R8/R9 dials and dirt, water etc

[thrid]

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Has anyone shot their R8/R9 under adverse conditions such as rain?

 

I'm sitting here looking at the recessed rewind knob, shutter speed dial etc of my R8 and it seems that even the smallest amount of moisture would be directed straight in to the dial wells and would pool there. Same for dust and dirt.

 

Doug are you are out there? I know that you are shooting your R8/DMR in the wilderness of California (and Alaska). Can you share your experiences?

 

Thanks

[stuny]

PG -

 

I've been using an R8 (first with film, later with DMR) since January 2000 all over the world in virtually any climate without problem. Well, perhaps just one. When returning from the Borneo rainforest in May I had to have leica fix my rig. The problems were all with the R8, but I dodnot know how much the different environments had an impact on that.

[wildlightphoto]

I haven't had any problems, nor have I taken any special precautions other than keeping the camera out of downpours.

[garyp]

Same as Doug, no downpours, but some light rain, and out in falling snow with no problems. I wouldn't use'em out in dampness or snow as long as I would an SL, but brief periods and with an occasional wipe down, I don't think i'd worry too much about it.

[thrid]

Thank you gents.

 

I'm currently living in London, where it is either raining or just about to start raining.

 

I shoot my M's, SL and Nikon's in the rain without a worry and simply keep a rag in my pocket, to occasionally dry them off. I've been a little hesitant about the R8, because of the recessed dials, the rewind knob in particular, but I'll give it a shot.

 

thanks

[dhsimmonds]

I have taken both my R9/DMR and LC1 around the world a couple of times including an extensive trip across Australia....just about the most dusty, sandy, salty (Great Barrier Reef) and hostile of places without any electronic or mechanical problems whatsoever.

 

The DMR's sensor needed a clean on my return which is very easy and takes less than 3 minutes after each long trip, but never en-route, depite many lens changes.

 

Like Stuart and Doug, I never deliberately keep the cameras in the rain for any longer than necessary to get the shot but otherwise neither do I mollycoddle them. My only "problem" was of my own making in that whilst using 100% deet insect repellant whilst in the outback of Australia, I must have retained a minute bit on my hand and the white paint on two of the DMR buttons smudged slightly. A fellow traveller using a pro Canon DSLR lost all the black paint off his camera body the same way, so I came off quite lightly I thought!

 

Oh, and I come from Hampshire in England where it might be even wetter than London!

[thrid]

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My only "problem" was of my own making in that whilst using 100% deet insect repellant whilst in the outback of Australia, I must have retained a minute bit on my hand and the white paint on two of the DMR buttons smudged slightly.

 

DEET is evil. Evrytime I use it I anticipate a limb melting away or something..., but it does work.

 

Oh, and I come from Hampshire in England where it might be even wetter than London!

 

Hey, I'm not knocking it. ;-)

 

I lived in a semi-desert area for almost 15 years and am glad to see some rain. Most people here think I'm nuts that I moved away from a place with 250 days of sun per year. ;-)