Which lenses are tropicalised?

[Franglais]

The Fete des Fraises (parade) in Bievres today got hit by a torrential downpour at just the wrong moment. A professional would be out there in it getting the shots. I was in a bar sipping coffee most of the time.

So I asked myself - the D300 is tropicalised but what about the lenses? It's no good having seals on the camera if the water gets in around the lens mount. So tonight I checked and I was very surprised:

17-35 f2.8 (2001 Pro lens): no sealing
28-70 f2.8 (1999 Pro lens): no sealing
80-200 F2.8 AFS (1999 Pro lens): no sealing
18-70 DX (2004 expert lens): sealed
18-200 DX (2006 expert lens): sealed
All my primes: no sealing

Does anyone know when Nikon started tropicalising their lenses? Are all the DX lenses sealed?

[USATorque55]

My 70-200VR is sealed, unfortunately my D80 isn't.

Its surprising, but rain proofing is and alternative.

[deckcadet]

I'd be cautious about calling it sealing.
The 18-70 is most certainly *not* sealed. Just because it has the rubber gasket around the mount doesn't mean the lens itself is sealed. Just the way that just because there isn't a rubber gasket doesn't mean the rest of the lens isn't sealed.
My D70 and 17-35/2.8 AFS went outside during a hurricane in 2005. The body was pretty well covered, but the lens was out there but for the hood and a filter. No problems.

Pretty much all the new pro lenses now seem to be sealed and gasketed, though. I don't remember any with rear aperture rings having a gasket for obvious reasons.

[Photo-John]

I wouldn't worry about it too much. I've done the testing for you. I've had all kinds of equipment out in all kinds of nasty weather and I've yet to have anything fail. I have know someone who is the main staff photographer for a magazine and he's had his Canon EOS XT's (yup - he uses those "beginner" cameras) shut down in the rain before. Dries them out good overnight and they always work fine the next day. Besides, isn't it better to get the shot and have something repaired than to wish you did?

[fx101]

The 17-35 isn't "sealed" but it fits very snugly and the lens itself is pretty much impervious to just about anything.

[SmartWombat]

I used the Rain Sleeve for the first time this weekend, probably being a wuss.
But with the cost of a 300 f/2.8 and 1DmkIIN I wasn't taking chances.
I saw the pros using Aquatech covers in the conditions, so I don't feel too bad about covering up !

[another view]

I've used my gear in fairly rainy conditions with no problems, but I'm very careful to take everything out of the camera bag to let it dry at least overnight, and make sure to extend the legs on the tripod if it was used. I wipe the stuff down with a towel as soon as possible and usually have one in the car on a road trip just in case.

There can be great opportunities for unique shots in the rain, and as long as you're somewhat careful with your gear you should be OK. However, I can totally understand anyone not being comfortable with this due to the high cost of equipment. Soak a DSLR and it's game over...

[Franglais]

OK I think it's clear. I didn't really want to trade in my 28-70 f2.8 for a 24-70 f2.8. And my 18-70 is starting to feel fairly loose, though it still takes great pictures.

[fx101]

I used the Rain Sleeve for the first time this weekend, probably being a wuss.
But with the cost of a 300 f/2.8 and 1DmkIIN I wasn't taking chances.
I saw the pros using Aquatech covers in the conditions, so I don't feel too bad about covering up !

I've been meaning to get one of those aquatech covers. They're really expensive for what you get (a drawstring piece of fabric) but I haven't seen anything close in design to them. I'll see if I can justify the $200 though.

Actually, I have a friend that made his own camera cover by taking a clear filter, taking a waterproof "tarp"-like bag, cutting a hole in it the size of the filter, gluing the filter to fill the hole, and sealing it with epoxy. He added his own drawstring so it would close around his wrist. If he wants to use a smaller diameter lens he just threads the filter onto a step-up ring. I might just try making my own because I can't quite justify the $200 for an aquatech brand cover. If I do get around to making one I'll make sure to post pics in the viewfinder forum.

[Old Timer]

OK this may sound weird but I keep an ordinary plastic grocery bag in my camera bag and if I'm shooting a ball game and it starts to rain I put it over the camera slap the hood on to hold it in place and take a knife and cut out in front of the lens. Not good for extended periods or for hurricanes but it's got me the shoots I need at a few ball games before I ran for cover.

[fx101]

OK this may sound weird but I keep an ordinary plastic grocery bag in my camera bag and if I'm shooting a ball game and it starts to rain I put it over the camera slap the hood on to hold it in place and take a knife and cut out in front of the lens. Not good for extended periods or for hurricanes but it's got me the shoots I need at a few ball games before I ran for cover.

The only issue with this is that in a terrential downpour, or when there's a lot of wind and the rain is flying nearly horizontal, the front of your lens isn't protected. The cover my friend made was under $20 (even cheaper if you have a clear filter you don't care about sacrificing).