Weather sealed 1D4?

[Mick]

My 1D4 is/was in mint condition. I bought it used with a tiny number of shutter actuations. I took it out and it started to rain. No problem thinks me, its weather sealed, a little rain wont do it any harm. Well, it stopped working. Dead. Sent it to Canon repair center, just been returned, "uneconomic to repair". So a pro body, weather sealed against rain etc goes out in one rain storm and dies. Thats £3000 down the drain. I've spent many 10's of thousands on Canon gear and im furious. The 1DS in the same storm works a treat. Any advice on what should be done next other than cancelling my 500f4 and moving to Nikon?
Mick

 

[Viggo]

My 1D4 is/was in mint condition. I bought it used with a tiny number of shutter actuations. I took it out and it started to rain. No problem thinks me, its weather sealed, a little rain wont do it any harm. Well, it stopped working. Dead. Sent it to Canon repair center, just been returned, "uneconomic to repair". So a pro body, weather sealed against rain etc goes out in one rain storm and dies. Thats £3000 down the drain. I've spent many 10's of thousands on Canon gear and im furious. The 1DS in the same storm works a treat. Any advice on what should be done next other than cancelling my 500f4 and moving to Nikon?
Mick

Which lens was mounted?

 

[Mick]

A brand new 70-200 f2.8 MK2

Mick

 

[Loswr]

My 1D4 is/was in mint condition. I bought it used with a tiny number of shutter actuations....

Sorry to hear that!

I wonder why it was sold? Perhaps an issue the seller knew about but didn't disclose? Some hidden damage that compromised the sealing, or it stopped working previously in the rain, but 'seemed fine' once it dried out...

 

[Viggo]

Man, that sucks!

No insurance on this?

Did you get any specific cause by Canon? A broken seal maybe?

FWIW I once every 6 months (or more often if I use it alot in the rain) go over all seals, wipe them clean and use silicone grease to keep them soft.

 

[bdunbar79]

My 1D4 is/was in mint condition. I bought it used with a tiny number of shutter actuations. I took it out and it started to rain. No problem thinks me, its weather sealed, a little rain wont do it any harm. Well, it stopped working. Dead. Sent it to Canon repair center, just been returned, "uneconomic to repair". So a pro body, weather sealed against rain etc goes out in one rain storm and dies. Thats £3000 down the drain. I've spent many 10's of thousands on Canon gear and im furious. The 1DS in the same storm works a treat. Any advice on what should be done next other than cancelling my 500f4 and moving to Nikon?
Mick

Well Mick I'm sorry to hear that too. That's tough. I'm faced with the same situations this year as I have a full college sports schedule slated ahead of me. In Ohio it is unreasonable to think that I'll never be out shooting in the rain. I'll be using a 1DX and a 1D4. This is definitely a concern.

I'd sit back, have a few beers, recoup and then make a new plan. I don't think this is normal and I wouldn't necessarily switch to Nikon. I know they are expensive, but it might be worth it to save up again and get another one, and have the 500 f/4L. I think that was anomaly because I knew of a lot of shooters who shot out in the rain. I plan on wrapping mine up as much as I can but I really worry about the 1DX. But what can you do? In the past I had the option of staying home if it were raining, but not this year.

 

[Mick]

I used it for 4 months and it worked perfectly, i knew the guy i bought it from, he never abused his cameras. My beef is its supposed to be weather sealed. I have insurance im checking it now.

Mick

 

[Mick]

Insurance covers it for loss, damage but not wear and tear. This isnt wear and tear.
Mick

 

[bdunbar79]

Mick,

If you can get it covered, I'd just try to get another one.

 

[Viggo]

Mick,

If you can get it covered, I'd just try to get another one.

Yeah, it must have been something with it.

When I spoke to pro's about the 1d4 when I had just bought it, their jaws dropped when I said I frequently was out shooting lightning or something other in the rain (bad weather is great photo weather) and usually had to pour rain out of the VF to see anything. I thought it was suppose to take that without any concern so I used it when I needed or rather, wanted, but it shouldn't die just from a drizzle and mine was drenched more than once without issues.

