what about the lens?

[jaapv]

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We have seen this discussion quite a while ago on the forum. Mr Daniel was quoted as saying “ even if M lenses are not waterproof the tolerances are so narrow that they are quite resistant to water ingress.
 

In practice? Leica M photographers have been taking photographs in the rain since 1954. We have not seen one report of water ingress through a lens on this forum.

Just use a bit of common sense when out in the rain like keeping your camera under your jacket when not in use. I have used a Cl with a Leica R telezoom in tropical downpours for a week. From time to time I had to wipe the sensor as it had completely fogged up, but no damage. 

[jaapv]

I’ve just taken an old broken Hektor 135 and sealed the rear lens cal and tripod hole. I put it in my swimming pool for 5 minutes. There was no water inside. 

[jaapv]

BTW the lens is mint but for a dented filter ring and focusing stuck solid. If anyone wants it for shipping costs just PM me. 

[algrove]

Funny as I also have a Hector 135 that has its aperture rings stuck. One can use it at f8 all day long. Under appreciated old lens IMHO.

[algrove]

I have used the new 35/1.4 on my M11 in the rain without issue while protecting it when I could. The guy I was with had an SL and said he used it in the rain since he did have an issue some years ago with an M while shooting in the rain. He is a very careful of body and lens when out, but xxxx happens.

This is my favorite shot in the rain that day.

 

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[Stuart Richardson]

This is kind of like asking if it is ok to drive without a seatbelt. Sure, you will probably be fine. But if something happens you only have yourself to blame. If you do plan to do this, then definitely bring a waterproof camera bag. If you are shooting and then pull the camera out of the bag when you need to take a picture and then put it back in, that is probably your best bet and I think you are quite unlikely to have a problem. If you carry it on your shoulder for the whole time exposed to the weather, then you are probably not going to do as well. There was just a thread on here about a photographer who did a three hour hike in the rain with his "weather resistant" Q2, and it destroyed the camera. That camera has the same weather resistance rating as the SL2 and L mount lenses.

I think that if you are shooting in bad conditions, the best you can do is protect the camera from those conditions for as much time as you can. I don't think any of these cameras are really designed to be exposed to heavy rain for long periods. In my own experience, however, I have had no problems using the SL2 in bad weather. I am rarely using it with M lenses, however. I would be less worried about the water coming in through the lens than between the M mount part of the adapter and the M lens. There is a gasket between the body and the adapter, but there is no gasket between the adapter and the lens. I think you would have better luck using the SL2 with an L mount lens in this context.

[Jeff S]

6 minutes ago, Stuart Richardson said:

….with his "weather resistant" Q2, and it destroyed the camera. That camera has the same weather resistance rating as the SL2 and L mount lenses.

 

No, Q2 is rated IP52; SL2 is IP54.

Jeff

[Stuart Richardson]

5 minutes ago, Jeff S said:

No, Q2 is rated IP52; SL2 is IP54.

Jeff

Thanks! That is of course including an Leica L mount lens though...would be interesting to know what it would be with an M lens...I guess it depends on the lens.

[frame-it]

 

 

 

