Re: Weather Proof External Zoom Lens question

E

ectobuilder

Veteran
Re: Weather Proof External Zoom Lens question

For zoom lenses with external zooms (the barrel elongates as you zoom) AND Weather Proofing (i.e. "Dust and Moisture Resistant") does it still move dust through the lens and onto the sensor as you zoom?
 
Yes. And also on the ones that don't change size when zooming. Weather proofing is a lot less effective than many people think it is. It's just something that slows down the damage, but it doesn't avoid it completely. Scary link.
 
Samuel H said:
Yes. And also on the ones that don't change size when zooming. Weather proofing is a lot less effective than many people think it is. It's just something that slows down the damage, but it doesn't avoid it completely. Scary link.
Click to expand...

Hypothetical Question: Which would be better to prevent dust from going onto the sensor:

External Zoom + Weather Sealing OR Internal Zoom + No Weather Sealing
 
Last edited:
That's a tough one... no idea :(

I would say weather sealing on a lens that changes size when zooming, but your guess is as good as mine
 
ectobuilder said:
Hypothetical Question: Which would be better to prevent dust from going onto the sensor:

External Zoom + Weather Sealing OR Internal Zoom + No Weather Sealing
Click to expand...

What matters here is not how the lenses zoom, but how weather/dust resistant they are. If you wrap the main body of a weather sealed zoom lens with something like a damp cloth, the so-called external zoom instantly becomes "internalized" insofar as weather proofing is concerned. A zoom lens without weather sealing inhales dust easily, regardless how it zooms. But a weather sealed lens is, after all, sealed against elements and dust.
 
Samuel H said:
Weather proofing is a lot less effective than many people think it is. It's just something that slows down the damage, but it doesn't avoid it completely. Scary link.
Click to expand...

The content that the "scary link" points to shows how careless people can be in treating the properties that they don't own at all (because they rented them). As far as weather proofing is concerned, the content only proves the well know fact that weather/dust resistance is not the same as weather/dust proofing. And even in the case of water/dust proof gear, there are different ratings to specify the conditions where water/dust fail them.

A good example is Canon L lenses, including L zoom lenses. They are highly weather/dust resistant. With equally or better sealed cameras + proper care, they can easily survive very harsh environments for years without having to be cleaned or serviced. I can shoot all my L lenses (including externally zoomed lens 24-105) in rainy, dusty, foggy, freezing... environments - always with confidence. I have never seen dust get into my lenses or onto camera sensors. My 7D and 5D3 have never been manually cleaned or serviced. And when moisture did finally enter my lenses (242-105 included) after 2 days of use in dense fog/rain (relative humidity was 100% or near), guess what I did: I slowly heat them to drive the moisture out. Meanwhile, none of them had ever quit working, even when condensation inside their bodies was at its worst.


ectobuilder said:
For zoom lenses with external zooms (the barrel elongates as you zoom) AND Weather Proofing (i.e. "Dust and Moisture Resistant") does it still move dust through the lens and onto the sensor as you zoom?
Click to expand...

I don't think so, provided that the lens's given sufficient proper care.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top