7D #1 Weather Sealing
December 3rd, 2009 | Author: admin
Canon 7D in a snow blizzard on South Georgia Island, November 11.
TYPE OF TEST: CFR-2 (What does this mean?)
One issue I´ve been very interested in regarding the new 7D, is how well it performs under tough weather conditions. Some of my assignments and expeditions take me to extreme parts of the world, where cold temperatures, snow, rain, sand, or a mix of fine sand, rain and a splash of sea water are the norm. On my recent expediton to Antarctica I had a great opportunity to really test how well sealed and rugged this camera actually is. The other two cameras in my camera bag were the Canon 5D Mark II and 1DS Mark III.
This trip was almost the same 3.5 week photo expedition to Antartctica as last year, where I had a 50D and Canon HF10 HD video camera for testing. On that trip I destroyed the video camera on my first day at South Georgia, and the 50D camera had a one day “hangover” after a wet landing. After a few days I put the 50D away because it was not suited to those conditions. 3-4 photographers with Canon 30Ds and 40Ds broke their cameras during last year’s expedition. NB: My workhorse, the 1DS Mark III worked flawlessly, even after 2 “baths” in cold sea water. After these experiences, I wasn’t sure if the 7D and 5D Mark II would survive for the duration of the expedition this year.
Weather resistant
When I´m shooting I’m very focused on my subject and technique. The cameras and equipment experience extremely hard use. When shooting wildlife I´m usually laying on my stomach, with the camera in direct ground contact. This works great with most cameras if the ground is dry, but in Antarctica the ground is almost always wet, muddy or covered with snow or sand. On my recent expedition it snowed almost every day, and at times wet snow, which is worse than rain.
Rough weather conditions = rough images. This Antarctic Fur Seal was photographed with 7D and 300/2.8L on South Georgia.
I always use the 7D with the attached battery grip because it gives me a much better grasp of the camera. Some 5D Mark II users who use the battery grip have reported some problems with water leaking between the camera and battery grip. The battery grip for 7D is new and seems tighter and better sealed. In my case the 7D had absolutely NO problems with snow, rain and water (sea spray). This was just as I had hoped. I’ve also used the 7D on rainy days in Norway, without any problems. The 7D easily passed the rain and wet conditions test.
My 7D in heavy rain.
Wet snow in South Georgia. These conditions might destroy cheaper cameras after a few hours. I used a ThinkTank “raincoat” for my 300mm, but nothing over the camera.
So, what about the two other cameras?
My 1DS Mark III is built like a tank and is heavily weather sealed. I didn´t drop it into sea water this year, but used it without worry or protecting it from bad weather. It worked as expected, without problems.
The big surprise was the 5D Mark II. I used this camera as hard as (but not as much) the 7D and it performed superbly. I didn´t use any protection from rain or snow. The camera was used without the battery grip, which might have helped. The 5D Mark II has been on 2 expeditions to Svalbard (Arctic – 80° North) and one recent expedition to Antarctica without problems, so the weather sealing is robust enough for most conditions.
Conclusion
All three cameras performed very well for the whole Antarctica expedition. The 7D performed as I had hoped, surpassing 10,000 exposures without a problem. I must admit that the 5D Mark II surprised me as well with its build quality. The 1DS Mark III camera is the most rugged and best weather sealed, but the 7D and 5D Mark II (without battery grip) performed 100% in my opinion.
I have not tried to drop the 7D or 5D Mark II “by accident” into salt water, but I don´t expect them to survive as well as the Mark III / IV cameras. It will be interesting to hear your opinions regarding your use of these cameras (especially the 7D) in extreme weather. Have you had any different experiences, or mostly the same as mine?
OJL
Thanks to Bob Baillargeon for copy-editing!
190 Responses to “7D #1 Weather Sealing”
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1st June – Sandwich Terns
30th May – Avocets
very impressive one! worked as it claimed to!
Hi, great review.
I’m actually more interested in the 5D Mark II’s weather sealing capabilities. What exactly to you mean by
>used this camera as hard as (but not as much) the 7D
in what areas would you say 5D Mark II would be vulnerable in? (other than the battery grip)
Thanks!
