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Photo Forum / Digital Photography / DSLR Cameras / March 2006How weatherproof is the Nikon D200?
I've read about the D200's rugged body and weatherproof seals. Just how rugged is the thing? I like to shoot sailboats out on the water (http://tinyurl.com/z3jcg). I used to take my OM-2, now I use my PS-400). I'm careful to only go out in benign conditions and protect the camera as much as possible, but the occasional bit of salt water spray is inevitable. Even if no visible water ever touches the camera or lens, the air is saturated with salt droplets. Would I be nuts to take a D200 (and an expensive VR zoom lens) out on a boat? > I've read about the D200's rugged body and weatherproof seals. Just how > rugged is the thing? [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > Would I be nuts to take a D200 (and an expensive VR zoom lens) out on a > boat? Try it and let us know. > I've read about the D200's rugged body and weatherproof seals. Just how > rugged is the thing? [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > Would I be nuts to take a D200 (and an expensive VR zoom lens) out on a > boat? My wife, and her Canon 5D, got drenched by a direct hit from a wave on a shoot at the beach a couple of months ago. There was no damage to the camera, only to her dignity. We had the camera checked out, and there was no sign of any leakage. On the assumption that the D200 is better sealed (that's the reputation, but still, only an assumption,) I'd say, in the conditions you mention, you'll be ok. If it were a problem, any use of less than pro camera/lens combinations at the beach would be out of bounds.  SignatureSkip Middleton http://www.shadowcatcherimagery.com > > I've read about the D200's rugged body and weatherproof seals. Just how > > rugged is the thing? [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > conditions you mention, you'll be ok. If it were a problem, any use of less > than pro camera/lens combinations at the beach would be out of bounds. Isn't salt water meant to play absolute havoc with the seals? I'd imagine salt would soon eat its way through the electronics inside too if it gets that far. I was chatting to a pro at a uk car rally event a few weeks ago, however his main line of work is power boat racing, so he runs one of the D2 range for the much better seals (if it helps ID the model it does wireless), however it still has to go off every few months for a service, and in fact on that particular weekend he was covering the event using his D200 as that is exactly where his D2 was, off for service. He didn't report any problems with the 70-200 [1] 2.8 VR lens he was using. Spending that kind of cash I'd be tempted to email Nikon, or one of the boating magazines and ask what they use/recommend and any problems they run into, I'd be inclined to think the extra £800 for the D2HS with its enviromentally sealed body could be money well spent in saved servicing over its life. [1] Or was it 210? specs off top of head I'm not so familiar with Nikon specs either. SignatureJon B Above email address IS valid. <http://www.bramley-computers.co.uk/> Apple Laptop Repairs. >> > I've read about the D200's rugged body and weatherproof seals. Just >> > how [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > imagine salt would soon eat its way through the electronics inside too > if it gets that far. I'm not sure about the seals, but you're right about the electronics. She wiped the exterior of the camera down immediately, and we took it to a repair center for a check up the next day. No sign of damage. SignatureSkip Middleton http://www.shadowcatcherimagery.com > > Isn't salt water meant to play absolute havoc with the seals? I'd > > imagine salt would soon eat its way through the electronics inside too [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > wiped the exterior of the camera down immediately, and we took it to a > repair center for a check up the next day. No sign of damage. If you've immediately wiped it down you probably caught most of the water before it had chance to seap through. My line of work means I do get to see what happens when water and electrics mix, so I know how much of a difference additives make, sugar is a killer to the boards. SignatureJon B Above email address IS valid. <http://www.bramley-computers.co.uk/> Apple Laptop Repairs. >> > Isn't salt water meant to play absolute havoc with the seals? I'd >> > imagine salt would soon eat its way through the electronics inside too [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > get to see what happens when water and electrics mix, so I know how much > of a difference additives make, sugar is a killer to the boards. That's what we figured, and why we carried a