Gear and storage
Greetings, new here but a lurker... I have a question on the storage of camera gear, dust, fun gas etc. Lately I have been gathering up camera gear and was wondering how and where everyone else stores their cameras and lenses? Thanks, looking forward to opinions/discussions
John Howard
Loc: SW Florida and Blue Ridge Mountains of NC.
Will watch for responses. I have a closet of original empty boxes, with the gear held in two antique Chinese cabinets. Inside the cabinets are open shoe boxes with labels on the ends. Not easy to keep it all organized.
I store mine in one of my camera bags. Rarely used items in night stand. Two older lenses that I don't really use in cases in the closet.
Bridges
Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA
As your system grows, you will most likely go through several sizes and designs of camera bags. I have backpacks that hold a single DSLR with space for about 3 additional lenses to a large one that would hold two DSLRs with lenses attached and still have room for about six additional lenses plus accessories. As you move through these bags, don't sell off the ones you no longer use, but use them as storage for extra bodies and lenses. I also have a couple of other bags, what used to be referred to as "train" cases in which I store accessories like battery chargers, extensions for light poles, clamps etc. I also use clear/translucent boxes (about the 16 quart size) that can be purchased at WalMart that have the flip up clamps to hold the top on. I use these for extra speedlights, battery packs etc. I like them because you can see what is in the tote. Go to a yard sale this summer and find a diaper bag. Mothers who have kids no longer in diapers always put these out for sale. They are modestly padded and have compartments for all kinds of storage. It is perfect for accessories like cords, meters, hardware, filters, even lenses etc. They usually have a nicely insulated pocket on each end of the bag to keep bottles cold. Lenses about the size of baby bottles fit nicely and are padded by the insulation. Other than that I have a wooden cabinet at home where I keep an assortment of items, from older lenses and flashes to "junk" I just can't seem to part with.
We use a 4 shelf lawyers bookcase (it has glass doors that close over the shelf's) and it works great
Thank you, that's where I see me going. It's early in the discussion but are there concerns with humidity etc? At first I thought about a small college fridge to keep the lenses dry, cool and dust free. OK, I'm eccentric!
IcemanKS wrote:
Thank you, that's where I see me going. It's early in the discussion but are there concerns with humidity etc? At first I thought about a small college fridge to keep the lenses dry, cool and dust free. OK, I'm eccentric!
Unless it rains in your house its going to be okay. Keep in mind that the worst conditions your equipment will face is when you leave the house...for extreme conditions others will have good advice.
Unless you hermetically seal your gear...there is going to be some dust. Just keep your gear clean and don't obsess over it.
IcemanKS wrote:
Greetings, new here but a lurker... I have a question on the storage of camera gear, dust, fun gas etc. Lately I have been gathering up camera gear and was wondering how and where everyone else stores their cameras and lenses? Thanks, looking forward to opinions/discussions
I had to laugh, because like John, I too have a closet full of boxes (see photo): I cannot figure out why I keep them, but I do! I have two desks in my office that hold gear. Sometimes the gear is in the drawers in plastic boxes and in my two camera bags, but often it is just setting there. After a shoot somewhere it takes me awhile to clean gear and get it all reorganized. Eventually, it will go back into bags and plastic containers in the cabinets or into the appropriate drawer. We bought the cabinets and counter tops off the shelf at Lowe's. I buy the flatter large plastic boxes and mark the boxes, for example, lighting equipment. I have two stations, over time my equipment has grown. I use the countertops to mat and frame prints.
Wherever.
Kitchen table: Two cameras, 4 battery chargers, spare batteries.
Coffee table: 3 cameras, 5 tele zoom lenses, CamRanger, filters.
Living room: Suitcase size case for flashes, remotes and batteries, 6-drawer stand for printer paper, tripod, 2 light stands.
Bedroom: Printer, scanner, computer and peripherals.
Attached garage: Another suitcase with lighting equipment, tripods, camera and lens bags.
Laundry room: 8 lenses, boxes of memory cards and batteries, 2 5-drawer stands for miscellaneous.
Storage shed: Lots of boxes.
Yes, my significant other is pissed.
Light is the enemy of fungus so I store mine on a dresser top, Dust does collect there but my lenses are all well sealed and I keep the caps on. Best would be a clear container, but I try to avoid dark drawers, camera bags, and closets because they can be both dark and damp the 2 worst conditions that you can expose your gear to. I will admit that I have a collection of old manual lenses from the 50's, 60's and 70's that are kept in a large drawer, but should they develop problems I can disassemble, clean and reassemble them, my modern zooms, not so much.
MikeMck
Loc: Southern Maryland on the Bay
As many of the others, I store my gear in camera bags. I have 1 packpack, two shoulder bags, and 3 holsters. I only have 2 bodies and 6 lenses. Every once in a while I list one of the bags on CraigsList, but I haven't sold one yet. I keep a desiccant pack in each bag to protect against moisture and fungus. Good luck.
I have five shoulder bags that I use. I keep a desiccant pack in each one and replace the pack from time to time.
Lenses should be stored vertically with the lens mount end up.
via the lens wrote:
I had to laugh, because like John, I too have a closet full of boxes (see photo): I cannot figure out why I keep them, but I do! I have two desks in my office that hold gear. Sometimes the gear is in the drawers in plastic boxes and in my two camera bags, but often it is just setting there. After a shoot somewhere it takes me awhile to clean gear and get it all reorganized. Eventually, it will go back into bags and plastic containers in the cabinets or into the appropriate drawer. We bought the cabinets and counter tops off the shelf at Lowe's. I buy the flatter large plastic boxes and mark the boxes, for example, lighting equipment. I have two stations, over time my equipment has grown. I use the countertops to mat and frame prints.
I had to laugh, because like John, I too have a cl... (
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I also have the Nikon 80-400mm. I see in photo #3 that you left the case in the box. I put my lens back in that case. It keeps dust off the lens.
Thanking EVERYONE for your opinions, thoughts and suggestions!!
β Ice πΊπΈπ
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