Rangefinder in wet weather

[presspass]

I know there are fixed lens cameras that are weather-proof or weather-resistant and I have a Nikonos III, but I've been wondering which interchangeable lens film rangefinders are the most weather/rain-resistant? I'm not concerned about cold and snow; I've determined that through experience.

 

[NeeZee]

Dunno, but I'd just try one of these:
http://netzspielzeug.de/images/product_images/popup_images/3324_0.jpg

You could also paint it black for stealth mode 🙂

Seriously, I used my IIIf in light to medium rain and just wiped it dry afterwards. No problems so far.

 

[NeeZee]

Or just use a Zorki or Fed - some are cheap enough not to care...

 

[tunalegs]

Rainy weather is one scenario where the ever-ready case is in its element.

Flip the cover off when you're taking the picture, flip the cover up when you're not.

 

[xxloverxx]

This doesn't really answer your question, but I grew up in a city with very heavy rains in summer (Hong Kong) and have developed a habit of always carrying a plastic bag in my regular bag. If the rain starts, I put the camera and my hand in it, and pull it off to shoot. Guaranteed to handle even the heaviest rains 😀

 

[Scrambler]

I know there are fixed lens cameras that are weather-proof or weather-resistant and I have a Nikonos III, but I've been wondering which interchangeable lens film rangefinders are the most weather/rain-resistant? I'm not concerned about cold and snow; I've determined that through experience.

I don't believe any are actually weather sealed.

The FSU cameras are a little like the AK-47 in that their designs are so fault-tolerant that it's hard to imagine a real-world weather exposure that would permanently disable them. The absence of electrical elements assists. If you chose a model without slow speeds you are giving yourself even less to worry about.

What you couldn't be sure of would be keeping water off your film or more importantly out of your lens in truly heavy rain. I would only use a lens I was prepared to bin if, or rather when, it developed fungus.

My choice would be FED 2 with an I-26 or similar.

 

[Pioneer]

I have used my M9 in a light rain without problem. I used both the Lux 50 v2 my early 60s Elmar 90/4.

Didn't leave it out to get soaked the entire time but pulled it out from under my jacket when I wanted.

Dried it off from time to time with my lens cloth, and certainly when I changed lenses.

I have also used my old M3 several times in the rain with no trouble but, like the M9, I kept it protected when I wasn't actually shooting.

With both cameras I put them in a plastic bag with a silicon gel pack when I got home.

 

[Pioneer]

It isn't a rangefinder, but if I am anticipating heavy rain I revert to my Pentax K5 with a weather sealed lens. Never had a problem with this set.

 

[thegman]

No RFs that I know of, but Pentax MX is smaller than most RFs and pretty affordable.

 

[noisycheese]

The Leica M240 is weather sealed - I recently used mine in a "medium" rain (not a sprinkle but not a downpour) with no apparent damage to the camera.

I don't normally expose my cameras to that much rain, but there were photos to be had that I really wanted to get.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Stick with your Nikonos.

Chris

 

[David Hughes]

Or just use a Zorki or Fed - some are cheap enough not to care...

But every time you wreck one you stop some newcomer from starting out on that long trail leading to an M2 or M4 etc, etc. And think of all those poor technicians being put out of work.

Regards, David

 

[NJH]

I think people worry about this to much, if the weather is that bad and the camera is exposed to it to much the lens will end up covered in drops and stuff anyway so any sensible approach has to involve shielding the camera somehow until the brief moments when the shot has to be taken then covering it up again.

 

[oftheherd]

I think people worry about this to much, if the weather is that bad and the camera is exposed to it to much the lens will end up covered in drops and stuff anyway so any sensible approach has to involve shielding the camera somehow until the brief moments when the shot has to be taken then covering it up again.

That is the way I always approached it. If it did get too wet, I would look for the nearest place I could enter, tree, overhang or whatever, to wipe it off.

I usually tried to keep it inside my rain gear until it was time to use the camera. Changing lenses in heavy rain required my back to the wind and bent over to protect it, or just not changing the lens if I was worried it or the inside of the camera would get wet. A face towel inside your rain gear is a handy thing as well.