Just how fragile are these cameras?

So, let me paint a scenario here. I'm just gettin really paranoid.

Let's say that there is a family reunion, and one of the family members asks me to take some portraits of the family while there. So, let's say I have a bit more equipment by then. I pack up my lights and pack my camera in my CompuTrekker, and hit the road blastin the A/C the whole way.

I get there, park in the shade, and walk in to meet and greet. I find out that they don't want the portraits done until after they eat (probably another two hours). That's fine, but I don't want to wait that long to snap some shots. So, I head out and find my niece and my cousins' kids playin in the back yard with their parents. I ask the parents if they'd like a few shots, and of course they say yes.

So, I grab my Dreb out of very cool and dry car (hasn't had time to warm up), and bring it straight into the outdoors where it's 15 degrees warmer and very high humidity. I snap off shots for a half hour, and then it's time to eat. I don't want to necessarily leave my camera inside as kids might accidentally get into it. So, I go back, put it in my CompuTrekker in my car, and go inside. Of course, my car hasn't yet gotten warm (still in the shade), but it's getting muggy inside the car now.

An hour later, I go out, get my lights and my camera, come inside, set them up, and then snap off a few shots with a flash exposure meter to make sure everything is ready to go. Then, I start taking portraits. I get done, pack up my stuff, and back out to the car it goes...again, still cool, but gettin very muggy now.

I stay for another hour to talk, then drive home.

Ok, now, I've exposed the camera to a big heat change and fairly high humidity. In this particular situation, would I need to go over the camera millimeter by millimeter when I got home to make sure that it wasn't moist and no cracks had been caused by the 15 degree temperature change? Or is this fairly normal treatment for DSLR's?

Again, I know it seems extreme, but after having bad experiences with Drebs, hearing horror stories about mold and mildew in the lens, and being warned against quick temperature changes, I'm starting to wonder just how fragile these cameras are...or can they hold up to this kind of treatment listed above?

Thanks in advace

FlipsidE

Well, it's not what you'd *routinely* want to put your gear through followed by a quick "sling it in the basement 'til next time". But I'd be surprised if, using normal care (did you have a film camera before your digital?), you had any problems. Unless you live in the tropics (N'awlins, for an example, or maybe Congo). Remember, the primary reason there's a problem with glasses/optics/equipme​nt fogging when you bring it into the house in winter is because there's a substantial (50+ deg. F/30+ deg. C) difference in temperature. 10-15 deg. F isn't that big a deal.

Yeah, I'm not planning to just throw it in the basement when I get back. All my camera gear right now goes in my computer room (which is where I spend most of my time). It's in one of the bedrooms in my towhhouse. So, it's not a big deal of afterwards. I've just heard stories about high humidity causing mold/mildew if it's returned to the bag and sealed up before it gets a chance to dry out first. Well, unfortunately, the opportunity to let it dry before putting it in the bag doesn't always present itself.

FlipsidE

It's not going to happen in 3-4 hours. It takes some time, even after the equipment's developed the necessary film of grime/nutrients, for things to develop. Lens cements used to be organic, which provided a ready-made base. There are so many more synthetics available now that this isn't a problem. You could always invest in a non-air-tight bag. I'm partial to Domke's canvas ones.

The main thing is to store your gear covered in a relatively dust-free, dry, not-too-warm place that has good air circulation. I would not store in sealed plastic bags that are more likely to hold things in than let them evaporate. Cameras aren't that fragile, but mineral dust, bangs, bumps and drops aren't camera friendly either,

I've lugged cameras all over the world in all kinds of climates and weather generally with no problems. Only once did I lose a camera and lenses to humidity, but that was primarily due to it being stored and not used for a year or more in the tropics, and not stored with enough air circulation.

Reasonable care and common sense are probably enough. You wouldn't keep your computer in a dark dank room with no air, so the same would apply to camera gear. Use is good for cameras.

Don't worry too much. Your camera gear will outlast your fears and then some. I've taken my film gear in pretty harsh environments in the USA and India (dust, humidity, etc.) and not have had any problems. You might need to clean your sensor cover more often in those environments.

If you are worried about moisture damage, store your gear in a cool, well ventilated area. If you must put it back in a bag or pack after using it where condensation can be a problem, then put a pack of Drierite (http://www.drierite.co​m/) dessicant (or something similiar - like that silica gel that comes in shoeboxes) to absorb all the moisture. This will keep fungus and other organisms from growing inside of your gear.

This is my first winter with a drebel, any tips on "proper" coming in from the cold?

The procedure I use is as follows when coming in from outside in winter:

If it is just the camera and lens - put it in a large sealed ziplock freezer bag for a few (3-4) hours.

If it is the camera bag with all the goodies inside (camera,lenses etc) - put it in a heavy duty garbage bag and leave the bag wrapped up for a few (5-6) hours.

I always take out the CF card and put it in a ziplock so I can process the images in about an hour instead of waiting from 3-6 hours.

Hope this helps.

I'm not sure I understand. If you want to dry them out after being outdoors, wouldn't it be best to leave them out versus in a garbage bag? They can't get any air circulation in a garbage bag.

FlipsidE

Flipside,

The idea is that after coming in from outside your camera and gear is cold and that the air in the house is warm (and humid). This combination might allow the water to condense on the camera and gear getting it wet.

If however, you put it in a bag, the outside air (being colder thus containing less moisture) is around your gear when you go inside. Any moisture would condense on the bag and not your equipment.

As an added bonus as the air in the bag heats up it expands and actually drops the moisture percent (same amount of moisture in a larger volume) tending to dry out your equipment. Once the equipment is at room temperature you can take it out of the bag (if you want). Of course this only works to dry if outdoors is colder than indoors. The opposite would work for a place that it is hot and humid outdoors and cold inside (airconditioned).

Still as I said before, the idea is to allow any moisture to condense on the bag and not the equipment.