Tips for preventing fungus on enlarger lenses?

[Julie McLeod]

I'm going to be setting up a darkroom in the basement in the coming months. I've been cautioned that fungus will potentially affect enlarger lenses in basement situations and though it doesn't seem to be a damp environment, I don't want to take any chances. What's the best way to prevent fungus? Remove the lenses and put them in a sealed ziploc bag?

Thanks.

 

[mehguy]

What I would do is just store them elsewhere and bring it down to the basement when you need them.

 

[photog_ed]

I keep my lenses in my basement darkroom here in damp New England. I have a dehumidifier in the darkroom, and another for the rest of the basement, both set to 40%. The one the darkroom is on a shelf, arranged to drain into the sink. No problems yet.

 

[Julie McLeod]

What I would do is just store them elsewhere and bring it down to the basement when you need them.

That might have been an okay solution but I just tested and the humidity is the same in both the basement and upstairs so that's not going to work!

 

[Julie McLeod]

I keep my lenses in my basement darkroom here in damp New England. I have a dehumidifier in the darkroom, and another for the rest of the basement, both set to 40%. The one the darkroom is on a shelf, arranged to drain into the sink. No problems yet.

Is 40% relative humidity a pretty good target to avoid fungus? I don't have the air conditioner running today and the humidity in the house is now around 45-46%.

 

[Paul Howell]

You can store all of your lens in a box with packets of silica gel, or you move to Arizona, today about 9%.

 

[photog_ed]

Is 40% relative humidity a pretty good target to avoid fungus? I don't have the air conditioner running today and the humidity in the house is now around 45-46%.

I have no hard data, but 40% feels comfortably dry. Without the dehumidifiers it's about 80% humidity down there in the summer. That definitely feels damp and I'd worry about fungus and mold in general.

It's just a hunch, but I'd expect lenses to less susceptible to mold and fungus than lots of other darkroom items like enlarger bellows and enlarging paper.

 

[benjiboy]

It's an unwritten convention of photography Julie never to leave lenses of any kind in a darkroom, not only because of dangers from humidity, but also chemical fumes .

 

[ic-racer]

Humidity 55 or less.

 

[Julie McLeod]

You can store all of your lens in a box with packets of silica gel, or you move to Arizona, today about 9%.

Silica gel sounds like a less drastic solution.

I have no hard data, but 40% feels comfortably dry. Without the dehumidifiers it's about 80% humidity down there in the summer. That definitely feels damp and I'd worry about fungus and mold in general.

It's just a hunch, but I'd expect lenses to less susceptible to mold and fungus than lots of other darkroom items like enlarger bellows and enlarging paper.

Okay, those are good points. I think it's only going to be a concern in the Fall and Spring, when we aren't heating or air conditioning. I think a dehumidifier sounds like a plan.

It's an unwritten convention of photography Julie never to leave lenses of any kind in a darkroom, not only because of dangers from humidity, but also chemical fumes .

Thank you for that tip, Ben.

Humidity 55 or less.

Great, thanks.

 

[eddie]

Julie-if possible, store your lenses and paper outside of the darkroom. Not only for fungus but, if you do any sulphide toning, the toner can fog your paper.
I have a dehumidifier running full time in the lens/ paper room (directly outside of the darkroom). In DC's hot, humid summer, it's removing about 3.5 - 4 gallons of water every 24 hours. I don't run one in the darkroom while working- only after sessions. I don't like the noise, and it will actually suck up the water from your chemicals ( probably only noticeable during long sessions, though).

 

[Julie McLeod]

Julie-if possible, store your lenses and paper outside of the darkroom. Not only for fungus but, if you do any sulphide toning, the toner can fog your paper.
I have a dehumidifier running full time in the lens/ paper room (directly outside of the darkroom). In DC's hot, humid summer, it's removing about 3.5 - 4 gallons of water every 24 hours. I don't run one in the darkroom while working- only after sessions. I don't like the noise, and it will actually suck up the water from your chemicals ( probably only noticeable during long sessions, though).

Those are useful suggestions and quite doable. Thanks.

 

[MattKing]

The humidity indoors during Ottawa's winter will probably help.

Air flow also helps. If you seal up your lenses in a humid environment, fungus is encouraged. If your lenses are open to the air in a busy hall way, not so much.

 

[Julie McLeod]

The humidity indoors during Ottawa's winter will probably help.

Air flow also helps. If you seal up your lenses in a humid environment, fungus is encouraged. If your lenses are open to the air in a busy hall way, not so much.

Hi Matt. In the months where the inside humidity might be high, would keeping lenses in a box with a desiccant be preferable to open air storage?

 

[Neal]

Dear Julie,

The humidity number you gave are super. If it stays that way you will be fine.

Enjoy your new darkroom,

Neal Wydra

 

[Julie McLeod]

Dear Julie,

The humidity number you gave are super. If it stays that way you will be fine.

Enjoy your new darkroom,

Neal Wydra

Thank you, Neal. It's a fun adventure.

 

[Luis-F-S]

I keep my lenses in my basement darkroom here in damp New England. I have a dehumidifier in the darkroom, and another for the rest of the basement, both set to 40%. The one the darkroom is on a shelf, arranged to drain into the sink. No problems yet.

+1

 

[Jeff Bradford]

I use a dehumidifier set to 40%, two UV-C sterilizer lamps, and an air conditioner when necessary to keep fungus at bay. Without these, my space would be growing mushrooms like a cave. Fungus likes darkness with humidity above 60%. 60% humidity at 85F is a whole lot more water in the air than 40% at 70F. Follow exposure advisories with UV-C lamps.

 

[Gerald C Koch]

What I would do is just store them elsewhere and bring it down to the basement when you need them.

+1

I might add that a darkroom is a bad place to store anything because of the humidity.. Keep film and paper somewhere .

 

[paul ron]

ziploc bag n desicant packs. be sure the packets have been dried before throwing m in.

BTW your enlarger is at risk as well.. condensers, filters, etc.