Stuck with DC with Lens condensation

Wishing everyone a Safe day!

Jared and I are stuck in D.C. NoVa area and happy to be so. My boy Jared, 13 years old is having a blast. I'm inside in my PJ's all day visiting my friend.

Now, I went outside with my Contax 645 and Zeiss 80 f/2 Planar and came inside too fast. On the lens I now have slow "leaving" condensation.

Is this fatal after time? Should I send it somewhere to have it serviced?
I'm thinking this can indeed, over time, lead to fungus.

Thank you and again, be safe.
Tom and Jared, snowbound in D.C./NoVa

dwdmguy said:

Wishing everyone a Safe day!

Jared and I are stuck in D.C. NoVa area and happy to be so. My boy Jared, 13 years old is having a blast. I'm inside in my PJ's all day visiting my friend.

Now, I went outside with my Contax 645 and Zeiss 80 f/2 Planar and came inside too fast. On the lens I now have slow "leaving" condensation.

Is this fatal after time? Should I send it somewhere to have it serviced?
I'm thinking this can indeed, over time, lead to fungus.

Thank you and again, be safe.
Tom and Jared, snowbound in D.C./NoVa

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I would not worry about it too much. I have had this happen to me too many times to remember. If you are concerned stick it in a confined space with a packet or two of drying agent - They come packed with just about everything, just make sure you use new ones vs some that are really old.

RB

I've heard uncooked rice works in a pinch.

Dear Snowbound,
Normal cleaning should do it, once everything warms up. We are snowbound, also. Lots of developer, fixer, paper (tp and printing); chili makings; spirits. Life is good.

rwboyer said:

I would not worry about it too much. I have had this happen to me too many times to remember. If you are concerned stick it in a confined space with a packet or two of drying agent - They come packed with just about everything, just make sure you use new ones vs some that are really old.

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Better than sticking it in a confined space, where the only place moisture can go is in a small packet of desiccant, give it as much air as possible, and keep it warm.

Bit of an old trick that we used to use - providing the cold is not freezing temperature, take the lens back outside & get it cold again. Put it in a big plastic bag (plenty of space around the lens) and then bring it back in - the condensation *should* then form on the inside of the bag and not the lens as it gradually warms up. If temperature is freezing wouldn't suggest taking a lens with condensation outside again due to the risk of condensation turning to ice - sharp crystals and expanding ice in the mechanism may be a nightmare for the lens!

I agree with air circulation, warm it slowly (don't stick it straight on a radiator) open the item out as much as possible i.e. remove caps/filters/hoods/viewfinders/backs etc and give it time.

Used to do this often with F1 and FD lenses after getting soaked or condensation and they just kept on working. Always got wary of a battery after this and tended to replace them as a matter of course.

Sim2.