From the specs on Sony Australia site. footnote #27 A7iii, Footnote #21 A9
"Not guaranteed to be 100% dust and moisture proof."
From the A7s ii specs
Footnote #13
"This camera is designed for optimal dust and moisture resistance, but is not waterproof or splashproof"
While I have used my (first gen) Sony's in rain, I think it is madness to keep mentioning Sony's current cameras to date as being "weather sealed".
They are as good or better than many cameras but they are NOT weather sealed.
If you need a camera that is, there are a few other choices.
Again, I think they are fine for general use and including light rain (that I prefer to get out of or use a plastic bag over the camera and lens) but it just confuses things when people keep referring to Sony cameras as being weather sealed.
SOME dust and moisture protection is about the most I would take ANY camera to have.
notherenow wrote:
From the specs on Sony Australia site. footnote #27 A7iii, Footnote #21 A9
"Not guaranteed to be 100% dust and moisture proof."
From the A7s ii specs
Footnote #13
"This camera is designed for optimal dust and moisture resistance, but is not waterproof or splashproof"
While I have used my (first gen) Sony's in rain, I think it is madness to keep mentioning Sony's current cameras to date as being "weather sealed".
They are as good or better than many cameras but they are NOT weather sealed.
If you need a camera that is, there are a few other choices.
Again, I think they are fine for general use and including light rain (that I prefer to get out of or use a plastic bag over the camera and lens) but it just confuses things when people keep referring to Sony cameras as being weather sealed.
SOME dust and moisture protection is about the most I would take ANY camera to have. ...Show more →
Which camera manufacturer guarantees their camera against dust and moisture penetration. None right?
So the video (in case you didn't actually watch it) shows a guy dunking a first generation a7 under a running sink, after which he uses it - unfettered.
It wasn't meant to be argumentative, it was just a humorous anecdote to offset all the times I've heard people say Sony cameras aren't as tough as [insert brand] cameras, with or without actual experience or facts to back this up.
notherenow wrote:
Again, I think they are fine for general use and including light rain (that I prefer to get out of or use a plastic bag over the camera and lens) but it just confuses things when people keep referring to Sony cameras as being weather sealed.
SOME dust and moisture protection is about the most I would take ANY camera to have.
You're braver than I. I start sweating if any rain lands on my Sony. Having disassembled one of these I know they have more holes than Swiss cheese which tend to open directly above critical components.
I bought a weatherproof peak design camera cover for use in inclement weather, but I still get nervous.
thrice wrote:
You're braver than I. I start sweating if any rain lands on my Sony. Having disassembled one of these I know they have more holes than Swiss cheese which tend to open directly above critical components.
I bought a weatherproof peak design camera cover for use in inclement weather, but I still get nervous.
I agree. With the A7rII/A7II I was caught in the rain a few times with no cover and I placed the bodies under my T Shirt to minimize the moisture. Still afterwards there was some fogging in the view finders so I left the electronics off for a day in a air conditioned room to fully dry internally. In Queensland the weather is very humid so moisture is a big problem. Truth is the cameras may have been fine but if there was moisture within the electronics turned on may have worsened the problem. I then always carried a plastic bag with me just in case.
I've had an A7R on a 3 day trek in Northern Vietnam with a lot of rain. I shot images throughout the 3 days, putting the camera back under a poncho when not in use. It was fully drenched each day, continued to work without issue. I typically use a water cover for my cameras, but during the trek I did not have one.
The only issue I ever had with water was shooting waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge. After about 1 hour of shooting, the 5D2 turned off and would not turn on again. It was damp from the spray off the waterfalls, I had to keep changing filters as they got spray on them...but no rain on it. Dried it out and after a day or so it came back to life. That is when I acquired a rain jacket and typically use it if convenient.
chez wrote:
Which camera manufacturer guarantees their camera against dust and moisture penetration. None right?
Yes but there are some that can be said to be weather sealed an have weather sealed lenses to match.
The bottom line is that Sony cameras are not as well sealed as SOME cameras from some manufacturers. Again, I think it is madness to say they are truly weather sealed.
They are fine for what they are built for and for intended purposes.
All that happens with threads about sealing is some keep saying the Sony cameras are weather sealed, some people buy into it, use their cameras where perhaps they shouldn't and then complain.
I am happy that they are sealed enough for my general use and including light rain briefly with care, I am not calling them truly weather sealed though.
chez wrote:
I've had an A7R on a 3 day trek in Northern Vietnam with a lot of rain. I shot images throughout the 3 days, putting the camera back under a poncho when not in use. It was fully drenched each day, continued to work without issue. I typically use a water cover for my cameras, but during the trek I did not have one.
The only issue I ever had with water was shooting waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge. After about 1 hour of shooting, the 5D2 turned off and would not turn on again. It was damp from the spray off the waterfalls, I had to keep changing filters as they got spray on them...but no rain on it. Dried it out and after a day or so it came back to life. That is when I acquired a rain jacket and typically use it if convenient....Show more →
Basically using common sense and taking care of your gear. That is how I would do it too.
notherenow wrote:
Yes but there are some that can be said to be weather sealed an have weather sealed lenses to match.
The bottom line is that Sony cameras are not as well sealed as SOME cameras from some manufacturers. Again, I think it is madness to say they are truly weather sealed.
They are fine for what they are built for and for intended purposes.
All that happens with threads about sealing is some keep saying the Sony cameras are weather sealed, some people buy into it, use their cameras where perhaps they shouldn't and then complain.
I am happy that they are sealed enough for my general use and including light rain briefly with care, I am not calling them truly weather sealed though.
I guess what I'm saying is no camera is fully weather sealed and taking any one of them out in the rain is taking a chance...as I did with my ceased up 5D2. Best to use a rain jacket in the rain...if possible.
chez wrote:
I guess what I'm saying is no camera is fully weather sealed and taking any one of them out in the rain is taking a chance...as I did with my ceased up 5D2. Best to use a rain jacket in the rain...if possible.
Agreed.
I have had a half dozen or so Canon L lenses and NONE of them has been sealed. They DO have some lenses that are sealed better and they have some cameras that are as well.
If anything, I would be (marginally) happier using my Sony 55 and 85 lenses in the rain than any of the Canon L lenses I have had (and other Canon lenses) in light rain but I would still want to get out of it ASAP. Other better sealed lenses and that might be different.
So if someone does want sealing, there are better choices than Sony currently but it is on a case by case basis.
