Fungus problems

[Rubbahumpy]

Hello Ive owned an slr camera for about a year and did a few bulb exposures that fogged up the lens. Someone told me this could have caused fungus build up in the lens. Is there any way to minimize fungus growth? Silica bags? Is it really unavoidable

[mtndew]

where was your len and camera before you did your shooting???
I keep a few silcone packs in my camera bag to help cut down on fogging.
I get them from athlete shoe stores they usually are in the boxes from shoes that is sent over seas to keep them fresh and from drying out

[RDKirk]

Hello Ive owned an slr camera for about a year and did a few bulb exposures that fogged up the lens. Someone told me this could have caused fungus build up in the lens. Is there any way to minimize fungus growth? Silica bags? Is it really unavoidable

What do you mean by "bulb exposures that fogged up the lens?" It doesn't sound likely to me.

Fungus exists everywhere including on and inside your lens, but it needs two things to start growing: 70 percent relative humidity for 24 straight hours. If it gets those two things, it will start to grow. If you deny it either one, you keep it at bay. I lived in the tropics (Okinawa, Philippines) for several years, and never had problems by just not preventing my equipment from ever being in 70 percent humidity for 24 straight hours.

If you live in an airconditioned home, that's good enough. The eight or so hours will break the 24 hour cycle, even if you take the equipment out into humid conditions during the day. But the first rule is: Never store your equipment in bags or cases--that's like keeping it in a humidor. Bags and cases are for transport. Put it out where it can get a bit of air flow. Most rooms have varying humidity--toward the center will be the lowest humidity, but in the lower corners will be the highest humidity.

A lot of people try to keep down humidity by removing moisture from the air. That is very difficult, and it's mostly futile. Remember, though, that RELATIVE humidity is a matter of both moisture AND temperature. The easier thing to do is to raise the humidity by raising the temperature a few degrees--just a few degrees will do it.

Rifle owners buy "dry boxes" that are basically ventilated cabinets with low-wattage heating elements. What I did was to commandeer a kitchen cabinet and mount a 40-watt light in the lower part. I added a couple of shelves and kept my equipment on the shelves covered with light, well-washed towels to keep off dust. I turned the light on during the night. It was very easy to maintain. No fungus over the course of years, and during monsoon seasons, it was so humid there was mildew on the living room walls!

[2goldens]

Great information. I don't store my equipment in my bag, but I have left them in the bags for a few days until I got around to cleaning up the items. I will not be doing that again. Thanks

Anthony

[Loekito]

How about the dry box that had no ventilation at all. It's just a box that have a built-in hygrometer and a seal around it's door to prevent any outside air to come in.
The dry box also comes with an "electric silica gel" that will maintin the humidity around 40-50.

Is that kind of dry boxes are safe for our lenses?

regards,

Loekito