Hi Clark
Due to the AF opportunities with the 7D I shot 10.000+ images with 7D, but 7000+ images with the 1DS Mark III (allround) and “only” 3000 images (mainly landscape). That´s why I used 7D more than the 5D Mark II. I will write more about this in the next article…
did the seal find the tripod tasty?
That’s what I call intensive testing…
by the way, what is that at the lower right corner of the last picture you posted… is that seal trying to eat your tripod?
Hi Ole,
Great review & pictures! These are the kind of reviews I like the most instead of the endless pixel-peeping done by 99% of the other review sites (which of course has it uses too…). But this review really adds something about how this camera actually works in (very tough) real-life conditions and manages to take great pictures.
Btw, I envy you because you get in all these great places
. Hopefully I manage to get there some day as well 
Anyway, keep up the great work and I’m looking forward to part 2, 3 & 4!
Hi having just got my own 7D I found this review fantastic, before reading this i was concerned even taking the camera out in rain.
I am very, very new in photography. I just started to take pictures with my first DSLR, the Canon 7D, as a hobby about a month ago… and I’m loving it.
Maybe the 7D is not the best camera for a beginner like me, but you tend to get considerably good results quickly if you don’t mind looking for tips online and also carrying the manual for any quick checks.
The rugged look and feel of the 7D is one of the characteristic that I like the most. I went out to the New Jersey country side with all the snow that fell during the weekend (12/05/09), and I never felt worry shooting in some very cold and wet conditions in the woods. Of course, it wasn’t Antarctica but to me –a dude from a Caribbean island– that was a little extreme. The sealing is very good and the buttons on the 7D are big enough that I did not need to take my gloves off to shoot or to play around with the settings.
I can’t wait to January take Dallas (yes, I named my 7D Dallas) into a more familiar but also very demanding weather environment such as the one found in the Caribbean beaches in the northern cost of the Dominican Republic. Oh, yes! Let the heat of the sun, the salt of the Caribbean Sea, the sudden tropical downpour and the tiny white sand of those beautiful beaches come… we will be prepared!
/AR/
i like how everyone ignored Nick Turpin’s original message (save for 1 person) lol.
i hope he’s not right..and is just someone on Nikon’s unofficial payroll
As for the review so far. Good stuff! looking to read more when you get it.
Pretty nice blog post, thank you !
For the statement about the weather sealed 5D MKII we have to wait for a official press release from Canon. Until it will happen I prefer this review:
http://thetravelphotographer.blogspot.com/2009/02/some-canon-5d-iis-fail-in-antartica.html
Hi Thomas
I don´t think there will come any official press release for Canon regarding weather sealed 5D Mark II…
The other thing to remember about the LL Antarctica trip is the killed 1DsMK2s in the same ratio the year before. My guess something in that trip’s procedures is amiss.
FANTASTIC! Love these real world tests. I’d like to know how that tripod held up against a seal bite…
My 5DII’s controls stopped working after just 2 minutes of rain here in England last week. After 2 hours sitting on my desk it started working again. I am very disappointed. I thought it would perform a little better. My old 350D was far more duarble in wet weather and that had no weather sealing at all.
Hi Ole, I really enjoyed your pictures, especially the fur seal with the penguins in the background. Well done to you for testing yourself and the camera gear in those conditions, and actually giving real use feedback.
I am a guide in Botswana, Africa, and I lead photographic safaris in the Okavango Delta, Linyanti and Savuti areas. Obviously we have no cold or windy conditions that are similar to where you take your cameras, but we do have tremendous heat, and dust. I have used two Canon 30Ds, two 40Ds and two 50Ds over the last 4 years. I am taking delivery of a pair of 7Ds in four days time, and I am very excited. I look forward to reading the next instalment of your test, and I am even more confident in the cameras quality than before…thanks
Hi Elizabeth
The tripods survived..
Hi Grant
The dust is another important issue, and this became much better when the Mark III cameras came with anti-static dust removal system. I´ve used 1D Mark III in Masai Mara with rapid lens shifts with good results..
