Testing k-5 weatherproofness...

Shooting T in The Park this weekend in a very wet Scotland, my GX20 has been flawless, my k-5 on the other hand is not doing so well...

Had the DA* 50-135mm attached all weekend, never been off, this has happened...




This is actually between the outside screen & the lcd screen, so far it has nearly dried out all but a drop in the top corner...

Send it for warranty repair.

The K-7 and K-5 are prone to getting water ingress from the built-in flash housing; this then runs down and behind the LCD screen. I know this from an experience when walking on the hill tops in the Lakes with Shaun Wilson when the same thing happened to his K-7. This may be how it has happened with yours, but whatever it should not do this. BTW, Shaun's K-7 was fine once dried out.

Regards
David

Finally killed it off the shutter button is no longer working... Having to use the grip horizontally...

That's very worrying Gary. Hope you get sorted quickly

This is quite worrying as well. I have used mine quite often in the rain, not as much with the flash on though, tempted to try!

I have never used the onboard flash in the rain, having assumed that wasn't a very good idea. Likewise, I don't change lenses, cards or batteries in the rain.

On the other hand...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eo61t5fH6Qw

John, the water ingress can occur when the flash is not in use, i.e. it is in the closed position.

Regards
David

Just another quick footnote to this, we know the flash housing was the cause of the water ingress because we popped up the flash and the housing had water inside it. It had remained closed throughout the period when it was raining.

Regards
David

Thanks David. I guess it's always a risk - water is very tenacious. Fortunately it seems the weather sealing is generally sound, after which any that fail would be a warranty claim.

After the warranty period I guess it's at our own risk unless the camera has been overhauled and the seals checked as per the instruction manual.

I've just returned from four days at Silverstone, where other commitments meant I was mostly restricted to taking photos during Friday's ceaseless rain. The following morning, my K-5's front wheel went on strike - a pain when you almost always rely on manual settings. Despite my fondness for taking shots of racing cars during heavy downpours, I had never experienced this before. I was also using a loaned K-7, which ploughed on regardless.

The K-5 wheel now appears to be functioning once more, so I can only assume there was some kind of moisture ingress that has since dried out. It was very wet, mind...

[IMG]http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/pp41/simonarron/Simon%20Arron%20-%20F1/Schuey2-26.jpg[/IMG]

Gary did you use your zoom while it was raining/the camera was wet?

This is what happens when I zoom my K-5 with a DA 18-135mm WR. A lot of air gets sucked in and out from the rear of the camera.

Cheers,
Brian

edited to make the post more clear

I tend to wipe the lens barrel beforezooming it back in, just in case water finds a way in. I suppose it will also depend on how much rain there is. Normal drizzle and even quite a heavy shower seems OK, but the 18-135mm has simplified weather resistance, it isn't waterproof. It isn't billed as dust resistant either.

Common sense should always rule and it's a matter of judgement how much rain we're prepared to accept. I would always partially protect the kit at least, if possible, but haven't found a problem yet. Basically, if it's too wet for me then it's too wet for the camera.

Now, how to define what's too wet for me....:

John if you were referring to my 18-135 the air sucking I was talking about was from the back of the camera.

The OP's lens was a DA* I believe.

Cheers