IP Rating Reference Chart

IP Rating	First Digit - SOLIDS	Second Digit - LIQUIDS
IP00	Not protected from solids.	Not protected from liquids.
IP01	Not protected from solids.	Protected from condensation.
IP02	Not protected from solids.	Protected from water spray less than 15 degrees from vertical.
IP03	Not protected from solids.	Protected from water spray less than 60 degrees from vertical.
IP04	Not protected from solids.	Protected from water spray from any direction.
IP05	Not protected from solids.	Protected from low pressure water jets from any direction.
IP06	Not protected from solids.	Protected from high pressure water jets from any direction.
IP07	Not protected from solids.	Protected from immersion between 15 centimetres and 1 metre in depth.
IP08	Not protected from solids.	Protected from long term immersion up to a specified pressure.
IP10	Protected from touch by hands greater than 50 millimetres.	Not protected from liquids.
IP11	Protected from touch by hands greater than 50 millimetres.	Protected from condensation.
IP12	Protected from touch by hands greater than 50 millimetres.	Protected from water spray less than 15 degrees from vertical.
IP13	Protected from touch by hands greater than 50 millimetres.	Protected from water spray less than 60 degrees from vertical.
IP14	Protected from touch by hands greater than 50 millimetres.	Protected from water spray from any direction.
IP15	Protected from touch by hands greater than 50 millimetres.	Protected from low pressure water jets from any direction.
IP16	Protected from touch by hands greater than 50 millimetres.	Protected from high pressure water jets from any direction.
IP17	Protected from touch by hands greater than 50 millimetres.	Protected from immersion between 15 centimetres and 1 metre in depth.
IP18	Protected from touch by hands greater than 50 millimetres.	Protected from long trem immersion up to a specified pressure.
IP20	Protected from touch by fingers and objects greater than 12 millimetres.	Not protected from liquids.
IP21	Protected from touch by fingers and objects greater than 12 millimetres.	Protected from condensation.
IP22	Protected from touch by fingers and objects greater than 12 millimetres.	Protected from water spray less than 15 degrees from vertical.
IP23	Protected from touch by fingers and objects greater than 12 millimetres.	Protected from water spray less than 60 degrees from vertical.
IP24	Protected from touch by fingers and objects greater than 12 millimetres.	Protected from water spray from any direction.
IP25	Protected from touch by fingers and objects greater than 12 millimetres.	Protected from low pressure water jets from any direction.
IP26	Protected from touch by fingers and objects greater than 12 millimetres.	Protected from high pressure water jets from any direction.
IP27	Protected from touch by fingers and objects greater than 12 millimetres.	Protected from immersion between 15 centimetres and 1 metre in depth.
IP28	Protected from touch by fingers and objects greater than 12 millimetres.	Protected from long term immersion up to a specified pressure.
IP30	Protected from tools and wires greater than 2.5 millimetres.	Not protected from liquids.
IP31	Protected from tools and wires greater than 2.5 millimetres.	Protected from condensation.
IP32	Protected from tools and wires greater than 2.5 millimetres.	Protected from water spray less than 15 degrees from vertical.
IP33	Protected from tools and wires greater than 2.5 millimetres.	Protected from water spray less than 60 degrees from vertical.
IP34	Protected from tools and wires greater than 2.5 millimetres.	Protected from water spray from any direction.
IP35	Protected from tools and wires greater than 2.5 millimetres.	Protected from low pressure water jets from any direction.
IP36	Protected from tools and wires greater than 2.5 millimetres.	Protected from high pressure water jets from any direction.
IP37	Protected from tools and wires greater than 2.5 millimetres.	Protected from immersion between 15 centimetres and 1 metre in depth.
IP38	Protected from tools and wires greater than 2.5 millimetres.	Protected from long term immersion up to a specified pressure.
IP40	Protected from tools and small wires greater than 1 millimetre.	Not protected from liquids.
IP41	Protected from tools and small wires greater than 1 millimetre.	Protected from condensation.
IP42	Protected from tools and small wires greater than 1 millimetre.	Protected from water spray less than 15 degrees from vertical.
IP43	Protected from tools and small wires greater than 1 millimetre.	Protected from water spray less than 60 degrees from vertical.
IP44	Protected from tools and small wires greater than 1 millimetre.	Protected from water spray from any direction.
IP45	Protected from tools and small wires greater than 1 millimetre.	Protected from low pressure water jets in any direction.
IP46	Protected from tools and small wires greater than 1 millimetre.	Protected from high pressure water jets from any direction.
IP47	Protected from tools and small wires greater than 1 millimetre.	Protected from immersion between 15 centimetres and 1 metre in depth.
IP48	Protected from tools and small wires greater than 1 millimetre.	Protected from long term immersion up to a specified pressure.
IP50	Protected from limited dust ingress.	Not protected from liquids.
IP51	Protected from limited dust ingress.	Protected from condensation.
IP52	Protected from limited dust ingress.	Protected from water spray less than 15 degrees from vertical.
IP53	Protected from limited dust ingress.	Protected from water spray less than 60 degrees from vertical.
IP54	Protected from limited dust ingress.	Protected from water spray from any direction.
IP55	Protected from limited dust ingress.	Protected from low pressure water jets from any direction.
IP56	Protected from limited dust ingress.	Protected from high pressure water jets from any direction.
IP57	Protected from limited dust ingress.	Protected from immersion between 15 centimetres and 1 metre in depth.
IP58	Protected from limited dust ingress.	Protected from long term immersion up to a specified pressure.
IP60	Protected from total dust ingress.	Not protected from liquids.
IP61	Protected from total dust ingress.	Protected from condensation.
IP62	Protected from total dust ingress.	Protected from water spray less than 15 degrees from vertical.
IP63	Protected from total dust ingress.	Protected from water spray less than 60 degrees from vertical.
IP64	Protected from total dust ingress.	Protected from water spray from any direction.
IP65	Protected from total dust ingress.	Protected from low pressure water jets from any direction.
IP66	Protected from total dust ingress.	Protected from high pressure water jets from any direction.
IP67	Protected from total dust ingress.	Protected from immersion between 15 centimetres and 1 metre in depth.
IP68	Protected from total dust ingress.	Protected from long term immersion up to a specified pressure.
IP69K	Protected from total dust ingress.	Protected from steam-jet cleaning.

[Jeff S]

59 minutes ago, Stuart Richardson said:

...I guess it depends on the lens.

And the adapter.

Jeff

[LocalHero1953]

We have seen discussions about the M-mount before on this forum, not to do with water ingress but as a source of light leaks in long exposures, particularly at the top with heavier lenses. The consensus was that for long exposures it was worth putting a rubber band or elastic hair band around the mount. With all the allowances (guesses) one can make about surface tension etc, I wouldn't choose to trust the M-mount to keep water out.

I have used a M240 and Apo-Summicron-M 90 in heavy water spray (from a waterfall) for about a minute without bad consequences, but it wasn't a great idea!

Edited July 9, 2023 by LocalHero1953

[frame-it]

4 hours ago, LocalHero1953 said:

We have seen discussions about the M-mount before on this forum, not to do with water ingress but as a source of light leaks in long exposures, particularly at the top with heavier lenses. The consensus was that for long exposures it was worth putting a rubber band or elastic hair band around the mount. With all the allowances (guesses) one can make about surface tension etc, I wouldn't choose to trust the M-mount to keep water out.

I have used a M240 and Apo-Summicron-M 90 in heavy water spray (from a waterfall) for about a minute without bad consequences, but it wasn't a great idea!

and also the fact that some M lenses suck in dust when focusing

[algrove]

3 hours ago, frame-it said:

and also the fact that some M lenses suck in dust when focusing

Any idea which M lenses are the worst in this respect? Thanks.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica L-Mount

[frame-it]

1 hour ago, algrove said:

Any idea which M lenses are the worst in this respect? Thanks.

dunno, i just get them cleaned once every 2 years.

even some canon EF lenses suck in dust, and of course old vintage LTM/M42 lenses

Edited July 10, 2023 by frame-it