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Archive 2015 · Warning for A7R Users regarding water damage

darrellc
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p.3 #1 · Warning for A7R Users regarding water damage

Arghh... I've had water problems with my A7, A7ii and now my A7s.

Was just in medium rain for <2 min with my camera on a sling strap, part of that while walking under awnings, and my A7s rear LCD didn't work for 10 min or so until it just dried out a bit. There was little visible water on the camera.

Had the same problem with my A7ii, but at least it didn't fail until I was in rain for 20 min. My A7 had to go to Sony for repair (they replaced under warranty even though it was water damage).

I've never had a problem with an EM5, EM1, GH4 or D800 after leaving those cameras exposed in rain for hours on hikes.

I've had cameras with zero claims of any weather sealing do better.

Frustrating, i like a weather sealed camera for hiking, skiing and traveling.

Mar 24, 2015 at 06:11 PM

retrofocus
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p.3 #2 · Warning for A7R Users regarding water damage

infosecgeek wrote:
I know it's not weather sealed, but I was shooting the kids out in the snow the other day and had chunks of snow hitting the camera from the trees with no damage.

Made the same experience a few weeks ago - took photos outside when it started snowing, the A7R top was covered with drops of water and snow crystals. I didn't do this for too long (maybe 20 minutes), went underneath a dry cover and used a cloth to remove all the drops. I observed no issues, but I wouldn't go to this again to be honest (not gambling again with my luck here

)

Mar 24, 2015 at 06:18 PM

Charlie N
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p.3 #3 · Warning for A7R Users regarding water damage

I've gotten my camera wet multiple times, here it is after I was hit by a rogue wave the other day.

I did a quick wipe down of the camera before I took this photo, and there's still residual water.

no way would I purposely get my gear wet though, if it rained during the hike, it would go inside my bag regardless of dslr or mirrorless.

Mar 24, 2015 at 06:38 PM

pdmphoto
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p.3 #4 · Warning for A7R Users regarding water damage

There have been enough reports of A7x water damage with seemingly little exposure. Seems prudent to be very conservative with them around water.

Mar 24, 2015 at 06:52 PM

Charlie N
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p.3 #5 · Warning for A7R Users regarding water damage

pdmphoto wrote:
There have been enough reports of A7x water damage with seemingly little exposure. Seems prudent to be very conservative with them around water.

yeah, I've heard, however, I shoot around water A LOT, especially since I have beaches close by. a few months back, I was hit by a rather large wave as well, I typically stand on dry rocks to prevent this from happening, but once in a while, my prediction is wrong.

here's a foreign video that shows that the a7 is fairly well sealed, I would never do this to my camera:

Mar 24, 2015 at 07:22 PM

AbramG
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p.3 #6 · Warning for A7R Users regarding water damage

I just switched to Sony 2 weeks ago and while out on an week-long road trip along the west coast I was out shooting in heavy rain all day and my A7II and A7s got extensively wet. I mean soaking wet. I was operating under the assumption that they were at least as weather sealed as my outgoing GH4, which I also shot in bad weather with zero complications.

I dried the cameras off at the end of the day and they behaved a little oddly the next day, but still seem to be functioning fine. I can't quite tell definitively but they seem to start up a bit slower. Other than that, there seems to be no issues.

However, going forward, I will keep them out of the rain as much as possible, but that is disconcerting as I now have no weather sealed cameras (Should have done my homework on the sealing before switching.)

Mar 28, 2015 at 10:48 PM

philip_pj
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p.3 #7 · Warning for A7R Users regarding water damage

Sony cameras can get a bit grumpy when mistreated or even ignored, little hesitations etc. can occur. As long as they keep on working I put it down to character, ha ha. I remember posting that tap video, and Tariq reckoned the camera would be finished soon afterwards, and maybe so. Roger Cicala reports the casings are well mated but not really reliable for water repelling. Luck of the draw maybe, is what applies.

Mar 28, 2015 at 11:07 PM

AbramG
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p.3 #8 · Warning for A7R Users regarding water damage

Well I'm hoping they're ok, but we'll see if there's any long term issues. To be fair I did put them through a lot this past week and they seem to have held up admirably so far.

Mar 29, 2015 at 12:34 AM

dalite
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p.3 #9 · Warning for A7R Users regarding water damage

chez wrote:
Shooting waterfalls in the Gorge one morning caused my 5D2 to shutdown from mist on the camera. It was just mist from the waterfalls...not any rain or anything like that. I've learned to take a water hood with me to protect my gear.
________
Same experience I saw with a guy's 5D2 in British Columbia's rainforest. He didn't take precautions to use a rain water hood, and exposed his camera to heavy mist and at times a slight drizzle. Result was his camera became inoperative and needed drying out for 24 hours.

Mar 29, 2015 at 12:45 AM

michaelalan
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p.3 #10 · Warning for A7R Users regarding water damage

Mine is fried too. Sent it in and got the same response, can't repair due to corrosion. If you look on the back of the LCD where the ribbon goes into the LCD there is a big centimeter wide opening there where the water can get in.

The battery compartment is also not sealed as well as the input slots on the sides.

The LCD and the EVF are the two most vulnerable things about the camera. Which could be such an easy fix with even so tape! Come on Sony!

