I was at Disneyland throughout all of yesterday, and it rained constantly from beginning to end of the day. I had my D700 out from time to time, and it got directly rained on several times, along with both lenses I used. The 85/1.4 got more wet, just because it's bigger. But, I had no problems with the rain other than not being able to take pictures the way I wanted to. My camera shrugged off the rain that got onto it.
So, good to know that for basic weather protection (or maybe not so basic, given yesterday), it is reliable.
I have even soaked the D80 in sideways rain and the only problem was the condensation on the front of the lens and me not having anything to dry it out during one of the most opportunistic picture moments in my life, hanging on the side of a thousand plus foot cliff of Mt. Huashan in China. I hear the weakest link is the mount if your lens does not have a rubber gasket, but that area is kind of recessed luckily.
I would not care to repeat that experience if I were you. I have lost 2 D300's due to moisture, the first one was exposed to a serious amount of freezing rain, soaked and covered in slush.The second wes exposed to a little rain and one good walk through tall wet grass. Neither was covered under nikon warranty despite nikons claim to "superior weather sealing"! It seems the water gets in through the shutter button. So beware and use "protection"
I ended up keeping my D80 and bought lenses 18-55mm VR and 55-200mm VR for Disney type outings. I was there during the record breaking monsoon last May! I have D300 and pro zooms but left them all home. If the D80 got stolen or damaged, it's just a $400 camera. I didn't want to carry bulky heavy stuff around, and this system did 90% of what I wanted it to do. The D80 held up just fine in rain that was hitting 5+ inches per hour at one point. It rained a substantial amount every day. Zero problems with D80 and cheap lenses though. I don't worry much about camera sealling. They all seem pretty good now.
I know that some lenses have a rubber gasket at the lens mount. Are lenses otherwise weather resistant? From the stories I have read here, I trust I can have my camera in the rain without worrying too much, but I still worry about moisture in the lenses.
Two23 wrote:
I ended up keeping my D80 and bought lenses 18-55mm VR and 55-200mm VR for Disney type outings. I was there during the record breaking monsoon last May! I have D300 and pro zooms but left them all home. If the D80 got stolen or damaged, it's just a $400 camera. I didn't want to carry bulky heavy stuff around, and this system did 90% of what I wanted it to do. The D80 held up just fine in rain that was hitting 5+ inches per hour at one point. It rained a substantial amount every day. Zero problems with D80 and cheap lenses though. I don't worry much about camera sealling. They all seem pretty good now.
I was in Geneva three years ago with my Canon Rebel (300D) taking pictures a few feet from the Jet d'Eau. I got soaked to the skin, my camera got soaked - simply switched it off, mopped it with a tissue and it was right as rain
That camera withstood snow, rain, condensation and still works perfectly.
What I'm trying to say is that whether manufacturers state their cameras are weather sealed or not, it seems to be a crapshoot which camera survives.
Zero problems with D80 and cheap lenses though. I don't worry much about camera sealling. They all seem pretty good now.