How do you protect equipment against environment?

MrFus · Jul 1, 2022

I'm sure we all have been on similar circumstances at one point or another...

It looks like a beautiful day to go out and burn some film, you walk out of the house with the camera ready a couple of extra rolls of 120 and the new light meter all perfectly organized on our camera bag AND... BOOM! it's like 105 degrees with a 90% humidity.

How do you care for the equipment after shooting outdoors? Or do you avoid totally taking out your equipment if the weather that day is on the bad side? (Wind and sand, high humidity, snow or freezing temperatures)

brian steinberger · Jul 1, 2022

If it’s super hot and humid outside I’ll place gear in ziploc bags and let them acclimate outside so not to let condensation form on the glass surfaces. Same goes for when I’m shooting outside it’s really cold and I come into a warm house.

Other than that I don’t generally shoot if it’s raining more than just lightly. I don’t mind if my camera gets a few drops of rain or flakes of snow. I’ll wipe them off when I get back to the truck after shooting. Others may be more cautious of their gear than me.

I should add that the most brutal environment I will shoot in is at the beach when there’s a strong wind off the water and it’s just blowing salt and sand. I’ve had gear get coated in salt spray from this and it’s a pain to clean. Now I keep my gear in a bag, take out to shoot, and right back into the camera bag.

cjbecker · Jul 1, 2022

If there is a big difference from indoor and outdoor temperature, the gear will always stay where it will be used. If its hot it stays hot, if cold it stays cold. In indiana right now its in the 90’s everyday, so the camera i use stay in the barn that is not temperature controlled because they will be used outside.

Sirius Glass · Jul 1, 2022

In the rain I have a sleeve that covers the camera, lens, hands and arms.

xkaes · Jul 1, 2022

I've been out in the Arizona sun taking pictures when it's 105°, but the humidity was 9%. I can handle that, and so can my gear. All I need are sun glasses and some water. The bigger problem is the dusty wind.

My gear might be able to handle 105° with a 90% humidity -- but I know I couldn't. Problem solved!

Paul Howell · Jul 1, 2022

As a working PJ and AF photographer I've worked in all weather, never made it to Antarctica, otherwise most weather conditions. Currently I live in the Desert Southwest, day time temps will reach 110+ day after day, then we have the monsoon. First keep your gear in shape, I have my 35mm Minolta 9, and 800si, CLA every few years. In hot or very cold weather lubed is important. I had my F2 winterized by Nikon for an assignment I had on the North Sea oil. In windy weather tape over the joints of the back, if an early 35mm with an interchangeable viewfinder, around those joints as well. When I was shooting with a Leica IIIG I taped over the entire bottom to cover the joints. Use a UV or Skylights filters to protect the front elements of your lens. If windy with sand, use a rain cape, I use rubber bands to make it will not flop around in the wind. Wet weather, although I have weather sealed bodies my lens and motor drives or battery grips are not, again I use a rain cape. In hot or cold weather, as soon as I come in a rewind the film and leave the camera back open to make sure there is no condensation. While shooting in the Amazon I used a hair dryer to dry out the camera at the end of the day. Use gel packs when you store your gear. Best advice, keep a battered camera with a battered lens on hand to use if you are thinking about shooting in really rough conditions. At one time I had a Nikones with 35mm lens for such occasions. Currently I have a Pentax WR and Minolta Weathermatic that I use in the monsoon.

grat · Jul 1, 2022

I live in Florida-- it only feels like 105 ℉, and the humidity most definitely hits 90% on a regular basis (Three times today, including 30 minutes ago). So far, I haven't had a problem with film, or digital cameras. Generally speaking, I keep my stuff in either the house or the car, with the air conditioning running, so humidity doesn't build up in the bags / devices.

Biggest problem with condensation for me is at night, when the humid air is cooling down rapidly, or during/right after a rain shower.

One of the fun tricks summer in Florida likes to play is to get really hot (90+ ℉), evaporate a ton of water from the Gulf, blow it over land, watch it condense, and we get a sudden short rain shower-- not really enough to cool things off, and then the sun comes right back out, and that layer of water on the ground turns to steam.

I hate being out in the "sauna" as I call it. So I don't take photos often in that climate.

Generally, I keep the cameras in their bags (and let the bags warm up), keep the lens caps on as much as possible, and make sure I've always got a clean lens cloth to wipe down if needed. Hasn't really been a problem. I also collect the silica gel packs that show up in various items, and try to keep a reasonably "fresh" one in each bag. That's probably just a placebo effect, though.

gone · Jul 1, 2022

After living in Fl, the Ms Gulf Coast, Hawaii and N.O., I know humidity and rain pretty well. A bike is my preferred transportation, so I always carry a couple of plastic bags in my sidebag if it rains. It's worked for 30+ years so far.

MrFus · Jul 2, 2022

grat said:
I live in Florida-- it only feels like 105 ℉, and the humidity most definitely hits 90% on a regular basis (Three times today, including 30 minutes ago). So far, I haven't had a problem with film, or digital cameras. Generally speaking, I keep my stuff in either the house or the car, with the air conditioning running, so humidity doesn't build up in the bags / devices.

Biggest problem with condensation for me is at night, when the humid air is cooling down rapidly, or during/right after a rain shower.

One of the fun tricks summer in Florida likes to play is to get really hot (90+ ℉), evaporate a ton of water from the Gulf, blow it over land, watch it condense, and we get a sudden short rain shower-- not really enough to cool things off, and then the sun comes right back out, and that layer of water on the ground turns to steam.

I hate being out in the "sauna" as I call it. So I don't take photos often in that climate.

Generally, I keep the cameras in their bags (and let the bags warm up), keep the lens caps on as much as possible, and make sure I've always got a clean lens cloth to wipe down if needed. Hasn't really been a problem. I also collect the silica gel packs that show up in various items, and try to keep a reasonably "fresh" one in each bag. That's probably just a placebo effect, though.

That is exactly my problem here on Panama City, like today I was bringing some furniture to my mothers apartment and there it was a old beautiful rusty land rover!!!

I love to take pics of old rust buckets because the textures, contrast and mechanical parts look amazing on B/W... Well, I left the camera home because was super humid thanks to the rain followed by the +90 degrees sun of the afternoon and I'm paranoid about damn rust and fungus growing on my Mamiya cameras!!!!

Two23 · Jul 2, 2022

I don't worry about heat, other than not setting my cameras etc. in direct sun in my car. I do try to keep film in a cooler when it's very hot.

Kent in SD

beemermark · Jul 2, 2022

Shooting film for 50 years the only problem I've encountered is when temps are below zero. Bring a cold camera into the house and condensation is a an issue. When temps drops below 20 deg F film gets brittle and you can little lightning strikes on the film. Now I live where humidity > 90% and temps are about 95 for a good time of the year and I've never had an issue. Any I've never had an issue with equipment malfunctioning.

abruzzi · Jul 2, 2022

If I had to shoot somewhere with 90% humidity, I’d probably shoot a Nikonos. I normally stick to dryer climes.

Paul Howell · Jul 2, 2022

You can pick up a Pentax WR, Minolta Weathermatic, or Sea and Sea for not too much money.

faberryman · Jul 2, 2022

MrFus said:
It looks like a beautiful day to go out and burn some film, you walk out of the house with the camera ready a couple of extra rolls of 120 and the new light meter all perfectly organized on our camera bag AND... BOOM! it's like 105 degrees with a 90% humidity.

If it is 105 degrees and 90 percent humidity, I don't go out. I looked at the National Weather Service heat index chart and they don't have a number for those conditions. The chart shows that at 104 degrees and 55 percent humidity the heat index is 137 degrees. I found a heat index calculator, and at 105 degrees and 90 percent humidity the heat index is 209 degrees, which is too hot for me.

I remember doing a deal in this town in the Nevada desert that was pretty hot. People kept oven mitts in their car so they could hold on to the steering wheel. I am pretty sure I couldn't operate my cameras wearing oven mitts.

I guess if I did one of those workshops in Death Valley or something I would go out if it was hot. There is no humidity in Death Valley so that helps. I can't think of any special precautions I would take for my cameras. I would just have a camera bag to carry my camera stuff around in. I'd wear a hat and have a water bottle handy. I guess I would also wear a lightweight long sleeve shirt and some long nylon pants. Shoes and socks would probably be a good idea too. A colorful neckerchief would complete the ensemble.

Alan9940 · Jul 2, 2022

To be honest, I've never worried about it all that much. When I lived in Vermont, I'd head out with my gear in -10F winter weather and when the temps reached 90+F with 70% humidity (during the two weeks of summer we had) without a thought about moving the gear from inside to outside temps and vice-versa. I just kept it all "sealed" in the case and/or bag and let it climatize to the ambient temp before opening. Same now that I live in the desert southwest, but that's a dry heat! I will protect my camera from rain with a plastic bag (not that I photograph all that often in the rain) and I generally avoid the ocean/beach because I really don't want to deal with salt spray and sand, not a good combo for camera equipment.

BAC1967 · Jul 2, 2022

I usually keep a large ziplock bag in my camera bag just in case. If I know I’m going to be in a wet situation I use a dry bag. I’ve used the dry bag for camera gear on rafting and kayaking trips.

Sirius Glass · Jul 2, 2022

Living in Southern California, rain is a problem since we no longer get it much any more. However using skylight, haze or UV filters and lens hoods are useful for protecting the lens and minimizing the impact of flares is very useful.

Paul Howell · Jul 2, 2022

I spent a week in July in Death Valley, I had a Vivitar XC3, it was so hot the shutter lost all it's lube and froze. My LF and Mamiya Universal had no issues. Lucky I had a Chinon CM 3 as well, but only only it out in the early morning and late afternoon after the temps dropped below 110.

FeS2 · Oct 3, 2022

When rain threatens I drape a sheet of lightweight waterproof nylon over my ULF camera's bellows.

Rayt · Oct 3, 2022

I put my camera and lenses in individual plastic bags for shooting in hot and humid climates. Nothing is as distressing as finding your camera covered in foggy mist after stepping out of an air conditioned taxi.

Sirius Glass · Oct 3, 2022

1) For most cameras I use OP/TECH USA 8 in. Small Rain Sleeve (Pack of 2)

OP/TECH USA 8 in. Small Rain Sleeve (Pack of 2)

Shop for 8 in. Small Rain Sleeve (Pack of 2) at SAMY'S CAMERA.

www.samys.com

2) OR I use my Nikonos V

BAC1967 · Oct 4, 2022

I was just in Saipan and Rota, CNMI with lots of rain showers and condensation on my camera. I went to a tourist shop and purchased a cheap dry bag So I could stash the camera during a shower. As I was driving around I kept the camera in the trunk of my rental car to keep it out of the air conditioning. When I brought the camera back to my air conditioned hotel room I left it sealed in the dry bag until the temperature of the camera stabilized. Before going out I put the camera in the dry bag and set it out in the sun on the balcony to warm it up before exposing it to the humidity.

Steven Lee · Oct 4, 2022

I have a couple of beater cameras that I take outside under hazardous conditions. After many years none of them failed, so now I'm starting to suspect that high quality photo gear (made in West Germany or Japan) is tougher than I originally assumed. Now I just don't care and don't pay much attention to that (unless it's pouring). I do keep everything in dry cabinets to avoid fungus and dust, and also because they're actually cheaper than regular cabinets.

gone · Oct 4, 2022

I just carry a couple of plastic grocery bags wadded up in my sidebag. If it's really cold I won't be going out shooting, so it's never been much of an issue. If I can take the heat, so can the gear.

In Las Cruces, NM, we regularly got near 110 degrees in the summer. A black camera slung over my shoulder on my eBike w/ the sun behind me, the cameras got seriously hot! No problems though, everything always worked fine.

None of my cameras have been water proof, but in Florida, Louisiana, the Ms Gulf Coast etc, the rain and humidity never hurt them. I wasn't standing in downpours, but the gear invariably got water on it. What one needs to avoid is taking freezing cold gear into warm environments. I've heard that can cause condensation inside the lenses.

How do you protect equipment against environment?

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