Delderby Loc: Derby UK

Yes - but isn't ten times in three hours pushing your luck a bit?

mdoing

I was recently in Costa Rica, very humid. I decided to take my extender out, afterward noticed some fog in my camera. Put it down for 15 or 20 minutes and it sorted itself out. No harm done but it reminded my that you do need to be careful!

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

If you are shooting with a lens that zooms externally, and many do, then you are pumping air in and out of both the lens and camera everytime you zoom. That's why some people call them "dustpumps". A trick to keep in mind with such lenses is if you are outside shooting in humid weather then pump the lens in and out several times when you get inside, provided you have the a/c operating. This forces out the damp outside air and replaces it with the dry inside air. Humidity rarely causes problems for most photographers, but, keeping it out of the lens and body is still a good idea.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Not sure where your paranoia is coming from in changing lenses.
Your camera is not sealed thus humidity getting in is not an issue as it is there already.
I have found the only time I worry about changing lenses is in a high wind heavy dust storm outside or a 3" per hour deluge rain storm outside with no shelter.
Otherwise I change lenses as desired and NO problems at all.
I do take care if there is snow or light rain to keep the open mount facing down and lean over to have my body provide a bit of shelter.
But bottom line a small modicum of care and changing lenses will cause no issue and especially humidity. Remember your lenses most likely suck in air as they zoom and focus and blow that very air into your camera. Very few do not do this I believe.
Change lenses and quit panicking.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I wouldn't change lenses outside in the rain or if it's dusty and windy. Otherwise, I point the camera down and change the lens. I've never had a problem doing that.

wmurnahan Loc: Bloomington IN

The only times I've worried about lens changing was on a wind blown beach with sand and anytime there is drops of water in the air. Never worried about humidity, really hadn't thought about it. I also never change till the camera is up to air temp if coming from a cool and going into a warm.

Don, the 2nd son Loc: Crowded Florida

Joexx

I am reading through the responses and there seems to be lots of well-meaning but sometimes misunderstood information about the cause of moisture/condensation getting into a camera. To understand the risks of getting moisture into a camera while changing lenses it will help to understand how/why the air holds water. The colder air is, the less water it can hold. Warmer air can hold more water than colder air.
Relative humidity is normally expressed as a percentage. A higher percentage means that the air–water mixture is more humid. At 100% relative humidity, the air is saturated and is at its dew point. It is when air is cooled below its dew point ( for ex: by touching a camera body) that you will get water in/on your camera.
The practical effect to you and your camera is that you may have an issue if your camera body is cooler than the outside air temperature. For example, this might happen if your camera was in an air-conditioned house, and you go outside where it is much hotter. When that outside air touches the (colder) camera body, it may cool the air below the dew point and cause water to appear on the camera.
A specific example is: air at 80 degrees and relative humidity 50%. From a chart I see that the dew point is 60 degrees. This means that as long as the camera is OVER 60 degrees, I should be OK. In case you are interested, here is a site to calculate the actual numbers.
http://www.dpcalc.org/
If your camera body is below the outside dew point , I would NEVER take off the lens. Exposure to the warmer will cause moisture almost immediately. I would also be careful about "pumping" lens or doing anything that will bring in the outside warmer air into the camera.
In your case, it seems like it was cool out and your camera was probably much warmer than the outside air, so you would have been OK.
Having said that, it is always good to use a quick and careful process to change lenses. Point the camera down. Change lenses as fast as possible. Leave the camera open for under 1 sec, if you can. This will minimize dust and air contaminants from the outside air from entering your camera.
The reverse is also true. If you have been outside in the cold weather and bring a camera into a warm and humid house, keep the camera in an airtight container (camera bag etc) until it warms up to the inside temp. If you do not do this, you may get moisture inside the camera, even if you do not open up the camera. Of course most times your air-conditioned house will have very low humidity, so this may often not be an issue.
Hope this helps.

lwhite61 Loc: Kentucky

Thanks to everyone for their input. Has been very helpful and I appreciate all the info/opinions!!

