Haden123

Thanks very much! I will check Amazon and B&H sites for plastic containers.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

I have them in my carrying bags. Ziplock could trap any humidity in the air when you lock them in. It seem to me the storage place should breath. So far it works for me. My Argus C3 still works and I got it in Libya in the early 1950's.

walkurie Loc: East Stroudsburg, PA

Try Target. That's where I found them.

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

Probably along with you dairy and meat products.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Absolutely correct! Not only have I seen black foam deteriorate into a gooey mess, I’ve seen black anti-static foam actually dissolve the pins off of ICs as it deteriorated.

zzzynick Loc: Colorado

I wouldn't worry about the bags.
BUT, take out the batteries.

Haden123

The batteries are gone!

jackpinoh Loc: Kettering, OH 45419

Ziploc bags are unnecessary and could cause problems if temperature is not well controlled--such as when you lose power for several days during a storm in the winter (condensation).

The most important thing when storing a camera is to remove the battery. If it goes bad during storage it could cause corrosion of the camera battery terminals.

Photocraig

NOTE: silica Crystals can be revitalized with a minute to 65 minutes (depending on size) in the microwave oven on High. They do get saturate and cease their absorbtion function, and as has been stated become a source of moisture. Easy to do. In low to NO Humidity Nevada, I still use 'em because there are plenty of moisture creating activities like showers and dryers and cooking that can get juuuuust enough water vapor where ya don't want it. And the Cold-Warm-Cold condensation is a problem everywhere.
C

OllieFCR

Just to put you at ease. As a Ph.D. chemist I can assure you that as long as the dehumidifier sachet does not come in direct contact with your camera or lens there is no possible way it can harm either one.

Bill P

.they merely said the FireKing is the best and is totally fireproof ... OK end of the ad...

Danger, Will Robinson, Danger! Fire safes are meant to protect paper (wills, contracts, car titles, divorce decrees, etc.) from fires. They are lined with some sort of construction board that is heavily porous so it absorbs moisture fro the air in normal use. Heat from a fire evaporates the moisture into the atmosphere inside the closed space, and protects the papers from burning. But do you want to store cameras and lenses in what amounts to a mold factory? I think not.

I use desiccant packages available from sporting goods stores, since firearms are prone it rust. The packs contain tiny spheres of silica gel. They are inert, and contain no chemicals other than silica. Many persons not well educated in science don't understand the difference between silica and silicone. As much as I line big boobs, there's no use for silicone here.

There was once a brand of cat litter made of silica gel beads, but I don't know if it still exists. It could be placed in perforated containers and baked occasionally to regenerate it. If you google desiccants, you will find that bulk packages are readily available.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

They don't "absorb" moisture - it doesn't penetrate the surface - it only collects on the surface. It's called adsorption. Since the water does not get absorbed into anything, of course when they are loaded with moisture, if they are placed in a drier setting, they will release their moisture. Look it up.

Nevermind, you probably won't look it up so I saved you the effort:

https://www.diffen.com/difference/Absorption_vs_Adsorption

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Plastic deteriorates as it cures over time - not good. Unless they are rated for archival purposes.

Bipod

Just to keep the eye on the prize: stored cameras do not like:
* temperatures that fall below the dew point (if air is not totally dry)
* humidity
* other solvent or reactive vapors
* oxygen
* dust
* shock
* theft

In a hermetically-sealed glass container, humidity and oxygen can be eliminated through the use of
dessicant and oxygen-grabber. With a plastic container, you have to choose a less flexible one,
that has less platisizer in it. I use clear high-denisty polyethylene (HDPE).

There is a lot of plasticizer in bags but not much mass -- a typical pastic bag weighs less
than a gram. So I don't worry about the plasticizer and I've never had a problem.

Bags, containers and large storage boxes can each leak--so the best advice is: belt and suspenders.

Haden123

Very valuable information from all the latest participants in this dialogue! Many thanks for your input.