Fog Inside 17-40 and 70-200

Took my gear to a car show last night, Had the 17-40 attached and it started to heavily rain. I got to cover as quick as I could not worrying about the camera but more so the lenses. Keep in mind both lenses still perform perfectly fine, The 70-200 seems okay with a few lite smudges on the inside. The 17-40 however is a mess. Around the front ring it looks to be fine but the center has a huge "Fog Look" on the inside of the glass. The lens still works perfectly fine but this worries be a bit. I know there are several ways to handle this but would like to know your guys opinion on it. I am trying to avoid sending it in the canon as I literally just got the lens. Would rather return it back to best buy if that was the case.

My gut feeling is to say put it on rice for a while and try to draw the moisture out. Not sure if it would help, but it shouldn't hurt!

Heya,

Now you know why Canon states it's partially weather sealed, needs a filter to complete the seal. Even then, not perfectly sealed. Just resistant.

Sit it in some rice to dry it out. That moisture means there is potential for fungus to now grow.

Or, take it back to where you bought it and get a replacement if you can if it really worries you.

I shoot at the ocean, on the water, from a kayak and get wet all the time. Everything still works. Don't worry too much about these things, they're tools, it'll be ok!

Very best,

MalVeauX wrote in post #17912982
Heya,

Now you know why Canon states it's partially weather sealed, needs a filter to complete the seal. Even then, not perfectly sealed. Just resistant.

Sit it in some rice to dry it out. That moisture means there is potential for fungus to now grow.

Or, take it back to where you bought it and get a replacement if you can if it really worries you.

I shoot at the ocean, on the water, from a kayak and get wet all the time. Everything still works. Don't worry too much about these things, they're tools, it'll be ok!

Very best,

I already knew that but thank you very much for the information. Rice seems to be my best option.

I think it would be immoral to return it. That's just me.

Frodge wrote in post #17913339
I think it would be immoral to return it. That's just me.

Fair enough, Don't want to return it but It would go back to Canon regardless if I send it in or return. Best Buy will not resell it.

immoral is a bit strong but I sort of agree with what you are saying. however, returns of this sort are already factored into the cost of business for these stores who would be out of business if they did not have a lenient return policy, and the lens would be returned to canon and either discarded or refurbished.

Florida has high humidity so a Dry Cabinet would be worthwhile.
I have a Legend/Wonderful dry cabinet. My gear is currently sitting in a 40% humidity micro climate and mould requires 55% humidity to grow.

I would try rice in a sealed container and would an elevated temperature help evaporate the moisture? (I am thinking of putting it near a heater)

I wouldn't bother with rice. I'd use some fresh bags of silica gel. Either lots of the small sachets you get with lenses, cameras and bags or bigger sachets as with lots of larger IT hardware. Old silica gel can be reactivated by placing in an electric oven at 105 degree C. Industrial silica gel indicates when damp by changing colour so you know when it needs reactivating.

Silica Gel is much better than rice. It can be found in craft stores, they sell it in various size bags for drying flowers. I used it to dry out a cell phone and it worked great.

Rice trick did not work at all, So I decided to open the front of the lens. It was actually quite easy, cleaned the back of the front element then put everything back. took less than 5 minutes.

https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=ZCxeG3IQFTU

DJHaze596 wrote in post #17914240
Rice trick did not work at all, So I decided to open the front of the lens. It was actually quite easy, cleaned the front element then put everything back. took less than 5 minutes.

https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=ZCxeG3IQFTU

Put it under some UV light for good measure. You opened it. So if it didn't have fungus before, it does now (spores anyways). You'll want it to be dry and cook some UV light through the elements if you can (be it natural sun light or a lamp with a UV capable bulb, etc). It's nothing dire. Just a precaution that costs you nothing more than a little bit of time to ensure some growth doesn't begin in a dark cool bag, where it will flourish with a bit of moisture introduced to it (ie, water vapor).

Very best,

DJHaze596 wrote in post #17914240
Rice trick did not work at all, So I decided to open the front of the lens. It was actually quite easy, cleaned the back of the front element then put everything back. took less than 5 minutes.

https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=ZCxeG3IQFTU

Nicely done!