How waterproof/weather sealed in a leica M?

[ped]

I quite often like to take shots in the rain and there are some shots I have in mind which would mean exposing my M4-P and VC 28mm to the elements. Assuming I remove my VC meter II how waterproof will the camera be?

Cheers

 

[rover]

Just send Roger a PM, he will fill you in.

Really, I think the answer is that they are not very water or weather proof, but that doesn't matter, they can take a licking and keep on ticking, except that that is copyrighted, so I will just say your Leica will survive.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=96993

 

[Roger Hicks]

How long is a piece of string?

Several minutes' constant exposure to monsoon rain: I'd rather not.

Under my coat and taken out for pictures where the rain is not so heavy that there's no picture: no problem, even if it gets quite wet.

Cheers,

R.

 

[rover]

I knew Roger had the answer. 😉

 

[ZeissFan]

Very few cameras were weather sealed, except for those made for rugged conditions or for underwater use. The weather sealing began (and mostly on the premium models) when electronics began to proliferate. Even now in the digital market, most lower-priced offerings aren't weather sealed.

I think a reasonable amount of care and common sense should be used when shooting in rain, especially heavy rain.

Anyone remember those bags that used to be sold for shooting in the rain? And are they still being sold?

 

[sc_rufctr]

...

Anyone remember those bags that used to be sold for shooting in the rain? And are they still being sold?

They're being sold on EBay. Search "OPTECH RAINSLEVE"

-------------

For me, if it's raining I'm not taking pictures. 😕
My camera bag is water resistant so I could walk in the rain if I had to.

 

[Particular]

I read somewhere that Martin Parr switched from a leica to a nikonos to complete his "Bad Weather" series after having flooding problems.

 

[filmfan]

You will be fine.
_______

I read somewhere that Martin Parr switched from a leica to a nikonos to complete his "Bad Weather" series after having flooding problems.

And I read that he did the bad weather series with a plaubel makina... hmmm

 

[lxmike]

I don't know about the M series but my Pentax LX was sealed for moisture and dust, (But the literature next specifically stated water proof).

 

[alun severn]

I've used both my M6TTL and M7 in reasonably heavy rain and for fairly long durations, periodically trying to wipe them down as i go along. The M7 recently got so wet that when I got back to my office and unpacked and emptied the M7 there was a discernible trace of water inside on the baseplate. But neither camera showed any problems. I wouldn't do this all the time, but on the other hand, I certainly wouldn't *not* take pictures just because it's raining.

A bigger problem with Ms in the rain I have found is that after a while it becomes quite hard to focus if the viewfinder windows front and back -- and my glasses! -- are wet and/or steamed up. But you do what you can. In fact I shot at an event recently where the conditions were precisely as described and found that all but one of my pictures was in focus, despite the fact that focusing was more a question of luck than judgement -- shake off the water and zone focus. Mostly it worked.

I don't think a little rain now and then is anything to worry about particularly.

 

[ped]

Thanks for the replies guys

ped

 

[Pablito]

as waterproof as a nuclear submarine.

 

[Jamie123]

You can always pay someone to hold the umbrella for you.

 

[ped]

Does it have to be a German made umbrella or are the Russian ones worth considering?

 

[alun severn]

It *ought* to be German but Russian will do at a pinch. But it must be manual.

 

[juzmister]

 

[Alberti]

My M2 was drowned but recovered easily refurbished & cleaned. Thereafter I used it in drizzles and cold weather for over 20 years.
However, the M8 is not waterproof and not damp proof at all: think of contact erosion and sticking of the cam of the RF.

But now the good news: make a big 'Thirsty Bag'. So big the camera will fit in . . .

 

[elmer3.5]

Hi, the magic of the pre metered m series is the fact they have no electronics, let go an KHRF by that reason, now instead i got an m3 with selenium meter (btw 100% accurate 🙂)

evben so i guess as the ladie´s shot, a hat and a safe place under your coat to protect the camera will help a lot.
And common sense as someone wisely said.

About two years ago in the south of aregentina i was shooting with a contax g2, almost identical to the KHRF and was raining with lots of wind, in a split of a second the camera got sparkling and everything died!!! I thought the worst never seen sparks on a camera, never thought it could happen either, thankfully after replacing new batteries the camera scame back to life w/o any problem...wow!

Bye

 

[john neal]

Wasn't the M4-P fitted with additional O-rings to improve the water resistance? (P = "Press" version & therefore more likely to be out in all weather)

I'm thinking shutter release and pc socket - ISTR that someone told me that once (or was it all a dream?)

 

[maddoc]

Wasn't the M4-P fitted with additional O-rings to improve the water resistance? (P = "Press" version & therefore more likely to be out in all weather)

I'm thinking shutter release and pc socket - ISTR that someone told me that once (or was it all a dream?)

Not the two M4-P that I have - partially - opened.