Should I worry about humidity

When visiting Kauai I purchased some desiccant packs (in plastic) at a
local camera shop. I stored the camera and lenses in sealed ziplock bags
with desiccant in each bag. This had the additional advantage of helping
to protect the gear from sudden downpours that chased us around the
island during our stay.

Yes the humidity is a killer and I didn't want to risk fungus in any of
my camera gear. Our beach towels left to 'dry' outside smelled like gym
lockers in about an hour.

(Of course the condensation does have its advantages -- when we had
drinks on the lanai the cold drinks quickly formed puddles of
condensation. Soon we were beset upon by thirsty geckos that actually
climbed onto the sides of the glasses and lapped up the water. At first
we thought they were some sub-species of alcoholic geckos that were
stalking our mai tais, but it was only the water they were interested in.)

The desiccant packs I purchased are the type that turn pink when the
desiccant is saturated, and you can recycle them in a microwave oven
(carefully). When recycled the desiccant turns blue.

Pretty cool if you ask me! I think I will store my gear this way all the
time. (and dont forget to check the desiccant periodically. Gear stored
in a ziplock bag with a saturated desiccant package would probably be
destroyed faster than gear left in free air).

Steve



Matt Silberstein wrote:
"Hornbill" wrote in message ...

Get yourself a cheap workable Tupperware box. Throw in some Silica Gel
crystals. Store your digicam inside the box when not in use. That will kepp
the fungus out of your lens.


Thanks. I had not even thought of fungus. (I admit I try very hard to
avoid thinking about fungus.)


"Matt Silberstein" wrote in message
.com...

I know enough to keep my camera (Sony 707) out of the rain, but I have
started to wonder about humidity. It gets pretty damp here in NYC in
the summer, should I avoid taking it out when it is high humidty? I am
concerned about the camera, not on how humidity might affect photos? I
figure there I won't have sharp temp changes, so I won't get
condensation, but the moisture might affect the electronics anyway. Am
I getting paranoid?

When visiting Kauai I purchased some desiccant packs (in plastic) at a
local camera shop. I stored the camera and lenses in sealed ziplock bags
with desiccant in each bag. This had the additional advantage of helping
to protect the gear from sudden downpours that chased us around the
island during our stay.

Yes the humidity is a killer and I didn't want to risk fungus in any of
my camera gear. Our beach towels left to 'dry' outside smelled like gym
lockers in about an hour.

(Of course the condensation does have its advantages -- when we had
drinks on the lanai the cold drinks quickly formed puddles of
condensation. Soon we were beset upon by thirsty geckos that actually
climbed onto the sides of the glasses and lapped up the water. At first
we thought they were some sub-species of alcoholic geckos that were
stalking our mai tais, but it was only the water they were interested in.)

The desiccant packs I purchased are the type that turn pink when the
desiccant is saturated, and you can recycle them in a microwave oven
(carefully). When recycled the desiccant turns blue.

Pretty cool if you ask me! I think I will store my gear this way all the
time. (and dont forget to check the desiccant periodically. Gear stored
in a ziplock bag with a saturated desiccant package would probably be
destroyed faster than gear left in free air).

Steve



Matt Silberstein wrote:
"Hornbill" wrote in message ...

Get yourself a cheap workable Tupperware box. Throw in some Silica Gel
crystals. Store your digicam inside the box when not in use. That will kepp
the fungus out of your lens.


Thanks. I had not even thought of fungus. (I admit I try very hard to
avoid thinking about fungus.)


"Matt Silberstein" wrote in message
.com...

I know enough to keep my camera (Sony 707) out of the rain, but I have
started to wonder about humidity. It gets pretty damp here in NYC in
the summer, should I avoid taking it out when it is high humidty? I am
concerned about the camera, not on how humidity might affect photos? I
figure there I won't have sharp temp changes, so I won't get
condensation, but the moisture might affect the electronics anyway. Am
I getting paranoid?

I know enough to keep my camera (Sony 707) out of the rain, but I have
started to wonder about humidity. It gets pretty damp here in NYC in
the summer, should I avoid taking it out when it is high humidty? I am
concerned about the camera, not on how humidity might affect photos? I
figure there I won't have sharp temp changes, so I won't get
condensation, but the moisture might affect the electronics anyway. Am
I getting paranoid?

I once had a camera in my backpack while hiking. From the night before,
everything in the backpack was cool. The outside temp and humidity was
climbing very high, very fast. When I pulled the camera out and
extended the zoom lens, it sucked in the hot humid air and the lens'
inside got all fogged up. I ended up letting it sit in the sun, then
moving the zoom in and out and it dried up again. It didn't seem to do
any permanent damage.

--
Tony

I know enough to keep my camera (Sony 707) out of the rain, but I have
started to wonder about humidity.

Matt-

A couple of days ago I carried my camera from an air conditioned office to the
parking lot, where it had rained earlier. I noticed a small alligator beneath
one of the cars, so I grabbed the camera and started shooting.

By the third shot, the picture looked like it had been taken in dense fog. You
could barely make out the car, let alone the little alligator!

Fred

(Fred McKenzie) wrote in message ...
I know enough to keep my camera (Sony 707) out of the rain, but I have
started to wonder about humidity.

Matt-

A couple of days ago I carried my camera from an air conditioned office to the
parking lot, where it had rained earlier. I noticed a small alligator beneath
one of the cars, so I grabbed the camera and started shooting.

By the third shot, the picture looked like it had been taken in dense fog. You
could barely make out the car, let alone the little alligator!

You know, somehow my failure to get a clear picture would not have
been the first thing on my mind at that point. I would probably be
hoping the sound recorder worked so I could say good-by to my wife.
;-)

BTW, I doubt there is actually such a thing as a live small alligator
unless there is a wall between me and the alligator.

(Fred McKenzie) wrote in message ...
I know enough to keep my camera (Sony 707) out of the rain, but I have
started to wonder about humidity.

Matt-

A couple of days ago I carried my camera from an air conditioned office to the
parking lot, where it had rained earlier. I noticed a small alligator beneath
one of the cars, so I grabbed the camera and started shooting.

By the third shot, the picture looked like it had been taken in dense fog. You
could barely make out the car, let alone the little alligator!

You know, somehow my failure to get a clear picture would not have
been the first thing on my mind at that point. I would probably be
hoping the sound recorder worked so I could say good-by to my wife.
;-)

BTW, I doubt there is actually such a thing as a live small alligator
unless there is a wall between me and the alligator.