Use in the rain? - Leica M6 classic + 50 Summilux ASPH

menos

menos

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I don't hesitate, to use my Nikon DSLR even in heavier rain unprotected.

Can I use the M6 and 50 Summilux too?

What are the limits between sane and irresponsible with Leica M?

I think the known hero stories of extreme samples do not count (they are available for all cameras of age and manufacturer) - what about everyday usage in bad weather?
 
I have no idea of the official, or afficionado, line when it comes to using M gear in the rain. However I do all the time and never had a problem. I try to shield the lens from the rain just to keep water off the glass but beyond that I just don't worry too much.
 
I've used mine in light rain, but I try to protect it. If it was a downpour, I'd either put it away or get a bag.

Take a UV filter, and glue it to a hole in a bag, and attach it to your camera.
 
Back in the mid 90's, a group of photographers got together in Philadelphia to shoot and document :A Day Without Art". It rained like hell all day long. Another photographer and I, both shooting an M6, were the last photogs shooting. All the autofocus cameras went down. I was suprised that the M6 kept shooting and metering accurately. Another time, in Mexico, I was at some remote ruins when it started to rain as hard as I have ever seen. I kept shooting and the same camera , M6, kept operating properly. The lens used was a 35mm summicron on both occasions. I bought the M6 new in 1990, and it has had 2 cla's in that time period. The first Cla was performed under warranty just before the experation of the warranty. The 2nd cla was a couple years ago by DAG. The camera is a workhorse and doesn't need pampering.
 
How about a M6 classic + 50 Summilux ASPH in the rain in Beijing?

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I think as long as you use a little common sense there is no problem.
 
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I use my MPs in the rain, never had a probem; I keep a UV filter on the front of my lenses to protect the front elements from the raindrops. Living in BC, the Pacific NorthWest, if I couldn't shoot in the rain, there'd be little shooting going on outside of June to August.
 
I must have raisins down there as I would say no. But when I owned one I never was using it to make money from while it was raining so it's an easy answer. I'd say use a Nikonos III or IV, but that is me. I looked as my M6 as something I could never replace or really get fixed well. But that was before I joined RFF. Perhaps my raisins have grown......

Doubt it.

B2 (;->
 
Zip lock bag and silica gel?

Zip lock bag and silica gel?

maelswarm said:
The cameras and lenses aren't weather-sealed, so no one has found infiltration of moisture/rain into the camera body or lenses?
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This questions is of interest to me too.

After a rain shoot with my DSLRs, I take each item (lens, body) seperately in a zip lock bag and load it with silica gel.

Do the rain shooters here do the same or is it just the towel and open storing over night?

Is silica gel harmful to any of the Leicas incredients (the shutter curtain for example?)
 
Living in vancouver - where we have a LOT of rain in the fall/winter - not using a camera in the rain would severely diminish photographic opportunities!
My philosophy is -if I can take it so can the camera! I do try to shelter the camera inside the jacket or with my hand - if it is really coming down. I check the lenses for waterdrops and wipe them off and try to wipe down the camera if water is gathering on it. I have had the odd instance were water have been 'sucked" into the lens - but this is rare.
I suspect that a fully electronic camera would be more sensitive to high humidity or moisture - but my M2's tend to survive. Occasionally there have been rust spots on geartrains inside the camera, but no malfunctions.
 
This past weekend it rained a little in San Francisco while I was out shooting. Light rain, not enough to warrant an umbrella but enough to soak your hair and wet your jacket. I had my M3 out the entire time with a Nokton 50/1.5. Every once in a while I would wipe off excess water on the body or lens barrel. The side effect was a cleaner camera.
As for reloading film.....I wimped out and found some shelter to do that.
 
Another one for the list.

I've shot many times in medium to heavy rain with my M7 and 50 Lux ASPH (and 35 Cron ASPH), with no problems. Like others are saying, keep a UV/clear filter on the lens, wipe off the excess from time to time, and you'll be fine.
 
John Elder said:
Back in the mid 90's, a group of photographers got together in Philadelphia to shoot and document :A Day Without Art". It rained like hell all day long. Another photographer and I, both shooting an M6, were the last photogs shooting. All the autofocus cameras went down. I was suprised that the M6 kept shooting and metering accurately. Another time, in Mexico, I was at some remote ruins when it started to rain as hard as I have ever seen. I kept shooting and the same camera , M6, kept operating properly. The lens used was a 35mm summicron on both occasions. I bought the M6 new in 1990, and it has had 2 cla's in that time period. The first Cla was performed under warranty just before the experation of the warranty. The 2nd cla was a couple years ago by DAG. The camera is a workhorse and doesn't need pampering.
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i'm not saying the M6 isn't tough, but i have a hard time believing any collection of professional autofocus would have a 100% failure rate in heavy rain. i've seen canon 1-series bodies mated with weathersealed L lenses go to hell and back without skipping a beat.. and i can only assume that a 100% failure rate on autofocus bodies must mean the other cameras have to have been consumer-grade at best. even though it's not an autofocus body, i've been able to take my F-1 out in the rain for hours on end without any problems. i'm curious as to how a pair of M6's survived what no other camera could. 😕
 
alt4852 said:
i'm not saying the M6 isn't tough, but i have a hard time believing any collection of professional autofocus would have a 100% failure rate in heavy rain. i've seen canon 1-series bodies mated with weathersealed L lenses go to hell and back without skipping a beat.. and i can only assume that a 100% failure rate on autofocus bodies must mean the other cameras have to have been consumer-grade at best. even though it's not an autofocus body, i've been able to take my F-1 out in the rain for hours on end without any problems. i'm curious as to how a pair of M6's survived what no other camera could. 😕
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I don't know about John's experience concerning the failing AF cameras but I've used Nikon F5, D1, D2 & D3 bodies in horrendous rain fall and they haven't slipped up at all, not once. Maybe I've been lucky?

I'll try to shield them ( all cameras that is ) as best as I can, keep the front element clear by pointing the camera downwards until I need to shoot, wiping occasionally and then drying them out when I've finished.

In all honesty its usually me that wants to give up under those conditions before the camera gets close to packing up🙂
 
menos said:
I think the known hero stories of extreme samples do not count (they are available for all cameras of age and manufacturer) - what about everyday usage in bad weather?
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I photographed in a downpour in Helsinki once in 2007 and had quite a bit of trouble after 20 minutes or so because the viewfinder was fogging up. Afterwards I left the camera next to an oven for half an hour or so and it was OK. I'd expect this problem sooner than water getting into the lens mount.
 
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