Desiccants...

So i'm here in Tokyo and since i had some time available, i went over to Yodobashi... electronic heaven... wow... even the damned song is hypnotizing... but it was a bit overwhelming...

anywhoo, near the bag section, they sold desiccant in a bag...

anyone use desiccants to store their gear?

yes - i throw the little packs I get from product packaging into my bags. I haven't researched to see whether that's a problem or not, but I assume its fine.

Desiccant packets are fine when everything is closed up tight inside a zip or tied plastic bag but to just keep the packet in the camera bag is pretty much useless.

The desiccant absorbs moisture from the air. Eventually it will not be able to absorb anymore, becoming useless, unless you put it into a low heat oven for 4-6 hours to dry it out again.

wow, i did not know that you can re-use desiccants that way...

I will add to what Naturalist said.

Using a dessicant inside anything but an airtight container is a very useless effort. For example, if you put dessicant bags into a conventional camera case (which is NOT airtight), all the moisture removed from within the case by the dessicant will be very quickly replaced by moisture in the air around the case.

I have never felt the need to seal up my equipment in an ultra-dry environment. I just keep my cameras in ordinary cases. I have several cameras that I bought in the mid 1960s and they are all still in quite good condition. I have lived in air-conditioned homes for the last ten years or so, but until then the moisture where my cameras was stored was the same as outdoors.

Actually, I do believe that there is a use in the camera bag. I have kept some of the little desiccant bags in a ziploc bag if I thought that I might get caught in the rain. I always dry my equipment off as best as I can before putting it back in the bag, but it gives me some peace to know that I can open the ziploc bag to let the desiccant help pull extra moisture out of things.

kinghong1970 wrote in post #10195418
So i'm here in Tokyo and since i had some time available, i went over to Yodobashi... electronic heaven...

am I jealous? You damn right, I am...

Next year, it's my turn (fingers crossed)...

I bought 2 desicant packs, actually aluminum packs with indicators, from Pelican. I keep one in my Pelican 1550, about as sealed as you're going to get, and one in my Plano box with my P&S cameras. It is not water proof but it's splash proof and there won't be any moisture unless i throw it in the pool or open it. The Pelican I can throw in the pool. Necessary??? I don't know. Call it a warm fuzzy.

Silica Gel is excellent for preventing fogging, moisture damage, and mold growth! Storing it with your camera equipment, or any electronics for that matter, can prevent a wide variety of problems. It is best to use fresh Silica Gel, not the packets you find in shoes or packed with new electronics.

Some packets can be reactivated, best to refer to the manufacturer guidelines there.

Searching "Silica Gel Packets" will get you an extensive list of online vendors. Be careful not to get Silica Gel that turns from blue to pink as it contains Cobalt Chloride which is toxic. There is a non-toxic option that turns from orange to green that is safe to use and reactivate.