Keeping lens warm: Has anyone ever used one of those chemical warming bags (like hunters put in their gloves) as a means of keeping a lens warm enough to ward off condensation for...

Haymaker

Has anyone ever used one of those chemical warming bags (like hunters put in their gloves) as a means of keeping a lens warm enough to ward off condensation for night photography? I was thinking of trying it tonight coupled with draping a towel over the camera body, but wondered if there were others who have tried it.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I'll bet some have, but I've not tried it with a camera. I wouldn't put it in direct contact with the camera.
In the camera bag near the camera should be good though.
Some of those do get hot. Just keep an eye on it the first time you do.
Or put a warmer in the bag just to see how warm it gets.

Bill_de Loc: US

I would just throw the towel over it until the temperature of the camera/lens reaches the air temperature. Have an appropriate cloth to wipe the front element.

--

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Bill_de wrote:

I would just throw the towel over it until the temperature of the camera/lens reaches the air temperature. Have an appropriate cloth to wipe the front element.

--

Should work.
Dew won't form on the camera until the camera gets down to or below the dew point.

kskarma Loc: Topeka, KS

Haymaker wrote:

Has anyone ever used one of those chemical warming bags (like hunters put in their gloves) as a means of keeping a lens warm enough to ward off condensation for night photography? I was thinking of trying it tonight coupled with draping a towel over the camera body, but wondered if there were others who have tried it.

Those "Hand Warmers" can put out a lot of heat, but they do it very slowly. If, for example, you activate (that is 'break' one) and place it on a table, it will hardly get warm at all. If, however, you place it in your glove or sock, before long it can get almost uncomfortably hot. So...like a previous poster said, I'd be cautious about putting it in direct contact with a camera or lens....especially if that gear is wrapped up or confined in any way. And...with all things like this, working this out in a 'controlled setting'....i.e. at home, BEFORE using it in the woods, would be a good idea.

LWW Loc: Banana Republic of America

Not a chance I would do that..

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

The camera does not have to stay warm - just let it cool down to ambient temperature inside a dry environment - I like to use the 1-gallon Zip-Lock bags. Allow 10-15 minutes.

IHH61 Loc: Homestead Fl

Yes it works well. Gaffers tape to hold either toe or hand warmer pack under the front element of your lens. Lens hood also helps. This weekend shooting the meteor shower several of our Camera Club members also used battery powered lens warmers to good effect.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

I use hand warmers on my lenses for summer night photography. I use a pair of warmers, wrapped with flannel and held by a rubber band

duane klipping Loc: Bristow iowa

It will work fine. It will NOT put out so much heat that it will damage your camera. I have used them on 10 degree weather doing time lapse and no condensation or frost worries. If they got that hot they would burn your skin and be discontinued or recalled.

I use rubber bands around them to keep them on the lens. Or around the battery compartment. I see too many replies like the above ones based on nothing but fear and no experience at all. If you don't know just say so or say nothing better yet.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Haymaker wrote:

Has anyone ever used one of those chemical warming bags (like hunters put in their gloves) as a means of keeping a lens warm enough to ward off condensation for night photography? I was thinking of trying it tonight coupled with draping a towel over the camera body, but wondered if there were others who have tried it.

Yes. That was a requirement when I took a three-day night photography course one summer. Without that, the lens would fog-up. The instructor recommended something like below.

https://smile.amazon.com/THERMACARE-WRAP-NECK-ARM-BX/dp/B07BKLVNW1/ref=pd_cp_121_1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=5682957075090298297&pf_rd_r=E6V7RP2F5XRD2A82SA1G&pd_rd_wg=ImdmQ&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&pd_rd_w=vHSIu&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pd_rd_r=114b909e-9eee-11e8-aae5-4d17ba778b12&pd_rd_i=B07BKLVNW1&psc=1&refRID=E6V7RP2F5XRD2A82SA1G