NB: Okavango is one of the places I really want to go within 2-3 years (maybe also with a photo group). Maybe I see you there some time…
Superb blog post! Thank you so much for taking the time to share real-world 7D performance results. As much as I value the scientific measured testing sites like DP Review and The Digital Picture, nothing beats an anecdotal article written by a working professional such as this one. I love it.
I just adding a 7D to my lineup and have shot my first paid gig with it; it worked flawlessly and I’m delighted in my investment. I can only imagine how pleased you are to see your 7D working in those conditions.
Thank you.
David Peacock.
I greatly appreciated the review. I’ve used an AE1 and powershot G5 Canon until recently and am currently in the throws of buying a digital SLR. Your review has given me a distinct leaning to the 7D over a 50D.
Thanks Heaps.
Hello, Great post, I like it a lot. What do you think of the construction of the Canon EOS 5D MKII compared to the 7D? It is the 7D construction better than 5D MKII? or they are almost the same?
Thank you, and congratulation for the blog, it is great
Marcelo.
Hi
It’s not a well-known fact, but according to Canon, the 5D Mk II is weatherproofed to the same standard as the 35mm film EOS-1v. I accidentally got a 5D Mk II drenched in a heavy and prolonged downpoor and even in use it simply shrugged it all off.
Kevin
I shot a rainy outdoor concert with my 7D with battery grip and it handled as well wet as it was dry. Very impressed.
I know a guy who had fallen into the sea with his 5d mark II plus an 50 mm f1.2L, the lens needed a motor change and now they work again but the 5d mark II totally died. So seawater + 5d mark II = dead 5d mark II
Hi All,
I was looking forward to buy the 70-200mm f4 IS lenses but i was also considering the f2.8 IS version. I generally shot wild life, birds and football, So pl some 1 help me to decide the lenses. as far as i reviewed the f4 is sharp lenses then the f2.8 so pl also consider this.
thanks for your help support
I just came back from a trip to Alaska. My conditions was not as extreme, but the 7D performed great. On some days the power switch was frozen and had to blow some hot air over it before switching it off. What was most impressive to me was the battery life. The camera (with grip and two batteries) was on for 7 hours and shot up to 1,400 images per day. The battery never dropped below 50% on any day. This included some video. The image quality is also great and was able to print 20×30″ posters with no problem. If only I could swap my 50D for another 7D. Great camera and very tough.
Hi Marcelo
I think the 5D Mark II and 7D are almost the same regarding weather sealing, maybe the 7D slightly better. But, I can´t prove it. My 5D Mark II and 7D cameras has always work 100% on assignments and expeditions..
Who doesn’t like the taste of carbon fiber? lol
Now I wonder if I have a bad copy of the 5D MKII. I took it with me to Hawaii in summer, and at one time, it rained fairly heavily (enough to cause small puddles on the ground) for about 10 minutes. I had the 24-105 f4L and no battery grip on at the time and while it seemed to work fine during the storm, later that night when I returned to my hotel, I noticed the battery light was flashing rapidly (like the HDD access light on a computer) even though the camera was off. I pulled the battery out and used a hair dryer on it for about 10 minutes. Then the next morning, I noticed the viewfinder and the LCD screen fogged up, although the camera and lens still seemed to function normally during the entire time.
You concentrate the most on the precipitation issue. However, you do not mention temperature ranges and any related issues. Last time I ventured into Alaska temperature was bigger issue for me, one camera mechanisms freezing to inoperative and one body literally cracking at -40F (temperature range was -20F to -40F). Any Canon issues with temperature alone (ignoring the precipitation)?
I used a Nikon D3 an 70-200/2.8VR in a blasting snow/freezing rain storm last year and it worked superbly. I’d give out long before it would. Its good to see the 7D I picked up for video work is extremely rugged as well (Antarctica is more extreme then mine will ever see, so I’ve no worries about my camera! lol)
I had a not so positive experience with my 5D2. About a month ago, I slipped on a footpath and fell into a shallow stream with my 5D2 bottom immersed in about half an inch of stream water. After the body dried, many of the functions would not work and eventually a couple of circuit boards has to be replaced. However, the 16-35 II preformed much better. In the space between the UV filter and the front element, there was a small pool of water after the fall. After I drained the water and cleaned and dryed it out. It continued to perform faultlessly (also after checking by Canon service).
