how do you store your lenses against fungus?

V

Victor Nhat Nguyen

Well-known member
I am deathly afraid of fungus. I live in Houston so it's dry most of the time. Should I be afraid? Fungus needs high humidity and darkness. If you use your lenses every now and then you shouldn't have a problem right? Or should I be safe and get an air tight container and put some silica gels in it. I already have a self indicating silica pack.
 
Fungus need the right humidity, temperature and nutrients to grow. Using the lens often does not prevent molds/fungus from growing. It can still grow as long as the condition is right. If you are afraid and want to be safe all the time, just buy a dry cabinet. I have a digi-cabi to keep all my lenses and cameras.
Link: http://www.digihub.com.sg/index.php?route=product/category&path=20_27
It's a one time investment that keeps all my expensive lens and cameras safe.
 
I had mine for more than 3 years, and no issue at all. But check with a local brand/distributor first. If it needs servicing it would be easier.
 
Get one with a humidity meter. That way when something goes wrong you know. I live in a subtropical area and will also blast them with UV light from time to time.
 
Thats sweet david, I have a couple pelicans, I should set up like yours. Do you know where I can buy new foam to fit these, IM pretty sure mine are the same size as yours.
 
But David... fungus needs darkness to grow and it's pretty dark in that case. If there's high humidity then you have a really high chance of getting fungus. BTW, what lenses are those?
 
B&H sells the foam. It's not cheap, but most of the online prices are all about the same. I need some foam for my Pelicans as well, I wonder if a local foam place would be cheaper?
 
Victor Nhat Nguyen said:
But David... fungus needs darkness to grow and it's pretty dark in that case. If there's high humidity then you have a really high chance of getting fungus. BTW, what lenses are those?
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I think you are being paranoid!!!

Lens fungus is caused by fugnus spores entering the lens and moisture. While it is easier for fungus to grow in dark conditions, it is not necessary. Would you propose I store my lenses on my driveway so they are always bathed in direct sunlight?

By the way, the lenses in question are 30+ year old Zeiss lenses which do not have fungus.
 
Exposing your lenses to mid day direct sunlight for a couple of hours, or UVB light sources like a tanning bed, will kill any mold spores that happen to get inside them. Won't kill active fungus though. I have done this with my vintage lenses set so the sun enters them directly, with the irises full open and aluminum foil on the back side to reflect the light back through the lens.
Occasional servicing, clean, lube and collimation by a certified tech is not a bad idea either.
 
David W. Jones said:
I think you are being paranoid!!!

Lens fungus is caused by fugnus spores entering the lens and moisture. While it is easier for fungus to grow in dark conditions, it is not necessary. Would you propose I store my lenses on my driveway so they are always bathed in direct sunlight?

By the way, the lenses in question are 30+ year old Zeiss lenses which do not have fungus.
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yeah, I thought I was being paranoid. Guess a silica gel pack would be fine if I travel to higher humidity place. So what type of Zeiss are those? it seems like you cinemod it or something.
 
Isn't there a compromise between keeping the lenses in a humidity that is neither high enough for fungus to be a problem, nor low enough for the lens mechanisms to deterioriate? I thought extremely low humidity was bad for the some lens stuff (lubrication, rubber), etc.

Also, if you keep your lenses in a box with foam, I think it might be a good idea to also put each lens in an individually sealed plastic bag (dry, of course). I'm pretty sure all foams outgas and I remember some people mentioning that after a while that can create a haze in lens elements.
 
MalfunctioningHuman said:
Isn't there a compromise between keeping the lenses in a humidity that is neither high enough for fungus to be a problem, nor low enough for the lens mechanisms to deterioriate? I thought extremely low humidity was bad for the some lens stuff (lubrication, rubber), etc.

Also, if you keep your lenses in a box with foam, I think it might be a good idea to also put each lens in an individually sealed plastic bag (dry, of course). I'm pretty sure all foams outgas and I remember some people mentioning that after a while that can create a haze in lens elements.
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I know this is an old post, but it looks like nobody is answering. Foam won't protect your lenses against fungus. You need to purchase a dry cabinet. I picked up a small one, enough for a few cameras and lenses, for only $65 USD here in Vietnam, where the humidity is super high. I keep the cabinet at a constant 40 humidity level. Somewhere between 35 and 45 is okay. Too dry, and the lubricants and stuff in the gear will dry out. If you are in a dry climate, I wouldn't worry about it. Here in SouthEast Asia, dry cabinets are an outright necessity. Fortunately, it is cheap insurance.
 
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