Canon EOS Weather Sealed Lenses

A number of Canon "L" series lenses are specially weather sealed, using 'O'-rings and gaskets to keep out water and dust. This doesn't mean that they are weather or waterproof and eventually, after enough hard rain, almost any lens will fail, but these lenses will probably go on working after all the others have quit!

A system is only as strong as its weakest link, and so if you intend to shoot under adverse conditions, not only the lens needs to be weather sealed, but the camera has to be as well. The current "1 series" cameras (and some older digital "1 series" cameras) are all weather sealed. In the film camera line the EOS 1v was the first (and only) such camera. The earlier EOS-1 and EOS-1n were seled to some extent, but not as effectively as the EOS-1v. In the digital line all of the "1 series" cameras (1D, 1D MkII, 1D MK IIN, 1Ds and 1Ds Mk II) have the higher level of weather sealing. These cameras all have a gasket at the lens mount to prevent dust and water ingress. Other cameras such as the EOS 1v and EOS-3 are certainly better sealed than the consumer camera bodies, but they lack the gasket at the lens mount.

Here's a list of the Canon lenses with the highest level of weather sealing:

  • Canon Extender EF 1.4x II
  • Canon Extender EF 2x II
  • Canon EF 16-35mm/2.8L USM
  • Canon EF 16-35mm/2.8L II USM
  • Canon EF 17-40mm/4L USM
  • Canon EF 24-70mm/2.8L USM
  • Canon EF 24-105mm/4L IS USM
  • Canon EF 70-200mm/4L IS USM
  • Canon EF 70-200mm/2.8L IS USM
  • Canon EF 28-300mm/3.5-5.6L IS USM
  • Canon EF 50/1.2L USM
  • Canon EF 300mm/2.8L IS USM
  • Canon EF 400mm/2.8L IS USM
  • Canon EF 400mm/4DO IS USM
  • Canon EF 500mm/4L IS USM
  • Canon EF 600mm/4L IS USM
In general, whenever possible, you should shield your camera and lens from rain. You can buy special "rainhoods" for longer lenses and you can always use a plastic bag with suitable holes cut in it. Some photographers keep an elastic showercap in their bag for emergency situations. Any protection is better than none.

Tenba Rain Hoods