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

That's silly.

For forty years I've changed lenses whenever it was necessary and wherever I was, aside from some simple but sensible precautions (not changing lenses while out in the rain or in extremely dusty conditions or standing knee deep in a stream or the surf). I don't leave the camera sitting without a lens or a body cap on it. I also don't leave the lens sitting around without caps on both ends. And I change lenses in a timely manner, though without rushing it because that's when I might drop something!

Often when I go to shoot an event I "set up" several lenses... front caps off, hoods installed... and keep them nose down in my camera bag so that all I need to do for a quick lens change is pop off the rear cap, take the lens off the camera and put the rear cap on it, then put the other lens onto the camera. I set my lenses up this way just to facilitate quick changes and not miss too many shots, not out of any worries about making the lens swap.

I do have to clean sensors every once in a while. But that's going to happen anyway. Cameras and lenses aren't hermetically sealed! Back when I was shooting film I occasionally got a scratch on the film, though that was more likely from dust getting inside during film changes than from lens changes.

And condensation can occur regardless whether the lens is on the camera or not. That happens when an object is colder than the air around it and the air has relatively high humidity. For example, taking a kit of gear out of an air conditioned room outdoors on a warm, humid Florida day is likely to cause condensation until the temp of the gear and the temp of the air are more equalized. The same can occur if shooting outside on a cold, dry winter day in Colorado, then taking the gear inside a nice, warm home.

If condensation is a concern, while still in the colder environment seal up your gear inside two plastic garbage bags... first in one, then in another. Then take the sealed up gear into the warmer environment and keep it sealed up for a half hour, an hour or whatever is needed for the temperature of the gear to equalize before taking it out of the sealed bags. How long is needed will depend upon your gear. I used to put my entire camera bag or backpack inside a couple large garbage bags and let it sit for at least an hour. If it were just one camera and the lens on it inside smaller plastic bags it might only need a half hour.

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

One of the definitions of Hermetically sealed is as follows
"A hermetically sealed container or space is so tightly closed that no air can leave or enter it.
If this is what it means how does dust get into the lens then ?

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Typing fast and Spell Check got me...

I meant to type cameras and lenses "aren't" hermetically sealed... must have mistyped it and Spell Check changed to "are" hermetically sealed.

I've corrected my previous response, but just to be perfectly clear: What I meant to type was "cameras and lenses AREN'T hermetically sealed".

Heck, they aren't even assembled in "clean rooms". There's virtually always some dust specks inside even brand new lenses, straight from the factory. I'm sure the same is true of cameras.

In fact, lenses that aren't internal focusing (and zooms that aren't internal zooming)... lenses that change length when focused and/or zoomed... have to allow air to pass in and out. And inevitably some dust along with it.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

We all know the principle of humidity and temp etc.
So without perfect climate conditions you will not take photos?
That is sad.
Tell that to those who have taken amazing photos in some of the worst climate conditions successfully.
There are some on this site who baby gear insanely, freak out about a minor scuff on the bottom of the camera.
At one time it was a symbol of pride to have a camera showing external wear but still function flawlessly.
I guess I do not fret over the "Resale Value" ever when taking photos. I get my money's worth and if it can be sold fine if I want to eventually. PS I have sold a totally broken lens as parts for a good price after years of use.
Use your equipment, it is rugged beyond most anything outside of total abuse, and enjoy the experience.

hrblaine

I change lens anytime I d^mn well please on my 5Dc: heat, cold, rain, snow, nothing stops me. OF course in a driving rain storm I take a bit more care than on a sunny, 65 degree day. What's the use of having a camera that allows you to change lens if you're afraid to do it? You may as well drive a cheap point and shoot imho. Harry PS Of course, if a beautiful woman in disrobing in front of me, I'll go with what I've got, not wanting to miss even the tinyest bit of skin! If this disrobing becomes a regular occurance, however, I just might buy another 5D body. <g>

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind