Avoiding condensation on lens
Jul 13, 2020 05:27:22 #
I will be venturing into a Butterfly house at a zoo this weekend and want to avoid the issue of condensation on the lens when entering the suit. I have been in one unit before in a very warm climate and there was no issue .
In a recent issue of "N Photo" magazine a reader give the tip of wrapping the lens in cloths and putting them in a bag with hand warmers . Sounded a brilliant idea.
Have any of you Hoggers out there used this or have something that is effective ?
Keep safe and well.
In a recent issue of "N Photo" magazine a reader give the tip of wrapping the lens in cloths and putting them in a bag with hand warmers . Sounded a brilliant idea.
Have any of you Hoggers out there used this or have something that is effective ?
Keep safe and well.
Jul 13, 2020 05:47:53 #
Jul 13, 2020 05:57:33 #
Jul 13, 2020 06:26:43 #
I don’t think you’ll have a problem in warm weather. It’s only when your camera goes from either extreme cold to warm and humid, or when you go from cold air conditioning to hot and humid where you get condensation.
Jul 13, 2020 06:33:13 #
Hammer wrote:
I will be venturing into a Butterfly house at a zo... (show quote)
I've gone from outside into the butterfly house at the Bronx Zoo (NY) several times with no problems at all.
Ken S.
Jul 13, 2020 07:15:59 #
Typically, in the summertime, the issue is going from the A/C cooled indoors or car interior into the humidity, that can cost you 30- to 45-minutes for the equipment to warm, meanwhile covered by condensation. Put your equipment in a ziplock bag, while in the A/C, and let the equipment warm in the heat for than hour in the humidity. The bag keeps the condensation off the equipment, maybe placing the bag in the car trunk during the drive to the shooting location or in the garage before shooting around the house.
The same can happen when moving from the subzero winter temps into a conservatory / green-house or zoo aviary.
The same can happen when moving from the subzero winter temps into a conservatory / green-house or zoo aviary.
Jul 13, 2020 07:30:35 #
Tomfl101 wrote:
I don’t think you’ll have a problem in warm weather. It’s only when your camera goes from either extreme cold to warm and humid, or when you go from cold air conditioning to hot and humid where you get condensation.
Jul 13, 2020 11:15:11 #
ahudina
Loc: Browns Point, WA
SHWeiss wrote:
They make dedicated lens warmers you power with a cell phone charger
I have one of these lens warmers and it works great for Astro photography. If your power pack has multiple output settings or ports, I would suggest using the lowest power output.
Jul 14, 2020 06:04:12 #
Going from hot to hot and humid probably won't be a problem. The problem is going from cool (for example, air-conditioned) into a warm humid environment. In those cases, you don't just want to protect the lens, you want to protect the entire camera to avoid condensation upon and within. A heavy zip-lock bag works fine - just keep your camera in the bag for 10 minutes or so until the temperature of the camera and lens equalizes with that of the surrounding environment.
Jul 14, 2020 06:10:07 #
CHG_CANON wrote:
Typically, in the summertime, the issue is going f... (show quote)
Hi ,
Thanks for reading my mind. I will be going from and AC car to the unit , so many thanks
Jul 14, 2020 08:05:47 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
Hammer wrote:
I will be venturing into a Butterfly house at a zo... (show quote)
I used a plastic zip bag, when I entered a greenhouse, I let the camera sit for 10 minutes, then unzipped the bag and waited another 10 minutes, had coffee and talked to my students during this time as they did the same, never an issue.
Jul 14, 2020 08:28:11 #
Do you have a lens cap? Works every time for me. Keep it on the lens until you're ready to shoot.
Jul 14, 2020 09:30:33 #
mikegreenwald
Loc: Illinois
CHG_CANON wrote:
Typically, in the summertime, the issue is going f... (show quote)
I expected you to say put the camera with lens into double zip lockers bags, place them in a deep pan of boiling water, and remove only when ready to enter the butterfly house!
Jul 14, 2020 10:21:29 #
You can use a dry bag too (sealed properly) and let the equipment adjust to the new conditions.
I make sure the front element of the lens is protected by a clear filter. When it fogs up, I wipe off the condensation with a lens cloth.
In Texas, I have this problem in the summer time and in fall and winter when mornings can be very humid. When I am in my car going to shoot, I do not run the AC when outside conditions are very humid. And in my house, I place my camera bag in a room or closet with the least amount of AC before going out to shoot.
I make sure the front element of the lens is protected by a clear filter. When it fogs up, I wipe off the condensation with a lens cloth.
In Texas, I have this problem in the summer time and in fall and winter when mornings can be very humid. When I am in my car going to shoot, I do not run the AC when outside conditions are very humid. And in my house, I place my camera bag in a room or closet with the least amount of AC before going out to shoot.
Jul 14, 2020 10:24:28 #
CHG_CANON wrote:
Typically, in the summertime, the issue is going f... (show quote)
That will work, but in humid summer conditions you will still get significant condensation on the lens if you are trying to do star trails or milky way shots. I have seen people use the chemical hand warmers taped around the lens hood to keep a micro climate of warm air and the surface of the lens to try and avoid this. I believe they also make battery powered heaters for telescopes that would work. There is a post above that requires an "iPhone charger" - i suppose it might work with a battery recharging pack made to recharge an iPhone or similar item.
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