How do you store your kit over here?

[MJP]

I haven't got round to getting a dry cabinet yet. I'm terrified of moisture getting into my lenses which would be a breeding ground for fungus so I do this . . .

+ + +

Then these get packed and zipped in a Lowepro Nova bag with additional silica gel packs, air is squeezed out as much as possible.

Is this sufficient?

Is there anything else I should be doing or adding?

Should I get a dry cabinet?

[MJP]

Just to add. We have no air con up here, but when I stay at hotels with air con I let the whole bag reach the outside ambient temperature before opening it. This can take some time. Prevents condensation forming.

[Fiddlesticks]

For the first year, I also used zip lock bags and silica packs that I bought at photo stores and I will admit to being very paranoid about mold in my equipment. However, I have since invested in a 90 liter dry box and now my gear is stored at a 47% humidity. A dry box is like an insurance policy if you have a significant investment in cameras and glass.

[MJP]

For the first year, I also used zip lock bags and silica packs that I bought at photo stores and I will admit to being very paranoid about mold in my equipment. However, I have since invested in a 90 liter dry box and now my gear is stored at a 47% humidity. A dry box is like an insurance policy if you have a significant investment in cameras and glass.

These aren't that much money.

I wonder if they can take a bank transfer and deliver to the sticks . . .

http://www.digilifethailand.com/ProductList/tabid/92/CatID/12/%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%AD__DRY_CABINET.aspx

[sunshine51]

MJP...

You should invest in a dry box/cabinet for your gear.

They are, surprisingly, not that expensive and do

just what they're supposed to do...keep the fungus

from taking up residence inside a lens or body.

I'd suggest you buy the Aipo listed on the link you

provided....it's much better than the Eski type ones

displayed before it. Then again the Eski types are

"portable"...

Also...it's a good idea every now & then...that you

take your lenses and open them all the way up and

set em outside in the sun on a sunny day. Point the

objective side of the lens at the sky and the camera

end at whatever...perhaps jury rig a cradle of some

sorts and let the sunlight pass through the lens for

a couple hours. This won't hurt the lens...not even

a DSLR lens & will kill any fungus that's already in

there that you cannot yet see.

Do the same with your camera bodies and also

remove any lens or body cap on em and let em

sit in the sun for a few hours....just clean em

afterwards & stuff em in the dry box.

For a DSLR lens just use a piece of celo tape to

keep the aperture tang at the wide open end &

please don't let the sticky bit of the celo-tape touch

any glass!

Buy a dry box & have it delivered or next time in the

Big Stinky buy a dry box & carry it back yourself.

It costs more to have a lens repaired due to fungus

than that Aipo dry box costs.

NB...edit to add a line regarding camera bodies in

the sun.

ss51

[MJP]

I'll start the house decorating stuff tomorrow! Been saying that for weeks now.

Sunshine, many thanks. Yes I shall order a portable dry box and a large dry cabinet up from Zoomcamera. One of my lenses is over a thousand quid and most others are between £500 - £800 and although this isn't much in terms of high end camera stuff, it is in terms of groceries, utility bills and the kids school fees!

For the cradle to aim the objective into the sun I have one of these . . .

I tell you. It's hard work is this photo lark!

[Curt1591]

Just to add. We have no air con up here, but when I stay at hotels with air con I let the whole bag reach the outside ambient temperature before opening it. This can take some time. Prevents condensation forming.

I always try to keep my gear from airconditioning. And, like you, I let it warm before exposing it directly to outside warmth and humidity.

I have silica packs in all my bags.

In 6 years of living here, and a couple decades of extended visits, I haven't had an issue with fungus yet ...

[MJP]

Just to add. We have no air con up here, but when I stay at hotels with air con I let the whole bag reach the outside ambient temperature before opening it. This can take some time. Prevents condensation forming.

I always try to keep my gear from airconditioning. And, like you, I let it warm before exposing it directly to outside warmth and humidity.

I have silica packs in all my bags.

In 6 years of living here, and a couple decades of extended visits, I haven't had an issue with fungus yet ...

Lenses and DSLR body been cooking all afternoon, now going through a clean up.

Still a productive day.

[FracturedRabbit]

This subject seems to raise its head every few months. If you have any sort of investment in camera gear; get a mains powered cabinet that will keep it at the appropriate humidity. You may get away with other solutions (for a while); but there again you may not. You might get away with not wearing your seat belt....

[sunshine51]

I'll start the house decorating stuff tomorrow! Been saying that for weeks now.

Sunshine, many thanks. Yes I shall order a portable dry box and a large dry cabinet up from Zoomcamera. One of my lenses is over a thousand quid and most others are between £500 - £800 and although this isn't much in terms of high end camera stuff, it is in terms of groceries, utility bills and the kids school fees!

For the cradle to aim the objective into the sun I have one of these . . .

I tell you. It's hard work is this photo lark!

Kinda hard to attach only a lens to that head unless the lens has a tripod mount ring on it.

I use old egg crates, the mashed paper type, to aim my lenses at the sun...works great,

very cheap, endless supply and recycleable...the egg crates that is...not the sun or my

lenses. One can also dry out the paper packed dessicant bags in an oven on really low

heat...takes about 4 hours or so. The oven only needs to be a toaster type oven...no

microwave! Still...get that dry box/cabinet...think of it as essential kit....vice a nice to have

item.

[MJP]

I'll start the house decorating stuff tomorrow! Been saying that for weeks now.

Sunshine, many thanks. Yes I shall order a portable dry box and a large dry cabinet up from Zoomcamera. One of my lenses is over a thousand quid and most others are between £500 - £800 and although this isn't much in terms of high end camera stuff, it is in terms of groceries, utility bills and the kids school fees!

For the cradle to aim the objective into the sun I have one of these . . .

I tell you. It's hard work is this photo lark!

Kinda hard to attach only a lens to that head unless the lens has a tripod mount ring on it.

I use old egg crates, the mashed paper type, to aim my lenses at the sun...works great,

very cheap, endless supply and recycleable...the egg crates that is...not the sun or my

lenses. One can also dry out the paper packed dessicant bags in an oven on really low

heat...takes about 4 hours or so. The oven only needs to be a toaster type oven...no

microwave! Still...get that dry box/cabinet...think of it as essential kit....vice a nice to have

item.

Yup, I misunderstood, ended up using egg boxes on an old wooden shelving frame thing.