Cool post. 7D is a good camera for the price. It is simple to use and takes clear, crisp pictures. Also, the battery life is good. And the price makes it affordable to take good pictures.
Hmmm, my expirience with 5DMkII is totaly different. I found water in battery compartment (battery grip not used) and also under CF compartment door, after approx 2 ours shooting in light rain.
I like to know how long does the Lp-E6 batteries last in the cold before they freezes from the time one take it out of body temp.
I too was on south Georgia on 11th Nov with my 7d! I was on Fortuna bay, I can also vouch for the weather resistance of this camera. I was using a 40d which didn’t like the rain and took a holiday for 36 hours, I too get down low and a week later I found my 7d sitting half submerged in a pool of water which had formed around my knee. The water did drip out of it afterwards, it needed 12 hours to dry and then it worked fine again.
Very interesting review; seems like I don’t have to worry about using my 7D outdoor anymore! But I’ve got a different question: I love the picture with the seal biting the tripod–is it possible to get a copy at 20 x 30 cm somehow/somewhere?
how do I shoot in the rain without getting water droplets on the front element of my lens?
very interesting! I don’t have 7D, but I’m curious of the tests like this… I usually worry about durability of my gear, and this gives me a nice overview of what I should buy and stop worrying about rough shooting conditions.
Right now with 50D, 30D, + 17-40 and 70-200 I can only afford a minor rain… anything bigger and the camera goes in hangover like u said
now only thing left is to get 2K from my bank account and go to the shop.
Thanks for the great review.
Bonjour, j’ai un piètre anglais, mais je tiens à vous préciser que l’image que vous avez utilisé pour votre article m’a beaucoup plu ainsi qu’à un ami qui me l’a recommandé.
Aussi l’ai-je fait apparaître sur mon blog, avec un lien qui mène à votre site.
En espérant que vous accepterez sa publication sur mon blog (http://graphikmag.free.fr/wordpress/?p=157), sinon je peux la retirer à tout moment, il suffit de me le signifier. Avec tous mes remerciements.
“Congratulations”
Iam an amateur photographer and I learned a lot! I always treated my 30D with lots of care and never ventured into the rain/snow without an umbrella on the camera. Your article is very revealing and perhaps and it’s making me think I need to change the way I treat my equipment.
However, I’ve read that the picture quality of the 7D leaves a lot to be desired against the 40D & 50D. What is your findings?
What is the make of the tripod?
It appears to have got a worse treatment than your cameras!
Laszlo
Hi “Graphikmag”
I have no problem with your blog…
Hi Manuel
Don´t treat your equipment “bad” or expose it for rain just for fun. A cleaned and dry camera is always better to use than a muddy wet.. But, sometimes my equipment have to be wet and dirty.
I´m writing the review about 7D image quality now so I will publish it soon…
Hi kc
Your best option is to use a lens shade, and try to photograph horizontally..
You’ve got balls of steel!
Hi Jan
Where you at Ocean Nova to South Georgia / Antarctica??
Good to hear that your 40D came “back for the death” after 36 hours.
Hi CS Chua
I have used the 5D Mark II in -30 degree C without problems and no need for daily charging. The LP-E6 batteries has impressed me a lot!!
Hi Matthew
I think a 1D/DS Mark III or IV camera should have survived your accident. I´ve had similar accidents a few times with 1D/DS Mark II / III with no problems. So far I have not dropped my 5D Mark II or 7D into water..
Hi Dusanmal
Last winter I used the 5D Mark II and 1DS Mark III for one week out in the field (Svalbard) in -20 to -30C. I didn´t have any problems with the cameras at all!
The outer part of my 16-35/2.8L II was iced (fasten) which gave me some problems while zooming. My photo partner on the expedition got frost bit, and we were almost stucked in a snow blizzard. But, otherwise no problems..
Hi Charles
I think the problem in your case is very humid air (since it was fogged up) not the rain. It also seems that you might have a technical problem since the light was flashing.