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You are in... Forums > Gear Talk > Lenses > How to protect the camera (lens) in high humidity?

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raly_sim

Joined:

Jul 08

Posts: 3

raly_sim says:

How to protect the camera (lens) in high humidity?

Hi all, I am currently in Dubai and the main problem I’ve got now, is when passing from an air-conditioned room to outside (around 40’C and 85-90% humidity) and watching moisture condense on the lens as soon as I remove the cap.

Any advise on how to avoid the problem or prevent any damages would be much appreciated.
 

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  • Posted 2 years ago (11 July 2008 08:42)
carlskinner

Joined:

Nov 06

Posts: 762

carlskinner says:

Re: How to protect the camera (lens) in high humidity?

I always leave mine in my bag in the safe which is normally in a cupboard, never had a problem with condensation.

Canon 1d MK III, canon 100-400mm, Canon 50mm 1.8, Canon 85mm 1.8, Canon 17-40mm F4, Canon Speedlite 580EX II

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  • Posted 2 years ago (11 July 2008 20:34)
Julia_E

Joined:

Feb 08

Posts: 2378

Julia_E says:

Re: How to protect the camera (lens) in high humidity?

You could try putting your camera and lens into a plastic bag. The idea is that when you go outside, the condensation forms on the bag, not on the contents. You would then have to wait until the temperature equalises before you take the camera out. I remember this happening to me when I was on holiday and staying in an air conditioned room.

Julia

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  • Posted 2 years ago (11 July 2008 21:14)
gorillapod

Joined:

Dec 07

Posts: 28

gorillapod says:

Re: How to protect the camera (lens) in high humidity?

In air conditioning i keep mine in a soft cool box, the kind that can take a few cans. This acts as a warm box if you see what i mean.

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  • Posted 2 years ago (12 July 2008 07:58)
howards

Joined:

Jun 08

Posts: 259

howards says:

Re: How to protect the camera (lens) in high humidity?

Sounds like our summer but a bit hotter. Julia E has it right with the plastic bag so the condensation is not on the camera. For best results get as much air out of the bag as possible.

 

Other things I do. If I'm going out from the appartment I move the bag into the kitchen (no A/C) some time before I go out to reduce the temperature difference and speed up the time needed before the camera is usable. If that's not an option don't have the room a/c too cold. If going into a restaurant and you don't need to use the camera will there, keep it in the camera bag and resist the temptation to review your shots. The camera will keep relatively warm in the bag.

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  • Posted 2 years ago (12 July 2008 09:35)
Dave Parry

Joined:

Feb 08

Posts: 1508

Dave Parry says:

Re: How to protect the camera (lens) in high humidity?

Though I agree with Julia in principal and have tried this in practice, I live in Dubai and it is a more extreme place than most can imagine, especially at this time of year, it is at times both extremely dusty and extremely humid as well as extremely hot, the way in which I solved the problem was to change to L series lenses on a 1D MKiii body, it sounds radical but the seals on this setup keep the contamination out of the equipment and providing the equipment is allowed time to aclimatise when I get out I have had no problems, sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but in this environment at this time of year you need the best equipment, hope this helps.

Kind regards, Dave.

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  • Posted 2 years ago (14 July 2008 21:48)
rossmatthews

Joined:

Dec 07

Posts: 477

rossmatthews says:

Re: How to protect the camera (lens) in high humidity?

it all comes down to aclimatisation time and planning ahead - dont think theres a quick way around it to be honest.

just plan when and where your gear is stored etc - sorry cant be more help.

"There's nothing that can't be done, possible is easy - impossible just takes a little longer..."

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  • Posted 2 years ago (14 July 2008 21:51)
Anonymous

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Posts:

Anonymous  says:

Re: How to protect the camera (lens) in high humidity?

I live in Dubai to and it's hot. Damn hot! Real hot!

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  • Posted 2 years ago (17 July 2008 19:59)
jackwow

Joined:

Jun 06

Posts: 78

jackwow says:

Re: How to protect the camera (lens) in high humidity?

I'm not Anonymous, I'm Jackwow! How did that happen?

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  • Posted 2 years ago (19 July 2008 11:49)
IANBAHRAIN

Joined:

Apr 08

Posts: 958

IANBAHRAIN says:

Re: How to protect the camera (lens) in high humidity?

Hi, seems there are a few of us in the Middle East, I'm in Bahrain, today was 48c with 85% humidity, still it will be great by October?! All of the answers are on the mark really, it is a problem, I use the camera in a bag thing and let it gradually warm up before removing it; another trick is if you are getting to your intended shoot in a car, go early and leave your gear in the car for a short while, with no A/C it soon warms up, but as you probably know the car interior gets seriously hot very quickly so don't leave it for too long!! Even after taking some or all of these measures there have still beeen times when I've found it impossible to take photographs, with the lens continually fogging over and I've just packed up and gone home; although this time of year is a right pain I think we all agree that for the other eight months of the year it's worth the agony.

Good luck,

Ian.

Ian Scott. "We are all lying in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars" Oscar Wilde.

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  • Posted 2 years ago (23 July 2008 15:05)
jackwow

Joined:

Jun 06

Posts: 78

jackwow says:

Re: How to protect the camera (lens) in high humidity?

The Dubai heat / humidity doesn't affect my photography, as I never seem to find time to do any!!! Shame coz there's plenty to photograph here, especially if you like architectural photography.

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  • Posted 2 years ago (23 July 2008 20:36)

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