18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G Weather Sealing

hark

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I bought the Nikon 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G lens knowing people said it isn't weather sealed, yet it has the rubber gasket on the rear end, and some online sites state it is weather sealed. So my question is what constitutes a weather sealed lens? Are there also internal areas that need weather sealing?

Nikon Rumors states it is weather sealed. Nikon announcement on January 29th; additional Nikkor 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G ED specs | Nikon Rumors

The lens is weather sealed

And Nikon Europe also indicates the mount is weather sealed although Nikon US doesn't give any info on weather sealing. Mine is a US lens.
AF-S Nikkor 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G ED | Nikon Wide Angle lens

High-quality construction: featuring metal mount with rubber weather sealing.

There are other sites that state the lens isn't weather sealed. So what constitutes a weather sealed lens? How might the weather sealing differ from the 16-35mm f/4 or the 14-24mm f/2.8? Thanks for any info! ;)
 

Bill16

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I don't think my tablet scrolled right, and I missed this info! Lol :)

Interesting article, Fish. I wondered about lenses that move while zooming, and the article stated some manufacturers include weather sealing there, too. So it does answer my general question. So I assume the Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 and the Nikon 16-35mm f/4 both have additional weather sealing that the Nikon 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G lacks?
 

hark

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I don't think my tablet scrolled right, and I missed this info! Lol :)

The article says Nikon declined to comment on their weather sealing.

Pentax is quoted as:
Our Dust and Splash Proof designed lenses incorporate numerous seals at all points where water or dust intrusion could occur, such as at the zoom and focus rings and lens barrel,” says Richard S. Pelkowski, Manager of Technical Product at Olympus Imaging America.

In reference to Canon lenses, it quotes:
A rubber ring gasket on the lens mount blocks the gap between the lens and the camera
– The moving parts of the manual focus, zoom, and playback rings (where applicable) are shaped to be dust-proof and drip-proof. Zoom lenses with extending barrels such as Canon’s EF24-70mm f/2.8L USM, EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM, etc., feature dust-proof and drip-proof protection around the zooming extension.
 

hark

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not to be confused with the 18-55 kit lens that comes on a lot of the DX cameras

I had to look up the lens to realize that fact.

AF-S NIKKOR 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G ED | NIKKOR D-SLR interchangeable lens from Nikon

vs

AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II from Nikon

BIG difference in price too

Lol! Yes, they are very different lenses. I did look on the Nikon USA site but couldn't find anything mentioning weather sealing on the 18-35mm G lens...not even a hint of a gasket. :nonchalance: Since I own this lens, I know it has one.
 

salukfan111

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The 18-35mm g lens is around $600.00 and the 16-35mm is about $1000.00!:)
The 20-35 is a really famous lens and can be had in cherry condition for 500 bucks. The VR on the 18-35 is hard to beat for shooting with it dark outside. If I didn't already have a Tamron 15-30 and a 20-35, I'd be looking for a 18-35 myself. It would be really hard to believe that sales of the 14-24 and 16-35 haven't tanked now that the tamron is available.
 

hark

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The 20-35 is a really famous lens and can be had in cherry condition for 500 bucks. The VR on the 18-35 is hard to beat for shooting with it dark outside. If I didn't already have a Tamron 15-30 and a 20-35, I'd be looking for a 18-35 myself. It would be really hard to believe that sales of the 14-24 and 16-35 haven't tanked now that the tamron is available.

The 18-35mm f/3.5-4.G doesn't have VR. That might be the reason why Nikon's other 2 wide angle zooms are still doing well.
 

salukfan111

Senior Member
The 18-35mm f/3.5-4.G doesn't have VR. That might be the reason why Nikon's other 2 wide angle zooms are still doing well.
That answers that mystery of continued good sales of those lens (Nikon must have smart marketing folks). That was the only reason I ever wanted one of these so I will take off the wish list. It probably isn't in the same league as the 20-35 anyway.
 

Rick M

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Unfortunately there is no standard for weather sealing, it can mean as little as the rubber gasket at the mount. Most newer pro glass is weather sealed more completely, but weather damaged is never covered under warranty. I think it's safe to say most kit lenses have little sealing, consumer grade usually at least the rubber gasket and Pro as much as they claim, without telling you much. Even though my body and lenses are fully weather sealed, I use them as if they are not.
 

hark

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Unfortunately there is no standard for weather sealing, it can mean as little as the rubber gasket at the mount. Most newer pro glass is weather sealed more completely, but weather damaged is never covered under warranty. I think it's safe to say most kit lenses have little sealing, consumer grade usually at least the rubber gasket and Pro as much as they claim, without telling you much. Even though my body and lenses are fully weather sealed, I use them as if they are not.

I remember reading somewhere about two guys who went out shooting, and when they got home, left their cameras in the basement. The one guy's gear was weather sealed so the damp basement didn't affect it, but the other guy had condensation inside his gear from the lens lacking weather sealing.
 
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