Using M6 & M8 in snow & rainy day?

[Gbull]

Hi Tom

Can we use the M6 &/or M8 in snowy and light rainiy day? It is not totally wet but just rain drop here and there on the camera body.

Thanks

 

[Tom A]

Living in Vancouver - any camera better be usable in the rain! I do wipe them down if they get soaked and if it is raining heavily, I tend to tuck the camera under my jacket.
I suspect that a M8/M9 is a bit more sensitive to moisture as it is all electronic.
The M-finder can absorb some moisture - but it usually does go away indoors. If a camera has been really soaked, I usually unload, remove the lens and leave the back-door open and let it dry out - wiping of excess moisture off first. Never heat the camera or leave it close to a hot element as that can "steam up" the finder.
Most of the material used in the M's is alloy or brass so no rust. Biggest problem can be with springs (shutter drum, smaller springs for advance return and selftimer can rust and get brittle.
Snow tends to stick on the camera and when you bring it indoors - it melts and can seep in around the advance lever ( and the lens mount! - which I found out the hard way). I used to carry a 1/2 tootbrush in my pocket (snapped of the saft) and it was quite handy for brushing it off before getting indoors or into the car.
Leicas are pretty well sealed though and can take a fair bit of abuse! Two weeks ago a I managed to fall on a M2 with a 50f2.8 (early version). Bruised a rib badly, busted my glasses (and got some interesting coloring on my nose!). The M2 got some more dings along the back and the advance lever looks like someone took a bite out of it. No rangefinder mis-aligned and no other mis-function. Tough buggers!

 

[Doug]

Wish you speedy healing, Tom! Sounds like no fun.

I grew up and lived in the Puget Sound area, so my M2 and other cameras got a regular dose of moisture similar to Vancouver, but I don't recall any problems as a result. Now on the east side of the mountains it's snowier in winter and dustier in summer.

I recall spending a couple hours on a rocky shoreline about halfway to Hana on Maui during a storm, getting right down into the salt spray with a Pentax 6x7. No damage, just wiped it down with fresh water later.

But after I bought a Pentax MX in one of those eBay deals "it seems to run ok but I don't have a battery to check the meter".... Turns out it had sat with salt water pooled in the baseplate long enough to corrode the circuit board and even the lens mount. Lots of donor parts needed on that repair!

I don't hesitate to take my gear out in the snow or rain, but I do try to protect them from the worst of it.

 

[kokoshawnuff]

I live in Los Angeles, so I dont get constant or heavy downpours, but my M6 has always handled rain without a hitch.

 

[250swb]

I can't answer directly for the M8, but I imagine the M9 is similar in all respects, and that can take rain so long as you are sensible.

I keep a cloth in my bag to wipe it down (in the UK planning for rain is the norm), and it can take a good downpour if you just shade it with your hand and let it get wet only when making an exposure (but I'm not passing on any sort of guarantee). The key thing NOT to do is keep putting it under your jacket or cover it closely with your hand, once it gets some water on it that can translate into condensation inside the viewfinder very quickly if you warm it up with body heat. So just keep air circulating around it.

Steve

 

[Gbull]

Thank for sharing the expereince.

Tom: Wish you have recovered and is all good.

 

[atlcruiser]

I have drenched the M6 a few times with no issue at all. I left it to dry.

The M8 died on me is a very light rain where I did not think it was really getting very wet. I now am very careful with the M8 and wet weather.