Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

It is nice that many lenses are "Weather sealed" today.
But is this an obsession way beyond the actual value. I note that many here are terrified of even changing lenses and proudly proclaim having a body for each lens. Additionally how many here actually use their equipment in rain, heavy blowing dust or other severe conditions? I dare say a very small few, from comments here again.
Were not most all if not all manual focus lenses not sealed. Yet they were successfully used by people in some of the most hostile environments for decades.
Again, for most everyone today is Weather sealing really needed and just something more to worry about and more marketing hype than reality?
PS I have taken equipment from steaming jungles to the Arctic and dusty deserts with no ill affects. Also Additionally even used instamatics where discretion was needed with no problems.
So what are the opinions, I know you all have them.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

All "weather sealed" means to me is I wouldn't have to be as careful or worry about light rain.
None of my lenses are weather sealed.
How many "bodies" are weather sealed?

alberio Loc: Casa Grande AZ

My body is, I never get wet on the inside in a dust storm.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

There are occasional rain falls.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

From observation of cameras that I own and use, along with their documentation, "weather sealed" means something very different from "hermetically sealed."

Hermetically sealed means that the atmosphere inside is physically and absolutely separate from the atmosphere outside. It may even be of different composition, like dry nitrogen instead of the normal atmospheric mix. Some binocular models are advertised as being nitrogen-filled, implying that they are also hermetically sealed.

Weather sealed seems to imply that a device or system is designed and built to prevent or delay direct entry of liquids. It employs o-rings around switches and buttons, and those switches and buttons are designed and built to block liquids from entering. Rubber caps or other protection are provided for connectors that are not being used, and there may be extra protection, like a rubber ring, around the lens mount. Battery doors may be sealed, but more likely the battery compartment is isolated from the camera interior.

Lenses claimed to be weather sealed may be designed with similar treatments. Some of my lenses have rubber shields surrounding the lens mount. I remember reading about some lenses, however, that required installation of a front filter in order to be weather sealed.

I have several cameras that are designated as weather sealed. None are hermetically sealed. They each can be discovered to have a small port in the area of the eyepiece to allow the interior of the camera to "breathe" to equalize pressure as a lens is zoomed or focused.

While weather sealing would be expected to slow the entry of water if a camera is immersed or submerged, it will not provide prolonged protection against submersion. Cameras which provide that sort of protection must have additional or different protections. Someone else will need to comment on those.

As far as changing lenses, I can see all sorts of reasons for minimizing doing so in the field, mostly related to dust and dirt on rear lens elements and on sensors and mirrors and in internal mechanisms. For me, it's mostly the inconvenience and time required and risk of dropping a lens or camera or protective cap.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

I began photography during the days of film. My first camera was purchased in 1970 while in the military (US Navy) and attached to a Marine Unit (corpsman). We ere on a cruise to the Mediterranean Sea. I accompanid the Marine Unit asjhore for several military drills and practices in all sorts of weather. On our return trip to the states, we encountered a very rough storm with heavy seas that inflicted some minor damage to the ship on which I was traveling. My camera (a Petri FT) accompanied me throughout all those conditions and suffered no damage or problems.

Is weather sealing necessary? Quite possible, no. However, it does give a modicum of protection for thse wh do not care for their equipment as carefully as they should.

I have always cared for my equipment in a way to protect it from harmful incidents, whether that be water, dust, falls/drops, or excessive heat or cold. Simple logic and careful maintenance of equipment will help it last, and perform, as it should for a long time.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

I often us both my Z9 and OM-1 in non-optimum conditions and have great confidence in the weathersealing in the bodies and weathersealed lenses for them. I wouldn’t buy a modern camera body that’s not weathersealed. Lens would depend on the purpose. My wildlife lenses are all weathersealed.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

MJPerini

A Few things, in the film days cameras were more mechanical than electronic for most of our lives and when film cameras got more electronics we began seeing some weather sealing.
Digital cameras are computers with lenses, so for professional level cameras there is more of a need to keep water and possibly conductive dust out of the camera. Most people do not use their cameras in really harsh weather. If you don't , weather sealing is not important for you. But for those who need it, they really need it.
Weather sealing is not a badge of honor, not a photographic feature. I do a lot of shooting near the ocean, I get salt spray, wind driven sand, and often rain & high Winds. My cameras have been soaked with rain & salt water spray. I have been shooting a Canon 1 series 1DsIII and a 5D IV and weather sealed lenses with a protective filter because Canon says to complete weather sealing on a Weather seals lens it must have a filter. So I do that.
Lots of people rely on it because it does work. But certainly not everyone needs it. If you don't think you need it, you probably don't.
But you can't really project that because you don't think you need it, that no one else needs it either

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

Sorry, I use all my equipment come rain or shine. If it rains all day, like in Mynokos, my camera was shooting everywhere while all the others were under the cover of roofs and awnings. How many pictures did the others miss by not being able to shoot in the rain? It was the only time we were there. And how many pictures did they miss in Germany, Ireland, England, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, and other tours because of dust, salt spray, snow, and rain? And how many shots would I have missed here in the states if I had to worry about weather? I do not use an instamatic because discretion is not needed. I use no other gear, other than the equipment itself, to protect from weather elements. For me it is not marketing hype - it is reality.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

The instamatic was a disc camera I could conceal under my boonie hat. Real hard to put an slr there.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

I do not have many cameras that are weather sealed. I do not have many lenses that are weather sealed. Regardless of weather sealing I protect my gear when it rains or I am in a dusty environment, the latter not common here in South Florida.
I agree 100% with you, in the past lenses were not weather sealed and we handled. If weather sealing means extra money I usually do not buy it for the reasons that you have already stated.

chrisg-optical Loc: New York, NY

The only type of truly weather sealed lenses really are the internal focusing/zooming lenses where the barrel of the lens doesn't change length for zooming/focusing. So let's say you have a "pumping" type zoom and the barrel gets wet...now when you zoom out the lens barrel draws in all the moisture and dirt into the lens and maybe the camera body. Take "weather sealed" with a grain of salt...supplemental protection should be used....as well as silica gel packs in all your bags.