14 DAY TRIAL // An increasing number of photo gear makers are releasing camera products which are said to be weather-sealed. But how much of this claim is a marketing gimmick and how much of it is true?
Well, the story we’re going to share with you in what follows shows us that weather sealing might not be something your camera necessary needs to survive.
The story begins with Claire, who bought a Fujifilm X20 camera. But she didn't get to enjoy it for long enough because the device got lost. She believed that the camera was gone forever and accepted the situation, after searching for it extensively for days on end, as she says on her blog.
The Fujifilm X20 is a tough soldier
However, a few months later, while taking a casual hike, Claire was surprise to find the camera lying on the trail, just waiting for her to come and pick it up.
The camera had been lost for a total of three months, so naturally it wasn't in the best condition. Obviously, wild animals had been playing with it, since the area in which the device got lost is populated with bears, mountain lions and whatnot.
However, the UV filter on the lens prevented it from getting scratched by the claws of curious wildlife. Claire brought the lost camera home and recharged the battery, while having almost null expectations that the camera could still work.
But believe it or not, the little fellow decided to prove her wrong – it still worked. Interestingly enough, the Fujifilm x20 is not even marketed as being a weather-sealed camera. The shooter was replaced this year by the new model, the X30.
Sure, it’s a well-known fact that Fuji camera are well built, but it’s still pretty surprising to learn that the camera survived three months of being out on its own in the forest.
X20 spec roundup
Currently, if you want to pick up the X20, you don’t have all that many options, since the X30 has just been rolled out. Interested parties can pick it up from Amazon, but there are used models.
The X20 takes advantage of 12MP 2 / 3-inch CMOS sensor and offers 28-112mm equivalent F2.0-2.8 lens with manual zoom (4x optical zoom).
The shooter has a 2.8 LCD with 460,000 dots on the back and can shoot at 1080p and record HD video at 60fps.
The indestructible Fuji camera has an optical viewfinder with 85% coverage with shooting information and eye sensor.
This story sure makes you think twice before spending extra money on a weather-sealed device, doesn't it?