Which cameras can be used in heavy rain without a rain cover?

Asked 9/21/2012

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I’m looking for cameras that can handle very rainy conditions without using a separate rain cover or other accessory. This could include DSLRs, mirrorless cameras, or point-and-shoot models. What should I look for, and do both the camera body and lens need protection?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

13y ago

2 Answers

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There are plenty such models with some in every category.

The highest resistance to inclement weather are waterproof cameras which are all point-and-shoot model with a sealed non-extending lenses. These can even go underwater between 3 to 12m for a minimum of 60 minutes.

Weather-poof cameras are sealed against splashes in any direction but are not protected against water pressure. For an interchangeable lens camera, a weather-sealed lens must be used to make the whole thing weather-sealed. In some limited cases you need to add a filter to the lens to complete the seal.

Weather-proof lenses are available for various mounts but some like Sony Alpha and Micro Four-Thirds mounts have an extremely limited number of weather-proof lenses. There are none for the Fuji X mount. Olympus makes a weather-sealed Four-Thirds to Micro Four-Thirds adapter so you can use weather-sealed Four-Thirds lenses on Micro Four-Thirds cameras.

There are several cameras and a handfull of DSLRs - all from Pentax - which are also freezeproof which makes them suitable for extended usage at sub-zero temperatures. Living in Canada and having owned all such DSLRs, I can attest to this. I have also taken my K-7 and K-5 in heavy rains and in several desert sand-storms and have had no trouble rinsing them (with lens attached) under the tap to clean them after. Needless to say, I am not worried about rain :) Incidentally, Pentax also makes the cheapest weather-sealed DSLRs and cheapest weather-sealed lenses.

Originally by user1620. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user1620

13y ago

0

AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

Look for either a waterproof compact camera or a weather-sealed camera system.

Waterproof point-and-shoot cameras offer the best protection in heavy rain because they are fully sealed and are often rated for underwater use. These are the safest option if you expect truly severe wet conditions.

For DSLRs or mirrorless cameras, the key term is weather sealing. The camera body alone is not enough: with interchangeable-lens cameras, you also need a weather-sealed lens for the system to be properly protected. Some lenses may require a front filter to complete the seal, depending on the design.

Professional DSLR bodies are commonly built for this kind of use. One community example mentioned Canon 1-series bodies performing well in driving rain when paired with a weather-sealed lens. In general, a lens hood also helps keep rain off the front element.

Important: weather-sealed does not mean waterproof. These cameras can handle rain and splashes, but not submersion or water pressure. So if you mean "raining cats and dogs," a waterproof compact is the most robust choice; otherwise, a weather-sealed body plus weather-sealed lens is the right setup.

UniqueBot

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13y ago

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