TP: Protect your Lenses from Fungus

Forget abut this. It will not do any good and possibly harm the lens mechanism.

Put is back in original packaging and take it out once or twice a year to take some shots. Using the lens will ensure proper operation.

You read every day about 20-30 yr old Minoltas still functioning perfectly. I doubt if anyone went through and dehydrator to keep it fungus free.

If you are not using it, if not, sell it. Fungus on lens is due to misuse and/or abuse.

A SEALED plastic has no source of moisture and hence cannot suffer from condensation. My own preference is a tightly closed plastic storage box - available at very little cost in almost any size up to 20+ litres. The important thing is to make sure that you don't put anything in that is wet. There is no problem about opening it under damp air conditions as the amount of moist air take in is negligible. There is only a problem with condensation on a lens if it is continually exposed to moist air accompanied by big temperature changes. I would be wary about so called dry cabinets as they might chill the contents leading to condensation when the cabinet is opened!

For long term lens storage there really is no need to go to extremes. However, it is advisable to isolate the lens from each other just in case one is infected with fungus. Just put each lens in a polythene bag - it doesn't have to be fully sealed, but a zip lock bag squeezed around the lens before being closed to eliminate most of the air is probably ideal. Then put all the bags into a clip top plastic storage box. These are semi sealed. Don't bother with silica gel sachets, their ability to absorb moisture is very limited unless regularly regenerated, and they are only really effective if they start off in a very dry atmosphere as found in a modern optics factory. The poly bag is then sealed with the sachet. I am wary of any chemical desicants as they rely upon having a large surface area to absorb moisture - ideal conditions to harbour fungi. Some (not silica gel)absorb moisture to produce a wet chemical sludge which is corrosive.

For lenses in regular use, the most important factor is to try to maintain a constant temperature. This is most important when temperature and humidity high such as in the tropics. Part time air conditioning is the worst enemy, as is taking a camera or lens from an air conditioned building into the hot moist atmosphere outside without some protection. For that almost any plastic bag is effective until the camera /lens has reached ambient temperature. The opposite applies in very cold conditions when the camera / lens should be protected by a plastic bag when bringing it from the cold outside into a warm room.

ButchW wrote: Ha anyone tried using one of the food vacuum sealers like Foodsaver to store lenses in?....Maybe for long term storage?....Just a thought. Butch

I do that, I get 'zip lock' type freezer / food bags, and suck out as much air as possible then zip them up, then they go into cyclindrical plastic food storage jars.

I own lenses that I've had for several years and this keeps everything in tip-top condition when not in use.

I have four of these cabinets

For long term storage and if you want to keep lenses in a sealed plastic bag and don't use silica you should consider packing them on a cold dry winter day. The absolute moister content of the air is a lot less then on a warm/hot day.

After reading through this interesting thread, I got to wondering about my lenses. Here in Indiana, humidity is often an issue outdoors but with central heat and A/C, indoor humidity is negligible most of the year.

Then I remembered an old telezoom from film days that I still had around. I had purchased this 80-240 f/4 zoom from Spiratone back in the early 80's. (Yes, I am that old, thank you     ) I have not had it mounted to a camera since my Contax RTS died in the late 80's. Since then it has not actually been stored but rather 'abandoned' at the bottom of a box under a bunch of stuff. Most of this time the box has been situated under other boxes in an unheated garage.

So how has this ancient, cheap, abandoned lens fared after all this time and neglect? I dug it out from it's prison and it was pretty dusty on the outside, but the glass is as clear as, well, glass. Not a spot of anything except a very minor amount of dust motes inside. This lens is just as cheap and crappy as the day I bought it!   

While I have the greatest sympathy for any victims of fungus, I've decided to not worry too much about it. Maybe fungus doesn't like the cheap stuff, I don't know. I'm planning to keep my A mount stuff in use, keep it clean and dry, and I think I'll be OK.    

Mike