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Ideal Storage Temperature & Humidity


efftee

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I would think that somewhere in the 40-60% relative humidity (Non-condensing.) and a temperature in the 15-25 C range should be OK. (Keeping the temperature closer to ambient will help prevent condensation forming when you take the camera and lenses out.) I wouldn't keep your batteries in there though. It's drying out that tends to kill them. :)

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I would think that somewhere in the 40-60% relative humidity (Non-condensing.) and a temperature in the 15-25 C range should be OK. (Keeping the temperature closer to ambient will help prevent condensation forming when you take the camera and lenses out.) I wouldn't keep your batteries in there though. It's drying out that tends to kill them. :)

 

Thanks, SJP and Nicole. Just how bad is it for the battery? It's quite a pain to be fiddling with the battery everytime it goes in the cabinet.

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The battery itself is (or should be) hermetically sealed, so it should be insensitive to changing environment. The constant temperature and RH should prevent condensation/moisture etc. so that is presumably good for the electronics. Why did you get this cabinet - are you in a high humidity part of the world, tropics or the like?

 

In a moderate climate standard living room/office conditions should be good enough & climatisation should not be necessary.

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I am not aware of many people keeping their other electronic components in a humidor where there is high humidity.

 

It is Leica after all and while not sealed, is intended to survive in environments where humans live and press shutters.

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The battery itself is (or should be) hermetically sealed, so it should be insensitive to changing environment. The constant temperature and RH should prevent condensation/moisture etc. so that is presumably good for the electronics. Why did you get this cabinet - are you in a high humidity part of the world, tropics or the like?

 

In a moderate climate standard living room/office conditions should be good enough & climatisation should not be necessary.

 

Yes Stephen, I'm in Singapore, where the humidity is up in the 90's. With the high humidity and quite severe temperature change from night (18ºC; air-conditioner on) to day (30ºC; air-conditioner off), a dry cabinet is quite necessary. I just replaced a simple dry box with a cabinet that has some 'environmental' controls and wondering what the ideal temp and humidity would be. :)

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living in hong kong and working around the region the humidity is mostly high in the region of 70-98%. i consider a relatively inexpensive dry cabinet essential gear particularly to prevent the formation of mold or fungus between lens elements, leica or not. after a long, hot day i store lenses overnight with end and front caps off in the dry cabinet at around 50%RH and same goes for the camera especially during typhoon season or if it gets wet. it's common sense here, really but may not seem so from a less temperate perspective

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Just picked up a dry cabinet and wondering what's the ideal temperature and humidity for an M8, lenses, etc. Thanks in advance for your comments. :)

 

Hi,

 

As I lived in a tropical country, I have been keeping my M and R equipment in a dry cabinet for years. The recommended RH is around 40-45% as this will prevent fungus from growing. Do not use a very low RH, <25% as this might dry out the oil and lubricants.

 

N.S. Ng

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I maybe spending some time in Guangzhou next year (investigative stage still) and would be living on a university campus with good, but not brilliant accommodation - if I wanted to get a dry cabinet, anyone with an ideas on whether this would be available in the PRC and how much it's likely to cost? (I lived in Sri Lanka for 4 years and saw what the climate could do to kit. With an M6 the mould could be cleaned off the shutter - I'd not like to mess with an electronic camera to that extent though...

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I maybe spending some time in Guangzhou next year (investigative stage still) and would be living on a university campus with good, but not brilliant accommodation - if I wanted to get a dry cabinet, anyone with an ideas on whether this would be available in the PRC and how much it's likely to cost? (I lived in Sri Lanka for 4 years and saw what the climate could do to kit. With an M6 the mould could be cleaned off the shutter - I'd not like to mess with an electronic camera to that extent though...

 

Chris:

Just found this on eBay: item number 260467694001. Looks decent enough.:)

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N.S., thanks for the <25% tip!

 

Chris, dry cabinets are easily found in camera stores in Asia, even the electronic ones, and they are considerably less expensive than what you can find online, including on eBay.

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N.S., thanks for the <25% tip!

 

Chris, dry cabinets are easily found in camera stores in Asia, even the electronic ones, and they are considerably less expensive than what you can find online, including on eBay.

 

Thanks for this - advice noted! :)

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First time I stayed in Japan, I witnessed my wallpaper slowing coming off due to the high humidity. A dry cabinet is considered essential here and most auctions/ads on resale especially Leica specifically mention storage in a dry cabinet to allay any mold/fungus fears.

 

I keep mine in the 50-60% and temp around 70.

 

Best regards,

Arif

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I use the humidity absorption recipients and just change the white granules every few months. Anyone els use this?

I use humidity absorption recipients (in a linen packet) as well by putting them in the tight-seal plastic box which houses a few lenses and the m8. I also put a thermometer with RH gauge insdie the box to monitor the climate info. I didn't realize <25% maybe harmful but now I learn and will find a way to 'control' it.

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