Weather or not
How much protection does a ‘weather-sealed’ camera or lens actually have? Jay Showalter Weather sealing is simply rubber housing that is added to areas such as buttons and connections, where moisture might otherwise be able
to seep in. Manufacturers use the term weather-sealed in their marketing material because it is an important factor for outdoors photographers.
Generally, the more expensive your camera or lens is, the more weather sealing it should have. The thinking behind this is simple – if you are a professional photographer and you are on a job, you probably have to shoot regardless of the weather so you need a tool that’s capable of coping with inclement conditions.
However, just because a camera is ‘weather-sealed’ doesn’t mean you can disregard its basic care when it is exposed to the elements. A weather-sealed camera is not waterproof, and there will be limitations to what it can cope with. That’s why lens and camera hoods and microfibre towels are all used to help cover expensive kit in bad weather.
In very light rain or drizzle, I’ll happily shoot away without worrying much about extra protection, but if these conditions are prolonged or the rain becomes heavier, I’ll simply add an extra layer of protection to keep the worst of it off – even if I am using my Canon EOS-1D X II body, which is marketed as highly water- and dust-resistant.
There is no precise measure of weather sealing that is used by all manufacturers, which naturally means it is difficult to know just how much weather ‘proofing’ any camera carries, so it’s a case of being sensible. Obviously, DSLRs priced lower and marketed to non-professionals will be more vulnerable to the conditions.
So don’t stop shooting just because it’s damp – but do make sure you take all the precautions possible to protect your expensive gear.