Canon’s Clever New Seal for External Zoom Lenses (and Why It Actually Matters)

[Canon Rumors]

External zoom lenses are brilliant for travel. Lightweight, compact, and generally more affordable. But take them anywhere dusty, wet, or windy, and they start acting like little vacuums, sucking in every bit of moisture and muck. And that, my friends, is where the problems begin.

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[AJ]

I don't understand. With external zooms there is a change in volume. To accommodate a change of volume you either (1) pump air in and out, with the risk of sucking in debris; or (2) you create a vacuum/pressured space inside the lens.

 

[Mark McG]

Could have done with this on my RF 24-70 F2.8 L IS in Tokyo 2 weekends ago when a ton of moisture got into the lens in heavy rain showers.
Was able to get most of it out using a hairdryer, however there remained dried water droplets on the internal elements of the lens. Took it to my local Canon approved repair centre in the UK last week and when they opened it there was still water in the lens.

Would be great if this was available as a retrofit part for existing lenses.

 

[AlanF]

Could have done with this on my RF 24-70 F2.8 L IS in Tokyo 2 weekends ago when a ton of moisture got into the lens in heavy rain showers.
Was able to get most of it out using a hairdryer, however there remained dried water droplets on the internal elements of the lens. Took it to my local Canon approved repair centre in the UK last week and when they opened it there was still water in the lens.

Would be great if this was available as a retrofit part for existing lenses.

1. Whether or not it is ever employed in practice remains to be seen, most patents don't get used.
2. The chances of it being a retrofit are 0.000.

 

[EricN]

Could have done with this on my RF 24-70 F2.8 L IS in Tokyo 2 weekends ago when a ton of moisture got into the lens in heavy rain showers.
Was able to get most of it out using a hairdryer, however there remained dried water droplets on the internal elements of the lens. Took it to my local Canon approved repair centre in the UK last week and when they opened it there was still water in the lens.

Would be great if this was available as a retrofit part for existing lenses.

Where do you position the hairdryer?

 

[David - Sydney]

I don't understand. With external zooms there is a change in volume. To accommodate a change of volume you either (1) pump air in and out, with the risk of sucking in debris; or (2) you create a vacuum/pressured space inside the lens.

The vacuum would be quite low with the biggest for rf100-500 (rf200-800?)
May even assist with unintended zoom out when carrying it front element down

 

[Del Paso]

1) According to LensRentals Roger Cicala, "pumping" zooms are usually not more dusty than non-extending ones, based on a large number of lenses owned by his company.
2) Even non-extending lenses have moving lens-groups inside, so generate air displacement, maybe also sucking air in.
3) 15 years of using an EF 100-400 L II, including in rainy (Scotland, Wales) and dusty (deserts, seashore) environments: No need for having it serviced.
4) I must say that I never zoomed in a wet lens, prior to wiping raindrops off the lens-barrel.
5) Sure, if I were a pro user, often in such risky environments, I'd certainly prefer non extending zooms, provided they are really well sealed!
6) Just wanted to stress out that extending zooms are, for most of us, not such a liability as many seem to believe. And compactness is also a huge advantage!

 

[AlanF]

1) According to LensRentals Roger Cicala, "pumping" zooms are usually not more dusty than non-extending ones, based on a large number of lenses owned by his company.
2) Even non-extending lenses have moving lens-groups inside, so generate air displacement, maybe also sucking air in.
3) 15 years of using an EF 100-400 L II, including in rainy (Scotland, Wales) and dusty (deserts, seashore) environments: No need for having it serviced.
4) I must say that I never zoomed in a wet lens, prior to wiping raindrops off the lens-barrel.
5) Sure, if I were a pro user, often in such risky environments, I'd certainly prefer not extending zooms, provided they are really well sealed!
6) Just wanted to stress out that extending zooms are, for most of us, not such a liability as many seem to believe. And compactness is also a huge advantage!

I'm also not into shooting in heavy showers as I don't do raindrops.

 

[kaihp]

Article went 404?

 

[neuroanatomist]

Article went 404?

Seems to be the case. Not just this one, others by Simon / ordinary filmmaker are gone.

 

[P-visie]

Seems to be the case. Not just this one, others by Simon / ordinary filmmaker are gone.

But not all of them, this is the list of remaining articles: https://www.canonrumors.com/author/ordinaryfilmmaker/

 

[Del Paso]

But not all of them, this is the list of remaining articles: https://www.canonrumors.com/author/ordinaryfilmmaker/

Strange...I first thought CR moderator shouldn't have divulged the zoom patent. But it seems this was not the reason, since other contents also disappeared.
Hacker at work?

 

[P-visie]

Strange...I first thought CR moderator shouldn't have divulged the zoom patent. But it seems this was not the reason, since other contents also disappeared.
Hacker at work?

Quality control at work?

 

[Chig]

Seems unnecessary to me, can't see rain getting past O rings as these can keep oil inside hydraulics at 7000 psi although salt and sand can be a problem but I just use a raincover in bad conditions especially when I'm lying in the mud at an estuary and that works even for non weather resistant gear