Weather Sealed Body & Lens

Does dust STILL get on the sensor?

I have a Ricoh GXR which uses sealed interchangeable lens modules that include the sensor instead of interchangeable lenses. Except for the A12 Leica mount module which does take a variety of lenses, it is hard to think than any but the harshest conditions and treatment could get dust on the sensor, since all there is between the camera and module is an electrical plug.. I used a Nikon AW 110 under harsh conditions for several years, and gave an AW 100 to my son, no issues with either. A small sample.

As Will Rogers purportedly quipped "There's no point in trying to fool proof anything, because a better class of fool is coming along every day." Like so many things where there is a will (or lack of care) there is a way.

Does dust STILL get on the sensor?

 

I'd reckon "extremely unlikely" if the lens and camera came attached and were never ever removed from each other, noting also that (many / all?) EOS Lens/Camera combinations are not "sealed" unless the prescribed Filter is attached to the Lens.

 

My points being - Firstly it doesn't seem possible to buy any (many?) cameras and lenses in that condition and secondly it doesn't seem practical to them in that way.

 

On the other hand, addressing the question from a practical, rather than theoretical perspective and comments based on my experience: several years ago I rented an EF 35-350mm f/3.5-5.6 USM L to use in a situation where the lens and camera were not expected to be separated for the entirety of the shoot, which lasted several weeks and it was in tough climate conditions. I am not sure if that old lens was indeed "Weather Sealed" and I did not have any lens filter on it anyway. However I can report nothing (no dust, water, grit, grim, etc) got into the guts of the camera - so in this case I would confidently report an expectation that "Weather Sealing" indeed would mean "sealed".

 

I think that realistically, a reasonable caveat would be to consider the wear of the sealing rings over time and especially for any zoom lens, the wear of the sealing on the zoom turret, especially for a push pull design zoom.

 

WW

I have a Ricoh GXR which uses sealed interchangeable lens modules that include the sensor instead of interchangeable lenses. . . .

 

Ta! Didn't think of that design.

Ta! Didn't think of that design.

WM -- it is a remarkable, now regrettably obsolete system that I "lucked into" as an affordable way to use Leica lenses inherited from my Dad digitally. Once I found out how capable it is, I scoured the internet and bought (mostly cheaply) everything produced for the system but the dedicated flash. There has been a rise in prices since I bought, but the consistently expensive item is the EVF. Though I prefer my FX Nikons, I suspect analysis of data would show an equal percentage of "Keeper" shots vs. total exposures. A sleeper!

Actually I did a mis-service. I just realized that I wrote erroneously:

 

"Ta! Didn't think of that design."

 

My meaning was and should read

 

"Ta! Didn't KNOW of that design."

Beware the difference between "weather" sealed and completely sealed systems, as one might find in a Nikonos system. Lenses that breathe as various components move in and out as focus or focal length change are always subject to sucking in dust and debris. Changing a lens opens the body to intrusion, if only for a moment. Unless you are using a fully sealed, waterproof assembly, assume debris will eventually intrude.

David's point is very valid. Dust does come in via the zooming action of lenses too, not just when changing lenses. Weather sealed is not the same as dust-sealed, so yes, dust will still get in.

I've experienced dust on non-ILC cameras with zoom lenses, probably due to the pumping action of the zoom.

 

Unless you change lenses in extremely dusty or windy areas, the most likely source is the lens itself. Brushing or blowing the rear of the lens goes a long way to keep dust out of the camera. Occasionally vacuuming out the camera bag helps keep dust off the lenses.

 

Until we invent peel-off sensors (like film), cleaning will be a regular, not necessarily arduous task. If a blower doesn't work, use an ultra fine brush designed for that purpose, and keep the brushes clean (in a container, never touched with your fingers or used to clean oily surfaces). As a last resort, use a liquid cleaning procedure (e.g., Eclipse fluid and sensor-swabs), followed with a dry brush and/or blower. That should not be necessary after the first three weeks of a new camera, unless if you blow on the sensor with your mouth or expose it to sea spray.