Dec 15, 2015 at 06:46 PM

YY_DROIDX
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p.3 #11 · Warning for A7R Users regarding water damage

I have been lurking around in FM for years, I feel this is some contributions from me...

What happened:

That display is still alive. Judging by the fact shutter speed and etc are visible, display interface to main board is still active, also means display driver IC is alive. The passive component on LCD is most likely damaged by water/moisture. My guess would be analog front short in a way that LCD gamma control is gone, white screen indicates liquid crystal is stuck open.

Why it happened:

The main body of camera is most likely ok. Moisture got into the gap between the display flex (the black cable) and display rear housing. Now, it seems like a huge gap there, but I am 100% sure there is pressure sensitive form adhesive there, but it is not water proof. Given enough water, it will make their way into read housing of display.

Why it is so expensive to replace:

It is actually not Sony's greed. The display module itself probably worth $30 max. That said, display is laminated onto front glass, the glass is LDA onto display chassis/read housing. The whole thing is attached onto another plate. BOM are not expensive, but labor and logistics do add cost, plus labor to exchange them.

Did you say that Sony provided a damaged body for YOU to replace by yourself? If so, pay special attention to seals, tapes, forms, they are there for a reason. After that, I would never take camera out in a foggy day. Doesn't matter how careful we are, we are not operators in production line, it will never be as good.

With above mentioned, I had designed display in product with open port (USB), it is still functional under 3 feet of water. I don't understand why Sony couldn't go extra mile to better protect these parts, nor they passed ALT in these state. water resistance (IPX7, not waterproof) is not hard to do, nano-coating, gasket... These techniques are out there, and Sony have $400 products on market right now with water resistance. I don't understand why they can't adopt that in $3000 camera.

With all good advises from others, please open up display and make sure there is no water BEHIND LCD. The front of LCD is sealed with LDA, the rear housing is place we should worry about. I had used my A7R in constant rain, not an issue after cleaning in and out, even with my shirt in public...

Cheers...

Dec 16, 2015 at 01:45 AM

timballic
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p.3 #12 · Warning for A7R Users regarding water damage

Jon Tainton wrote:
A potential solution for water resistance, might be the products offered from NanoProtech. I've not used this on cameras, but it is has been effective on outdoor plant/eqpt with fuse boards, electrical contacts ... etc

With a digital sensor it would probably be best to spray into a container and then brush liquid on, rather than a spray 'n' pray approach

Hi Jon, Just in case someone misreads the above, as I first did! You obviously mean to AVOID getting spray on the digital sensor! Thought I'd clarify just in case someone tried it ON the sensor!!!!

Actually this product, brushed on as you say, does sound as though it might be worth trying.

I very often use my A7 in wet conditions, (holidays in the English Lake District make it almost inevitable!) and even though I do use a camera cover and umbrella, it inevitably gets some damp, probably from wet hands transferring the water to the controls. So far I've only had the front dial get very "cranky" to turn, and everything returned to "smooth" after drying it out.

Ullswater Wet! by Timothy Ball, on Flickr

I do wonder if this product could be very useful to prevent such things. That said, on site they do tell you not to use on Screens, because of its oily nature, where from reading this thread, that is where there is most problem of water ingress.

Dec 16, 2015 at 04:45 AM

Duckysaysquack
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p.3 #13 · Warning for A7R Users regarding water damage

Hey,

Sorry about your camera. However I've replaced the rear LCD on an A7s and an A7r myself without any issues. I'm happy to tell you that if it is just the LCD that's broken, then it's fairly easy to repair. Does the camera turn on? If the EVF works and the camera takes photos then you are in luck, it's likely the body is okay and just the LCD that's bad.

The rear LCD is really 3 electronic pieces:

1) the rear ribbon connected tot he main body
2) the actual LCD, found here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-LCD-Display-Screen-with-Backlight-Outer-Glass-Part-For-Sony-A7-A7R-Geniune-/361439518029?hash=item5427795d4d:g:TH0AAOSwVFlUA7zh
3) a small quarter-sized circuit that is glued to the rear of the LCD that the camera body ribbon and the LCD ribbons (2) plug into.

If it's just the LCD, just buy the LCD and replace it. There are two screws on the bottom and two screws in the back of the LCD. The rest of the things holding it together are clips (two annoying clips on the rear top that are particularly annoying and easy to break) and adhesive that holds the laminate (not glass) to the black bezel. With some small eyeglass repair or basic electronics repair tools I was able to do the replacement in 45 min to an hour. Message me if you need help!

Dec 23, 2015 at 05:26 PM

michaelalan
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p.3 #14 · Warning for A7R Users regarding water damage

Ducky, I think I'm going to try and replace it. It's worth $24 bucks to give it a shot. The EVF doesn't work but I shoot in live mode mostly anyways.

Jan 20, 2016 at 02:11 PM

tntcorp
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p.3 #15 · Warning for A7R Users regarding water damage

i guessed i have been very lucky with my a6k. my location is of high humidity and corrosive coastal environment, which usually coated the exterior of camera and lenses with a layer of moisture when exposed to the environment.

knock on wood... nothing has yet malfunctioned. :-)

Jan 20, 2016 at 05:05 PM

regnaD kciN
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p.3 #16 · Warning for A7R Users regarding water damage

1 splash. cooked

Jul 06, 2016 at 02:22 PM

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