p.1 #1 · Sony A7RIV Weather Sealing/ Exp With Weather Sealing
Hello I am hoping someone on here can put my worries to rest. The back story I come from shooting Nikon Dslrs and loved their weather sealing could shoot in pouring rain no worry. Later this week I will be going on a hiking trip into the mountains with my A7Riv. I have seen some horror stories about their weather sealing and I am slightly nervous because the forecast is calling for rain two of the days I am up there. Does anyone have harsh weather exp with this camera body they wouldn't mind sharing? Thanks Again
p.1 #2 · Sony A7RIV Weather Sealing/ Exp With Weather Sealing
ghost123238 wrote:
Hello I am hoping someone on here can put my worries to rest. The back story I come from shooting Nikon Dslrs and loved their weather sealing could shoot in pouring rain no worry. Later this week I will be going on a hiking trip into the mountains with my A7Riv. I have seen some horror stories about their weather sealing and I am slightly nervous because the forecast is calling for rain two of the days I am up there. Does anyone have harsh weather exp with this camera body they wouldn't mind sharing? Thanks Again
I would never use any electronic camera in pouring rain without using it under some sort of rain cover. You are just asking for problems as far as I am concerned, but I will let others check in with their experience using an A7rIV under pouring rain conditions without using a rain cover of some sort.
p.1 #3 · Sony A7RIV Weather Sealing/ Exp With Weather Sealing
Thanks for the reply, yeah I don't plan on leaving it shooting in the pouring rain it was more a question of others exp with the A7RIV in the rain or snow or whatever. At the same time, I don't want a light rain to destroy it. I know the RIV as "upgraded" weather sealing, just wasn't sure to what extent.
p.1 #4 · Sony A7RIV Weather Sealing/ Exp With Weather Sealing
Light rain will be fine. My R3 has held up in several deserts and multiple NY downpours, but I do worry every time. The R4 has better sealing and so I'm sure that it'd be fine. I know some people use silicone skins but I don't know how much they help.
p.1 #5 · Sony A7RIV Weather Sealing/ Exp With Weather Sealing
I've had trouble in the rain with the hotshoe getting shorted (getting a message about a nonexistent accessory) and I've had water get in to the exposure compensation dial making it temporarily inoperable.
p.1 #7 · Sony A7RIV Weather Sealing/ Exp With Weather Sealing
I've used mine in light rain with zero issues — just ensure your lens is weather sealed as well. Wouldn't advise a downpour, and if you're super concerned, perhaps get one of those Peak Design Shell covers.
p.1 #9 · Sony A7RIV Weather Sealing/ Exp With Weather Sealing
I have shot my a7RIII and a9 in light/medium rain and snow a number of times without issue. I have always kept the hot shoe cover in place as this is a known weak area. I also make sure I use fully weather sealed lenses in these conditions.
It is also known that the bottom of the camera and battery compartment can be a point of water intrusion. Keep the camera right side up, and don't set it down in puddles.
If the weather gets really bad and wet I do use one of the disposable plastic rain covers to protect my gear when shooting. Better safe than sorry.
The RIV is a much more robust weather sealed camera as is my new a1. Still I would follow the same precautions as discussed above.
p.1 #11 · Sony A7RIV Weather Sealing/ Exp With Weather Sealing
Despite Sony now saying the A7RIV is more weather resistant than the A7RIII, I am still skeptical. For sure bring the rain cover.
I still take my Olympus M4/3 EM1 body and Pro lenses to any boating event or to Thailand where it can really rain hard every day. My Oly gear with the 12-40 f2.8 Pro lens has survived a tide pool dunking and a large rouge wave splash that I feel would have killed even my Nikon gear. After all, Olympus does now give a weather resistant rating on their best gear, Sony and Nikon do not. And since their Tough series is good for 15m depth underwater, they know what it takes to make a waterproof camera.
p.1 #12 · Sony A7RIV Weather Sealing/ Exp With Weather Sealing
I've used the R4 in light rain, but the worst conditions I've put it through were a few days of 15 degree, nearly white-out snowing in the Rockies. Wore it on my Capture Clip, and it didn't bug out once.
p.1 #13 · Sony A7RIV Weather Sealing/ Exp With Weather Sealing
I've used R3 and A9 in rain and snow with no problems. Seems like it's generally agreed the big weakness of A-bodies is the bottom plate, so never set a Sony on even a little bit of water.
p.1 #14 · Sony A7RIV Weather Sealing/ Exp With Weather Sealing
I got caught in a pretty steady rain with my 7RIV and my A1 and no way to cover them with a 1.5 unsheltered mile walk back to my car. Both got soaked... plus the 100-400 on the IV and the 600 on the A1 and all was/is well with all the gear.
p.1 #16 · Sony A7RIV Weather Sealing/ Exp With Weather Sealing
My Sonys survived more weather than my Nikons. No issues in downpours, snow, ice, or sand with my A6300s or A7 III. I had a D7100 that died in its first downpour, despite Nikon bragging it had sealing at the same level as a D800. Camera was only a week or two old, so was able to get it replaced no questions asked.
