RahulKhosla

Hi, should I be considering buying a dry cabinet ( dehumidifier ) for my cameras and lenses? I am moving to Singapore where it’s quite humid. Any recommendations and suggestions for cabinet brands and models? I have quite a bit of gear - three cameras, and several lenses including some large primes.

Dave327 Loc: Duluth, GA. USA

I guess you don’t read the digest every day. Todays (Dec 10) Forum Digest > Main Photography Discussion > Topic - Lens Fugus. Should give you plenty of info.
Ok, I was a bit snarky. Most UHHer’s recommend “Ruggard”. Since your moving to Singapore I would just purchase one when you get there. However, if your living in air conditioning you probably would not need one. If it’s very high humidity silicone dry packs in your bag should cover you if your out on a extended shoot.

RahulKhosla

Cool, thanks.

Haydon

Keep an eye on this url.

https://www.cpricewatch.com/

They occasionally share dry cabinets on sale. They just finished a good sale at B&H on several models (halfway down the page). Greetings....

kymarto Loc: Portland OR and Milan Italy

You absolutely need some sort of dehumidifier in Singapore. As a cheaper alternative you can get a plastic storage box in which the top seals with a gasket and put packets of silica gel or closet dehumidifiers inside. Keep your relative humidity below 50%. I keep a cheap hygrometer inside to check.

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

I use Ruggard.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=ruggard%20dry%20cabinets&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=hist-ma&Top+Nav-Search=

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

They are not Silicone dry packs, they are Silica Gel dry packs

tommy2 Loc: Fort Worth, Texas

The one used here:

rlv567 Loc: Baguio City, Philippines

I live in Baguio City, Philippines, which is at an elevation of about 5,000 feet. The humidity here is not as bad as in the rest of the country, but still is usually 70%, and sometimes higher. For that reason, I purchased a humidity cabinet – the Andbon AB-30C Dry Cabinet Box 30L Liters Digital Display with Manual Humidity Controller – from Lazada, who I suspect would deliver to your area, as well. (I bought from Lazada because they will ship COD. I do not prepay for anything being shipped unless absolutely necessary, because on too may occasions shipments never arrive, being intercepted in transit.)

The Dry Box arrived in good condition and has performed to expectations – I have it set to hold at 40% RH. My model is the 30-liter size, with a shelf, and easily holds my Canon 70D and G16, together with several lenses, including a 70-200 L. There is a 50-liter model available, as well as a smaller one. I paid P3,530 plus P470 shipping, but I see that it is on sale at Lazada for the next two days at P2,980 (that’s about $59); I don’t know how much additional for shipping.

As I said, the box has performed well, and only draws about 8W, so is very economical to run. It is very well made and would be capable of holding more than I have asked it to. I can recommend it highly.

Loren – in Beautiful Baguio City

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

I live in another humid place (Florida) and have AC - If no inhome air conditioning or dehumidifier, then a sealing cabinet with a small light bulb inside will keep them dry, or (I use) a small UV-C light for weekly treatments, an hour a day. UV-C (the C is important) C is the light wave range used as a germacidal, germ killer in medical world, in AC systems, pools and spas - it kills mold and fungus/prevents growth. Whatever you do, do something - it is good you have thought of this now, instead of finding out the bad news later!!! If you do try UV-C light, mind the eye protection info/safety info for you and anyone else, and pets...it is just about the same as looking into the sun.

A small low watt light bulb in a sealed cabinet will also keep everything dryer, just mount any light bulb or heater safely.

If you are also concerned about your other belongings, then AC or a dehumidifier might be a good idea - mold/fungus doesn't care, it will go to work on everything. You can also use the UV-C for room applications - again mind the safety precautions.

rlv567 Loc: Baguio City, Philippines

A quick note - Out of curiosity, I checked on the Ruggard box. The 30-liter model appears to be virtually the same inside and out - and by specs - as my 30-liter Andbon - almost certainly manufactured by the same company. It's just very much more expensive.

Loren - in Beautiful Baguio City

Canisdirus

I have the Ruggard 80L cabinet and it works as advertised.
Just as a reference for you, I keep three full size dslr's in there with a dozen lenses.
I still have room for a battery grip, some filters, and two flash units, and a small pair of binoculars.

revhen Loc: By the beautiful Hudson

The dehumifier box absolutely! Set it and forget it. Otherwise you're always wondering and worrying and have to constantly check. No question. I use one in a much lower humidity situation but don't have to worry about fungus, etc. Do it!

Cempaka

I highly recommend the use of a dry cabinet for use in Singapore. I lived there for several years and purchased the cabinet when I first arrived to protect my Leica equipment. None of my lenses acquired fungus, but a set of water glasses in a cabinet were so infected they could not be salvaged.

I would also suggest using a bag that does not have foam padding which will disintegrate into a powdery substance that can get into everything. I had to replace all of the padded inserts in my Billingham bag with custom made cotton cloth pads.

Another suggestion is to use dry boxes with plenty of silicone for miscellaneous bits and pieces. When I shot film, I stored all of my negatives and slides in dry boxes and they were protected.

And NEVER keep your cameras or lenses in the trunk of your car! The heat can ruin your equipment in one afternoon in a hot trunk.

After Singapore, I moved to Hawaii where I continued to use my dry cabinet and boxes to protect my equipment from the high humidity at Waikiki.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Pick up some reusable SILICA packs to keep with your gear, both in storage in a cabinet and in your camera bag when out using it.

The silica packs in metal cases typically have an indicator that alerts you when it's saturated and needs to be popped into a low temp oven for a few hours to dry it out, for reuse. You can do that repeatedly. Easy and simple.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=silica%20&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&Top+Nav-Search=