Foggy Optics ...

[Digital Prophet]

Here in Houston we have hot humid summers, as some of you may know. Well my problem is that I drive somewhere or come outside and my lenses, mirror and pentamirror are all getting terribly fogged up. My glasses do it too, but I can just take those off and wipe the condensation of.

Is there any trick/product I can use to avoid this? I guess it may just be unavoidable considering that when the heat index hit 100+ (very common here) there can be a 20 degree difference or more between indoor and outdoor temperatures.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

- Digital Prophet -

[Photorob]

Sorry no solutions but same problem only worse in Orlando, I did live in Houston for three years before relocating here. They make no fog solution for glasses that I used to use but I would not think of putting this on my lenses.

[Tom W]

Condensation - cold glass vs. warm, humid air. I'd say leave the cap on for about 15 minutes to allow the lens to warm up a bit before removing the cap. This kind-of ruins the spontaneity of the situation though.

It might also be possible to reduce the temperature differential between where the camera is stored or carried, and where it is to be used. 20+ degrees F. is quite a big change.

The astronomy folks deal with this issue a lot with their telescopes, so you may want to search one of their web sites.

[maderito]

Here in Houston we have hot humid summers, as some of you may know. Well my problem is that I drive somewhere or come outside and my lenses, mirror and pentamirror are all getting terribly fogged up. My glasses do it too, but I can just take those off and wipe the condensation of.

Is there any trick/product I can use to avoid this? I guess it may just be unavoidable considering that when the heat index hit 100+ (very common here) there can be a 20 degree difference or more between indoor and outdoor temperatures.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

- Digital Prophet -
People I've met from Houston say that they venture *only* into air-conditioned spaces. I had assumed that included photographers as well. Have you considered an ice cooler for your camera? Or even a plastic bag filled with de-humidified, conditioned air? :roll:

[IndyJeff]

A plastic bag which can be sealed, with the camera in it, would possibly help. Before you leave the air conditioning bag the camera and lens. Once you get out in the hot air allow the air in the bag to warm up. Condensation should form on the bag and not the camera or the lens glass.
One thing you may not have considered, if your getting condensation on the glass imagine what is happening inside the camera to the various electronic parts as to condensation. One day you will go to use the camera and it may not work again because of damage caused by moisture to internal parts.

[Tom W]

A plastic bag which can be sealed, with the camera in it, would possibly help. Before you leave the air conditioning bag the camera and lens. Once you get out in the hot air allow the air in the bag to warm up. Condensation should form on the bag and not the camera or the lens glass.
One thing you may not have considered, if your getting condensation on the glass imagine what is happening inside the camera to the various electronic parts as to condensation. One day you will go to use the camera and it may not work again because of damage caused by moisture to internal parts.

Very good point, Jeff! It makes a ton of sense!

[Bubber Jones]

I have the same problem here in GA. I feel like I'm living in Orlando again. :D Am I really at risk of damaging my gear like this? Is the plastic bag the only trick? It is just impossible not to go from a/c to hot and 400% humidity. I'm just asking for the sake of my gear...

(I realize that it's impossible to achieve 400% humidity. It was just an illustration of our hot summer nights and days...)

[Digital Prophet]

Well I have been thinking about this and I have come to the conclusion that the problem is that I use my camera outside. But when I am inside it is getting too cold due to the fact that I don't enjoy sweltering 24/7 and have the AC on.

So I am thinking that I might use one of these (http://www.9thtee.com/reheater.htm). I am thinking that I can toss one of these in my case or bag before I get to where I am going and it will slowly heat the air in there and the optics/camera also.

Other than this I am just going to have to take my chances.

- Digital Prophet -

[santa]

the comment that mentioned the other electronics hit an important nail on the head. that condensation is occuring internally too - or at least quite likely is occuring. Continued daily misting with water on electrical parts.

As an Alaskan I'm familair with it from the other direction. Going from a cold outdoors into a warm home. The humidity is not high but the temperature differential is huge. Same thing. And we don't let it happen. In our case we are usually DONE shooting so we wrap the camera up before bringing it indoors, in a baggy or just well wrapped so it raises temp slowly.

If you put the camera in a bag with a heating pad as you suggest, it would probably work, but you'd have to do that somewhat slowly too. If you just set the camera on the heating pocket (way too hot) you'd cause condensation internally and maybe externally, but you could do something to warm the camera up slowly. Put the camera in your camera case and put the hot pack in a pocket in the case so as to warm the case slowly. Put the pack in their 1/2 before you do and don't open the bag till you get outside. Some variation of that should work. A couple of small thermometers would help immeasurably in learning a good process to get the temp of the bag as high as the outdoors.