A700 water resistance

[Armen Gharib]

Hi

2 weeks ago when it was raining I was capturing some photos because there were some nice landscapes!!
After I finished my A700 got all wet. I was trying to keep it under my wears and so on but in vain, because it was raining cats and dogs!
Frankly, when water got in all buttons and everywhere I thought that something can happen but in favour of me nothing happened!
It is very ineteresting to me what experience do you have with A700 concerning the water resistance???
Thank you in advance

Armen

[Javelin]

mine was the same experience as yours except water did get in around the screen and the circuit board had to be replaced. Sony did it under warranty

[Armen Gharib]

Does it mean that I shouldn't repeat that once again in case of importance??

[Javelin]

I can't really answer that. Mine got very wet though. it was raining so hard I couldn't keep my eyes open. it was more like I was in front of a fire hose than rain. I think normal rain would have been ok.

[KevinBarrett]

I've only used mine in light misting, so I can't comment as to its durability. I have, however, looked over the a700 and its vertical grip and found some things overlooked by most of the reviewers.

• The memory compartment is water-resistant. Around the card slots on the a700 is a recessed rubber gasket. Inside the door is a separate piece of sturdy plastic that fits against the rubber gasket, making a seal around the end of both card slots. This piece is the real memory card door, it has a fixed hinge and does not slide. The outer door is attached to this door and "floats" on it, more or less, allowing for the sliding and locking action.

• The battery compartment of the VG-C70AM is water-resistant. A similar rubber gasket to the one inside the memory compartment is provided for the battery compartment door of the vertical grip. This gasket covers the inside area of the door immediately around and over the battery compartment and provides the last bit of spongy resistance when closing the door. The locking mechanism is separate and does not interrupt this seal.

• The VG-C70AM provides water-resistance to the battery compartment of the a700. Where the vertical grip joins the a700 immediately inside the battery compartment, there is an additional rubber gasket. This gasket encircles the post that inserts into the camera body, providing weather resistance where there was none before.

Someone with an a900 might need to investigate his camera and tell us whether this is the case for that camera as well. I cannot tell from any photographs of it available online.

[David Kilpatrick]

The A900 has no rubber seal for the card door. Instead, they used a 'labyrinth' design to prevent water getting in. The card slots have sealing for the card itself. All the buttons and controls of the 900 have an additional flexible gasket internally to prevent water and dust entering. This sealing has a better rating than the A700. It was highlighted during the A900 launch. There is no sealing for the battery door at all, which is a mystery. I did not manage to photograph the screen shot which showed the position of all the gasket seals.

David

[Javelin]

On mine water got in through te back cover somehow. the screen was fogged inside and the repar order said AM board replaced. which according to the book sits right behind the screen.

[Dr. Harout]

Good work friends. You just go out and test your cameras under diverse situations and let us know
Now seriously. I've tried mine under slight rain, but to be honest, it was for such a short time that it doesn't count.
On the other hand I can assure you that the A700 has a great immunity from contagious and infectious diseases, it didn't catch any from the day I have it, though almost every weekday it deals with skin and venereal diseases

[Javelin]

Woo doc.. well need a new forum for that..

/me makes a mental note to not buy used gear from the Doc...

I'm a little more cautions with what I carry into the woods now and make sure I have covers for everything. But I have no trouble with my A700 n extreme cold except the batteries go down quicker.

Good work friends. You just go out and test your cameras under diverse situations and let us know
Now seriously. I've tried mine under slight rain, but to be honest, it was for such a short time that it doesn't count.
On the other hand I can assure you that the A700 has a great immunity from contagious and infectious diseases, it didn't catch any from the day I have it, though almost every weekday it deals with skin and venereal diseases

[Armen Gharib]

Doc. it is most policy of making on the others mistakes, I would do the same if I could find something in our forums
I have tried A700 in very very extremely wet and cold weather during few hours outside several times and no problems!!
And 3 weeks ago when it was raining water get through all the buttons but nothing happened, especially ISO button is very bad constructed for the rains, water is collecting there every time.
But I am disappointed with the dirt on CMOS , it is getting dirty very fast, last time Doc. and me cleaned because it was all dirt when I was capturing the blue clouds. What do you think what could be an occasion the construction and the materials which are used or the fact that I am changing thes lenses very frequently??

Armen

[Dusty]

But I am disappointed with the dirt on CMOS , it is getting dirty very fast, last time Doc. and me cleaned because it was all dirt when I was capturing the blue clouds. What do you think what could be an occasion the construction and the materials which are used or the fact that I am changing thes lenses very frequently??
Armen

Armen,

Whenever I change lenses I start by taking the rear cap off of the lens to be put on. Then I point the camera down, to keep dirt from settling on the sensor, and quickly remove the old lens and replace it with the new. I also never try to do this in a dusty situation.

This procedure should help a bit to lessen the dust problem.

Dusty

[Armen Gharib]

Dusty

I do exactly you recommended, but finally I have the CMOS dirty.
I don't know whether A700 has some automated system of CMOS cleaning using the vibration or some special antidust coatings!
There are antidust coatings which material is TiO2, and it is widely used everywhere, does it exist in some of the photo equipments??
If these coatings are transparent why not to put on CCD??

[Javelin]

I think the sensor does have a TI.N oxide coated element in it and that is why if we wet clean we have to use eclipse 2 fluit so it doesn;t get damaged. in your menues there is sensor cleaning mode which vibrates the sensor before it opens the mirror to clean. I don't get many dust problems and just clean it when I need to. it's realy not a big deal. Your dust may be related to the kit lenses. seems to me when I was shooting the A200 with the kitlemns I had to clean more often and I did after I stopped using it. maybe it's acting like a dust pump ?

[Dr. Harout]

Always shut down the camera prior to changing lenses, because if not, the sensor will absorb tiny particles like a magnet.

[KevinBarrett]

I also had more problem with contaminates on the sensor before I replaced my 18-70 kit lens with the Tamron 17-50. I wondered whether there were tiny plastic shavings from that plastic mount on the kit lens.