Climate change and your camera

Was going to post this on the "Broke my lens" thread but thought for those starting out it may be of help.

If you take your equipment from the warm into a cold atmosphere or the other way around, condensation may form on your camera or lens and cause damage if you attempt to use them before you have allowed time for the moisture to clear.

Do not try to change a lens or remove the dust cap until the camera and equipment has acclimatised or you could get water drops forming that could cause damage. Once had a lens steam up inside and never clear, have to say it still puts me off that make of lens although I would think they are different these days and most cameras are well sealed but just don’t take chances by removing the caps till all equipment has reach the same temperature as the surrounding air.

hey thanks for the tips !
i had no idea the y can effect the camera

Hmmm, not sure I can really agree with this in full, appreciate the helpful intent but maybe in an ideal world. When I was in the Middle East it was a pain if the camera kit had been kept inside in cool air conditioned room and then taken out into the very high heat and humidity. But give it a while and it always cleared, and much faster if you took off the lens from the body and any filters from the front. In the UK we have staff that keep (Nikon) camera kit in vehicles outside and it gets very cold and they are required to use them inside and outside as part of their work and they can't be waiting hours. Again lenses off and allow them to come up to temperature and condensation to clear at ambient temperature or even in a heated vehicle. A few days ago I went walking and travelled with the kit in the car boot to get it to ambient temperature ready for use on arrival.

I understand the issues and the warning but can't agree that you would have to wait so long with the equipment assembled and sealed (unlikely to be an air-tight seal). So long as you are reasonably careful, with the equipment either coming up to ambient temperature and humidity naturally if you can, or placing it body down, lens mount down to reduce dust intake I think practically that will solve the issue.

I have seen a sensor covered in condensation from a can of compressed air, very cold and wet, and then bits stuck to it.

Sure you are correct and in most cases you will get away with it, but as I have had a lens steam up and never loose the internal damp I thought I would mention it as it crossed my mind when reading of a different problem. In my case it was bringing the equipment from the boot of a car into a warm room and laying out the required equipment ready for use, most of the equipment was fine but one lens and one tape recorder were very sick the lens never recovered and in the end mold grew.

For a lens to remain 'steamed up' inside means that the lens seal has either perished or is damaged in some way to allow moisture ingress. Ordinarily, even in extremes of temperature only the exterior lens glass would be effected by condensation or moisture coating; either of which would very quickly clear once the lens cap were removed and exposed to the prevailing conditions.

As I said I have never bought a lens of that make again, it obviously was not sealed.

Perhaps my warning was pointless I was speaking about something that happened some long while ago and as I do not work under extreme conditions now I am not in a position where I could comment on todays equipment in such a situation. Still think I would take care removing the dust caps when the temperature has changed considerably but as you gentlemen say it may be unnecessary perhaps I am just too cautious as I would have to pay for the replacements.

Hi Guys, will move this to general photo chat as it's more of a debate on what method is best

Not really a discussion Azz it was me giving advice that is seems these days is unnecessary, I just remembered it happening and thought it may save it happening to someone else, no point in moving it may as well delete it.

I think it makes a valid discussion

I've not had any problems with my current lenses getting condensation inside them despite shooting in sub zero conditions in and out of a nice warm car.

I've had the odd problem with fog on the rear of the lenses when I've switched them over but it doesn't last.