kodiac1062 Loc: Sarasota, Fl

Grabbed my camera to take a picture of an Osprey in the back yard. Went outside and the lens fogged up. So much for the shot! I keep the lens in a Think Tank storage travel airline approved carry on. Any suggestions to prevent the fogging? The humidity in Fl is not going away any time soon.

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

I had a similar problem when we did a full transit of the Panama Canal two years ago. The lens was fine and as soon as I stepped out on the deck, it immediately fogged up. The combination of the temperature and humidity differential between the air conditioned dry environment of the ship's interior and the warm damp environment of the outside air caused the problem; i.e., the cool temperature of the lens provided surfaces with a lower dew point than the outdoor dew point so water condensed on the lens. The best solution is to take the camera outside about ten to fifteen minutes before you plan to take your pictures to let the temperature of the lens acclimatize and then wipe any residual condensation off the lens with lens tissue or a microfiber cloth.

treadwl Loc: South Florida

I shoot a lot in the everglades during the night and early morning hours. Moving the camera from car to outdoors used to fog my lens. I now use a pair of hot hands packages to keep the lens warm These are hat skiers use to keep their hands warm. I got them at Dick's. I just get them out, activate them and use a rubber band to hold them wrapped around the lens and they work like magic.

fotoman150

The last time that happened to me I took the lens out to the car in Midsummer and turn on the ignition and cranked up the heat and put the lens in Front of the vent. That warmed it up and I was able to continue shooting

fotoman150

The last time that happened to me I took the lens out to the car in Midsummer and turn on the ignition and cranked up the heat and put the lens in Front of the vent. That warmed it up and I was able to continue shooting

fotoman150

Sorry

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

It's all about dew point temperature. Your lens fogged because when you took it outdoors it's temperature was lower then the dew point. Pay attention to your local weather and see what the average dew point is for this time of year. Then, take a thermometer and search out areas of your house that are warmer then that temp. There are always some, even with central air. Store your camera in that area and you won't have to resort to any other tricks or gadgets. Even insulated bags and containers are only a short term solution. Left sitting in one place long enough and even the best insulated container will saturate to ambient temp. They are good if you are using the camera often and letting the bag warm up each time, or for carrying your camera in your air conditioned car. The whole object is to keep your lens and camera at least just a slight bit warmer then dew point. Keep in mind that zoom lenses that zoom externally (the front element moves in and out), as many do, pump air in and out of both the body and lens. Keeping all components warm enough to prevent condensation, mold, and mildew is important.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

That's physics for you. Unless you use the plastic-bag-and-wait procedure, you'll get that fog. I wonder if scuba diver's anti-fog liquid would help. The alternative for scuba divers is spit.

Shoeless_Photographer Loc: Lexington

Sounds like you've got air conditioning keeping it cool and dry inside. I'd say put the camera in a box or something where it's not quite so chilled. Make it more like the outdoor air temperature, but put in some silica gel packs or rice to keep the humidity level low. If it's not cool, it shouldn't fog up.

johnst1001a Loc: West Chester, Ohio

Of course your lens will fog up on a cruise ship if you go from an air conditioned room to the outside where the humidity is near 100%, like in the Panama canal area. As has been previously noted, it's all about dew point. Your lens is colder than the dew point of the air, so you will get condensation until the lens warms up above the dew point. It can take a half hour, but usually quicker.

kodiac1062 Loc: Sarasota, Fl

Thank you all for the helpful suggestions, I appreciate you taking the time to respond and help out.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

When I lived in the north and shot in the cold, I put my camera in my unheated car for an hour without the battery, along with all the lenses I was going to use, they were fine.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

The same thing happens to eye glasses when your in air conditioning and then go out side on a very humid day. When I did wedding photography on hot July days I would go from an air conditioned church right outside to do the bird seed toss my lens would fog up, it was just the outside element, I would always carry lens tissue, wipe it off and shoot quickly before it fogged up again, sometimes it would not fog up again. I also believe there are special fog wiping clothes.

whitewolfowner

Your problem is the temperature difference from inside to outside. The lens coming from inside the house is cooler and when taken outside moisture condenses on the lens. The only solution is to have the lens in a bag and set it outside long enough so it warms up to the outside temperature. Then you can take it out of the bag and use it without moisture condensing on it.

Hsch39 Loc: Northbrook, Illinois

I put the camera and lenses on a 50 Watt-115Volt 12"x15" heating pad overnight when in an air-conditioned room and exterior high humidity environment. The 50 Watt heating pad maintains a temperature of about 90ºF.
Never had a problem again with condensation. Used it in Florida, Aruba and Singapore.