Seven Kilobucks and...

[sean_reid]

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I guess photographers will just have to keep protecting their cameras from the rain, as they have been doing for the last 80 years or so.

 

I never protected my film cameras from rain. M2, M3, M4 etc. all work fine in rain and snow.

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[sean_reid]

If Leica sealed up the body, they could really "seal the deal" as it were by introducing matching sealed lenses. Of course, everyone would moan that they'd have to upgrade all their lenses.

 

I would say not all. One would just want to have at least some lenses for bad weather use.

[blakley]

I would say not all. One would just want to have at least some lenses for bad weather use.

 

Maybe they could call this the "Mikonos edition". It'd sell in Greece, anyway

[ljclark]

If and when Leica introduces a sealed DRF, it is reasonable to expect that they will also have some sealed lenses to match. Natural choices might the 28, 35 and 50 Summicrons for example.

 

I think the lenses certainly fall behind the M camera body for weather sealing priority.

 

First, Leica should be taking a look at components that actually funnel water into the body. Then a look at other vulnerable locations on the body.

 

At the same time, the mount and lens release seem to be likely candidates. The flange on the mount is narrow, and Leica complicated things by adding the 6-bit sensors. That makes it likely that some solution outside the mount flange will be needed, along with a redesigned release.

 

Unless we're aware of Leica lenses historically piping water into camera bodies, their naturally compact construction may be helping us now -- but will create some challenges if sealing is to be attempted. One thing to remember is that there is less "pumping" going on with a prime lens. There is a lot of movement inside zooms, including some more complicated focus movements. Frankly, I amazed that companies like Olympus manage as well as they do with zooms.

 

My risk management approach would be to do the bodies, and then wait for the quantity and quality of the screams resulting from any lens-introduced moisture.

[graeme_hutton]

Condensation might present more of a problem to the internals than direct ingress of rain. Working in the Middle East for a while showed me the problem of climate extremes, going from hot humid outside to cold dry air-conditioned interiors and vice-versa.

 

No amount of sophisticated sealing will solve that I'm guessing. Maybe an insulated body!

 

Graeme

[Bo_Lorentzen]

Graeme,

 

The same can be said to be true in arctic conditions, in and out of houses is a big issue.

 

I use my Olympus E3 and the weather sealed 12-60 for extreme conditions, that camera have been SOAKED again and again, interestingly because the zoom moves inside, Olympus made a vent under the memory card door, and one can literally hear pressurized air escaping when zooming quickly, this goes much to ljclark's point about looking at what drives water into the body, im guessing quickly moving a 75mm lux to near focus on a drenched M may not be a good idea as it will create a vacuum in the camera.

 

.

[Double Negative]

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I would say not all. One would just want to have at least some lenses for bad weather use.

 

True, even ONE lens would be cool. Or perhaps a basic spread.

[blakley]

Graeme,

 

The same can be said to be true in arctic conditions, in and out of houses is a big issue.

 

I use my Olympus E3 and the weather sealed 12-60 for extreme conditions, that camera have been SOAKED again and again, interestingly because the zoom moves inside, Olympus made a vent under the memory card door, and one can literally hear pressurized air escaping when zooming quickly, this goes much to ljclark's point about looking at what drives water into the body, im guessing quickly moving a 75mm lux to near focus on a drenched M may not be a good idea as it will create a vacuum in the camera.

 

.

 

I already KNOW my 50/1.4 Summilux ASPH has an equivalent problem, because it sucks dust from outside air onto my M8's sensor on a pretty regular basis.