Lens storage in a hard case

Is there any problem with storing a lens in a hard case like a Pelican? It is in a climate controlled (heat/air conditioning) part of the house.

zero problems storing in a hard case. My 500F4 never comes out of its case unless I shoot with it. Most of my primes are 12 yrs old and they look like new...they are stored in a pelican

duckster wrote in post #19347860
Is there any problem with storing a lens in a hard case like a Pelican? It is in a climate controlled (heat/air conditioning) part of the house.

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forum: Canon Lenses

You will often hear about "outgassing" from foam being a potential hazard to glass surfaces such as lenses. Having said that several years ago I approached Pelican about the potential of outgassing and they said it would not occur with the foam they used. I do know the some people leave the case open for a few weeks after receipt just to be sure.

Note that numerous knock offs cases (like Harbor Freight) are in the market place so with those brands all bets are off! You'll hear people say Harbor Freight are also OK but when you encounter the problem, perhaps several months later, it is too late and the lenses may have to be professionally cleaned.

I have not heard the term "outgassing". What is that?

duckster wrote in post #19348051
I have not heard the term "outgassing". What is that?

Don't fret over this. Unless you cook your items in heat or leave it somewhere so it gets over 120 degrees F or more in a car in direct sunlight or something, you won't be worrying about this. The same thing would happen from a lot of lubricants and greases used in various lenses when they get too hot even not in a case, but just sitting in the car seat exposed to direct sunlight all day.

You said you're storing in climate control, so you're good. The two worst things for any of your stored electronics and/or glass is going to be 1) heat and 2) moisture. Extreme heat will do bad things with various chemicals (and I'm talking high heat, not common ambient temperatures you're walking around in). And moisture is bad for obvious biological reasons when it comes to spores and resulting fungus and how much they like dark moist places.

Very best,

Thanks. That makes me feel better.

I don't leave any of my camera gear in the car, both for heat/cold reasons and for theft reasons so that should be good.

Outgassing happens to many plastics and foams, and it does NOT take heat
Back around 40 years ago I bought high end loadspeakers for my home, and the surrounds on the speakers had deteriorated so that I had to get new drivers from the manufacturer about 1995.
Plasticizers naturally come out...some forms of plastic or foam worse than others.

So, something in the plastic breaks down when then damages the lens?

duckster wrote in post #19348051
I have not heard the term "outgassing". What is that?

I do outgassing after I've eaten Mexican food.

duckster wrote in post #19348158
So, something in the plastic breaks down when then damages the lens?

Plasticizer is used in manufacture of foam and many other plastics...keeps things flexible/pliable, less brittle. The plasticizer comes out of the plastics, causing foam to break down/turn gooey, and hard plastics to become brittle. Ever notice what plastic tarps do under the sun?
Plasticizer from auto upholstery is what coats the windshield and other glass interiors...its vaporization is accelerated by heat of hot interiors.

Pelican, Apache, etc, will not outgas/offgas from their foam or any parts inside them. They are safe and a great way to store your lenses and other optical gear and electronics. No need to get into the endless discussion of outgassing with endless tangents and useless pathways towards fear.

I have many thousands of dollars worth of unique sub-angstrom filter systems in my Pelicans and Apaches, for years in my observatory here in Florida which is not sealed from the environment, with zero issue, many times over and there's zero difference in real world application between the Pelicans and Apaches I use. Sure, this is anecdotal on my part, but you can absolutely call their support and ask technical questions instead of trusting us random know-everything people on the internet. Your camera and lenses will be fine.

Very best,

I know when an acrid comment is aimed in my direction. OK, read this https://www.nature.com​/articles/s41529-019-0080-7

that is NOT to say 'all plastics and all foams' will break down! Merely answering the questions posed by participants of the thread, not being alarmist.

Wilt wrote in post #19348260
I know when an acrid comment is aimed in my direction. OK, read this https://www.nature.com​/articles/s41529-019-0080-7

that is NOT to say 'all plastics and all foams' will break down! Merely answering the questions posed by participants of the thread, not being alarmist.

Buy good stuff like that mentioned by @MalVeauX and it isn't a problem.
From the cited article:

Good, high quality, foam will last a long time.

duckster wrote in post #19348051
I have not heard the term "outgassing". What is that?

Why don't you Google the term "outgassing"? You will likely learn more than just reading what people post here.

I will tell you this, outgassing is not prevalent today in well made foam inserts. Whether it occurs or not remains to be seen. But not too many years ago I had a Mercedes Benz and about every two weeks in the summer months (I live near Philadelphia) you had to clean off a haze on the inside surface of the windshield. It was very annoying and it was due to gases coming off vinyl parts of the interior. In the winter, not too much of an issue due to cooler temperatures.

I did Google it, not really any clear definition, especially as it pertained to storage so I thought I would ask the person who used the term, that is all.