jrethorst Posted August 31, 2009 Share #1 Posted August 31, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Another thread on the forum, How to Store Equipment, addresses more general issues, but doesn't especially discuss humidity. I live in Seattle, which is humid, and thought I should pack the camera with desiccant bags. An apparently knowledgeable manager of a local camera store said that would not be a good idea, since the desiccant would draw so much moisture out of the air it would dry out the camera's seals, which would then crack as a result. I would not have thought that modern "rubber" (i.e. petroleum-based chemical) seals contained any water. He said just inside (not garage or basement) would be fine. What do you think? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 31, 2009 Posted August 31, 2009 Hi jrethorst, Take a look here Storing a camera -- with desiccant?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
marknorton Posted August 31, 2009 Share #2 Posted August 31, 2009 I'm not expert but I would have thought Seattle is not humid like Singapore is humid. On the other hand, I'm not sure what seals the "apparently knowledgeable manager" is referring to. I must have missed them when I took my M8 apart. Basically, if the place where you store you camera is comfortable for you, it will be fine for the camera. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicanut2 Posted September 5, 2009 Share #3 Posted September 5, 2009 My last house I lived it I did not store my canon A1 with desiccant 15 years no trouble moved into my next rat trap of a house and in one year I had fungus junk growing on my viewfinder now I alway use desiccant in the metal tin with the window that way I know when to bake it bring back to life. Pelican cases are good to, the desiccant in the tin is made by pelican. Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubice Posted September 5, 2009 Share #4 Posted September 5, 2009 Another thread on the forum, How to Store Equipment, addresses more general issues, but doesn't especially discuss humidity. I live in Seattle, which is humid, and thought I should pack the camera with desiccant bags. An apparently knowledgeable manager of a local camera store said that would not be a good idea, since the desiccant would draw so much moisture out of the air it would dry out the camera's seals, which would then crack as a result. I would not have thought that modern "rubber" (i.e. petroleum-based chemical) seals contained any water. He said just inside (not garage or basement) would be fine. What do you think? I live in Vancouver - about 120 miles north from you and - about 1/4 mile form the ocean. If you think Seattle is humid, you have not visited the East Coast, the Great Lakes region or South-East Asia. Now - THAT is humid! Seriously - in Seattle you should have no problems with humidity; it may rain more than elsewhere but, the air is relatively dry. My cameras are all over the place - cabinets, drawers, bags etc, with no Silica gel desiccant in sight and have been 'stored' like that since I moved to Vancouver 30 years ago. No fungus, oxidation, or any other humidity related issues. As to your "apparently knowledgable manager" - I hope you don't rely on him on some really important information..... Best, Jan (another one) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrethorst Posted September 5, 2009 Author Share #5 Posted September 5, 2009 I live in Vancouver - about 120 miles north from you and - about 1/4 mile form the ocean. If you think Seattle is humid, you have not visited the East Coast, the Great Lakes region or South-East Asia. Now - THAT is humid! I should have been more specific. You're entirely right that the East Coast and other places seem much more humid; their wet season is summer, and we feel humidity much more when it's hot. Seriously - in Seattle you should have no problems with humidity; it may rain more than elsewhere but, the air is relatively dry. Seattle's and Vancouver's rainy season is winter. Relative humidity is an expression of how much water the air is holding relative to how much it can hold. Warmer air can hold more water, so the absolute humidity can be much greater when it's hot. Relative humidity is a useful measure since cool air such as the Northwest has in winter still has enough water to condense on objects like cameras. Mildew is a fairly common problem in these parts. My cameras are all over the place - cabinets, drawers, bags etc, with no Silica gel desiccant in sight and have been 'stored' like that since I moved to Vancouver 30 years ago. No fungus, oxidation, or any other humidity related issues. Good to know. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dugby Posted September 5, 2009 Share #6 Posted September 5, 2009 Just remember to regularly change the silica gel as Leicanut2 eluded to. As Silica gel is most effective when rejuvenated. There are ways of drying the silica gel (see google) If you really want to get paranoid, the object one is trying to keep dry, together with the desiccant should be stored in an airtight container. You could track the weight of the package of silica gel, once it has increased more than about 20 to 25% of its dry weight, it's really lost its efficiency. Extreme paranoiacs will change the silica gel each time the air-tight container has been opened....... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stnami Posted September 5, 2009 Share #7 Posted September 5, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) . Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/95000-storing-a-camera-with-desiccant/?do=findComment&comment=1018228'>More sharing options...
albertknappmd Posted September 13, 2009 Share #8 Posted September 13, 2009 Can get very humid here in New York City & many years ago bought a drybox from Totech bassed inToronto but, at their suggestion, set the humidity at 40-45% so as not to dry out the lubricant... Their product is superb and trouble-free. I suspect that it what the initial writer was alluding to as there ARE NO SEALS on any Leicas with the exception of the S2... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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