towel with us, as usual, on these beach shoots. As a long time sailor (as in sail boats, not the US Navy) I, too have seen what water, especially salt water, can do to most everything, not to mention electronics... SignatureSkip Middleton http://www.shadowcatcherimagery.com > That's what we figured, and why we carried a towel with us, as usual, on > these beach shoots. > As a long time sailor (as in sail boats, not the US Navy) I, too have seen > what water, especially salt water, can do to most everything, not to mention > electronics... Salt water is extremely nasty all right. But with reasonable care (and a towel) I have managed to care for the D70 and its lenses without any damage from salt spray or sand. A D200 should be a piece of cake (relatively speaking). >> That's what we figured, and why we carried a towel with us, as usual, on >> these beach shoots. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > damage from salt spray or sand. A D200 should be a piece of cake > (relatively speaking). I'd say so, too. I think that this environmental sealing question is overblown, frankly. With reasonable care, any but the photographers who shoot in rainforests or hurricanes will have no problems. Treat your equipment well, and it will reciprocate. SignatureSkip Middleton http://www.shadowcatcherimagery.com > >> That's what we figured, and why we carried a towel with us, as usual, on > >> these beach shoots. [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > shoot in rainforests or hurricanes will have no problems. Treat your > equipment well, and it will reciprocate. Um, actually, I do shoot in rain forests and hurricanes. And I still have no problems. >> >> That's what we figured, and why we carried a towel with us, as usual, >> >> on [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > Um, actually, I do shoot in rain forests and hurricanes. And I still > have no problems. Well, now, see? There you go... SignatureSkip Middleton http://www.shadowcatcherimagery.com > My wife, and her Canon 5D, got drenched by a direct hit from a wave on a > shoot at the beach a couple of months ago. There was no damage to the > camera, only to her dignity. We had the camera checked out, and there was > no sign of any leakage. What lens did she have mounted at the time? >> My wife, and her Canon 5D, got drenched by a direct hit from a wave on a >> shoot at the beach a couple of months ago. There was no damage to the >> camera, only to her dignity. We had the camera checked out, and there >> was no sign of any leakage. > > What lens did she have mounted at the time? 24-70 f2.8L, which does have an o-ring on the mount. That probably helped, but in the conditions the OP mentioned, much less severe, that's a moot point. SignatureSkip Middleton http://www.shadowcatcherimagery.com > I've read about the D200's rugged body and weatherproof seals. Just how > rugged is the thing? [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Would I be nuts to take a D200 (and an expensive VR zoom lens) out on a > boat? I believe only a very limited number of lenses actually have rubber seals in the mount... so if a wave hits, point down! This whole issue of weatherproofing is too over rated by those who have nothing better to do than worry and not take pictures. http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/5d-field.shtml "The Canon 5D is a typical prosumer camera in terms of weather sealing and build quality. I would therefore expect that photographers will be able to shoot in conditions where the photographer will give up long before the camera does." Read the complete section, "Compared to a 1Ds MKII", then go out and take pictures... Signature"I have been a witness, and these pictures are my testimony. The events I have recorded should not be forgotten and must not be repeated." -James Nachtwey- http://www.jamesnachtwey.com/ > I've read about the D200's rugged body and weatherproof seals. Just how > rugged is the thing? [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Would I be nuts to take a D200 (and an expensive VR zoom lens) out on a > boat? I shoot with the D70. It has no weatherproofing and many of the lenses are not sealed, either. I have had this camera out in the weather during the peak of a typhoon. I have stood on a jetty during a typhoon and taken pictures of waves while I was being sprayed with salt water and blasted with sand. The D70 and all of its lenses continue to work just fine. I rather suspect that the D200 with a weather sealed lens should hold up very well for the kind of work you want to do. These pictures were taken on a nice day (the first one being taken by my wife). http://homepage.mac.com/christopherjcampbell/Aparri%20Fishing%20Pier/ |
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