 

[Mick]

Dont suppose anyone wants to buy a mint 1D4. One carefull owner. Would i lie to you? At least old faithfull my 1DS3 which has so far survived:

A drop of three feet onto concrete.
A drop of five feet onto concrete.
A fall of a tripod onto rocks
Another fall from a tripod onto rocks.
The desert of southern Utah where it was regularily covered in sand.
A multitude of rain storms.

In essance the 1DS3 is what i call "me old brick" its a legend of a camera and im sure if i loose my hammer i could knock nails in the wall with it. My 7D is very tough aswel. Its just when i started to use the camera 4 months ago, unless you own one you just dont realise how good they are. The IQ and autofocus is amazing. But perhaps there is a god, and life has a reason. I may be due a small inheritance soon and was wondering what to spend the money on.

Now please be honest my 1D4 and 1DX friends....im feeling fragile... i feel a heavy alcohol session coming on......is the 1DX worth buying or will i miss the crop of the 1D4? Honest opinions only to your Canon owning friend. Sob!!!

Mick

 

[Loswr]

Cancel your 500/4 order and get the 600/4 II instead, and I bet you won't miss the crop factor...

 

[Mick]

Now theres a man with sense! A 600? Great idea but i just wanted to know, is the X that much better? My 7D is like a slug and its IQ poor conpared to the 4. If you've owned a 4 and an x, can you tell the differance IQ and autofocus wise, cos my 4 while it lived its short life was amazing.

Mick oh look, my wifes brought me a beer. Doesnt things look better after a beer. Or two, or three,....

 

[bdunbar79]

Now theres a man with sense! A 600? Great idea but i just wanted to know, is the X that much better? My 7D is like a slug and its IQ poor conpared to the 4. If you've owned a 4 and an x, can you tell the differance IQ and autofocus wise, cos my 4 while it lived its short life was amazing.

Mick oh look, my wifes brought me a beer. Doesnt things look better after a beer. Or two, or three,....

Well yes, I have both and the X is better. It's faster and the IQ is better. But, you lose the reach, hence why I keep both.

 

[TexPhoto]

Insurance is a good thing.

Were the shots worth it? I love my weather sealed cameras, but put them away in the rain unless the subject matter warrants the risk.

 

[Loswr]

Well yes, I have both and the X is better. It's faster and the IQ is better. But, you lose the reach, hence why I keep both.

Indeed. After shooting with the 1D X, the 7D is somehow not as satisfying. I'm having a difficult time resisting the 1DIV on the Canon USA refurb store...

 

[Mick]

Hows about this, buy a 1DX and rent when i need a big lens? Thing is, buying any big white is an investment. They just dont loose their value. Cameras yes, lens no. Maybe this is expanding a bit but theres an "x" factor about a pro body shot. I really dont know why but ive had a 5D a 7D and others with the same pixels but for a reason i dont know, when i look at my pro body shots they always have a wow factor. Know what i mean, as if theres something ealse other than spec sheets going on. A combination of multiple small factors that raises the bar. You know what i mean. Therefore i have a decision, camera or lens.

Mick

 

[CanonCollector]

Well yes, I have both and the X is better. It's faster and the IQ is better. But, you lose the reach, hence why I keep both.

Indeed. After shooting with the 1D X, the 7D is somehow not as satisfying. I'm having a difficult time resisting the 1DIV on the Canon USA refurb store...

Me too but the 4K seems to stop me....every time

 

[bdunbar79]

Well yes, I have both and the X is better. It's faster and the IQ is better. But, you lose the reach, hence why I keep both.

Indeed. After shooting with the 1D X, the 7D is somehow not as satisfying. I'm having a difficult time resisting the 1DIV on the Canon USA refurb store...

Well, the 7D does perform well at low ISO's and the reach is very useful, but I think after using the 1D4 instead of the 7D you won't feel guilty anymore.

 

[expatinasia]

Sorry to hear about your pain Mick.

Curious but did your new lens survive?

One of the Aquatech rain covers may be a good future purchase. No matter how much a camera is supposed to be weather sealed everybit counts.