How to protect your Lens from Fungus?

[Ranjith]

Hello Guys,
I learned that storing your lens in a small food container along with some Silica Gel will help protect you lenses from fungus.
I have few of questions regarding this.

1.I only have my 18-55 KIT lens which is always mounted on the Body and i use my camera at least every 2 days.
My point is,since ill be using it regularly can it still be prone to Fungus?Will i have to store it and take it out everyday?

2.So if ill have to store in the Silica container...can i just keep the whole Camera(lens mounted on Body) in it?like i said since this is my only lens,ill have to or else mount/unmount twice or thrice every day or 2.

3.Can i just put some silica Gel in my Camera bag instead of a container?

4.Lastly,do we get Silica Gel in small packs..or..?

Thank you

[KrishnenduKes]

I have noticed that Canon camera lenses do not gather fungus if you use relatively regularly.

There has been a similar topic initiated some years ago.

Approved

[Cyclops]

Hello Guys,
I learned that storing your lens in a small food container along with some Silica Gel will help protect you lenses from fungus.
I have few of questions regarding this.

1.I only have my 18-55 KIT lens which is always mounted on the Body and i use my camera at least every 2 days.
My point is,since ill be using it regularly can it still be prone to Fungus?Will i have to store it and take it out everyday?

2.So if ill have to store in the Silica container...can i just keep the whole Camera(lens mounted on Body) in it?like i said since this is my only lens,ill have to or else mount/unmount twice or thrice every day or 2.

3.Can i just put some silica Gel in my Camera bag instead of a container?

4.Lastly,do we get Silica Gel in small packs..or..?

Thank you

Answers to your questions:

1. Since its in regular use (every 2-3 days), it will be less prone to fungus attack.

2. You can keep the whole camera with lens inside a box with a silica gel sachet.

3. Best is to keep one or two silica gel sachets in your camera bag. Saves from any moisture build up during rains or in a/c conditions.

4. Silica gels sachets are available in some stores or you get 'em when you purchase new leather shoes or bags or some similar stuffs. Save 'em all and use as and when required.

[Ranjith]

Thanks alot for they Reply

What kind of stores do you get them at? i regret throwing away all i got with the shoes! :(

[synn]

I used to score silica gel pouches off friends who worked at musical instrument stores. Try that. ;)

[KrishnenduKes]

Silica Gel absorbs moisture VERY fast. And thus they become pretty useless pretty fast. When I was younger and lenses had lesser anti-fungal coating tech, I used to heat silica gel on a pan to dry out the moisture!

[Ranjith]

I bought a whole buch of silica gel sachets!
now another question...how do i know if they have become useless...i.e they require heating?

[KrishnenduKes]

If they have been exposed to ambient air, they have already absorbed quite a bit of moisture. In the earlier days, I used to open the sachets and check the colour. Blue meant they are still good. But I am not sure they behave/are made the same way still. You will also need to have a kind of a "dehumidifier cabinet" to put your lenses and your silica gel.

[Ranjith]

So i HAVE to open them up to know huh?
damn!

[robin234]

I make sure to give lenses some sunlight every third day when not using it .

@kenda : if one is a regular user I guess one will seldom go through this problem .you're more experienced in all this .

[KrishnenduKes]

I make sure to give lenses some sunlight every third day when not using it .

@kenda : if one is a regular user I guess one will seldom go through this problem .you're more experienced in all this .

Earlier I used Zuiko and Vivitar lenses. They were pretty old tech. After 3 years, they started getting fungus. I used to live in a very humid place. And I am also talking about 25 years ago. Currently I am using 12 year old Canon lenses. No fungus yet! Humidity or otherwise. I have used extensively in sea spray and very humid areas. But they are still clean! :) So far.

[surya@64]

As long as the lens and the body see the Daylight every day....no question of fungus..Rainy season and Winter are the seasons to watch out for...!!!

Glass by themselves will not attract fungus...It is glue which sticks pair of glass is the culprit....More so now a days...lot of improved gluing techniques are used...like ULTRAVIOLET GLUE.... etc...and less headache for users.

[amby]

Does using naphthalene helps?

[KrishnenduKes]

Does using naphthalene helps?

It will help keep away cockroaches.

[amby]

cleaning the lenses after a duration doesnt prevent formation of fungus?

[KrishnenduKes]

cleaning the lenses after a duration doesnt prevent formation of fungus?

Depending upon the duration, you are actually cleaning away the fungus, not preventing it!

[ashishtamhane]

I used to live in a very humid place.

@KenDa: The amount of fungus is directly related to the humidity of the place that one lives in?

That is reassuring to know since my hometown is very dry!

[synn]

Yep, fungus, being technically a plant, thrives in humidity. This is the reason why serious photogs use a "Dry" cabinet to store their gear.

[KrishnenduKes]

Humidity combined with temperature of course.

You wouldn't find too much fungus at the South Pole for example!

[synn]

Actually, http://library.thinkquest.org/26442/html/life/plant.html

I know I'm taking the thread OT with that, haha. :D

[KrishnenduKes]

Actually, http://library.thinkquest.org/26442/html/life/plant.html

I know I'm taking the thread OT with that, haha. :D

Why am I not surprised!!! :D :D