Steamy lens

[Jadeyduck]

Hey guys,

any advice on how to stop lens steaming up?

Had a lovely picture of a long tailed tit but the lens kept steaming up so the picture came out very hazy . It was drizzling, that horrible weather where you get wetter by the moment without realizing it, any tips would be much appreciated, thanks

[thunder]

Steaming up is usually something that happens when you move the camera from a cold place to a warm place. Perhaps you had the camera in a cool room, and outside it was warmer, and as you say, damp. Take the camera into the place you intend to photograph from a few minutes before you start snapping, to allow it to 'acclimatise' and th problem should go away. Or keep the camera in a warmer place.

henrya

[Jadeyduck]

I'll remember that, so simple yet something which you don't really think about thanks

[eeyore]

also keep some little packets of silica gel in your lens pouches - this will absorb any moisture that gets in and stop the lens from winding up with water inside (pro lenses are weather proof but the cheaper ones arent) - if a lens gets water inside it it is pretty well guaranteed to steam up at every possible opportunity.

[thunder]

Originally Posted by eeyore

if a lens gets water inside it it is pretty well guaranteed to steam up at every possible opportunity.

Especially if you are about to photograph something wonderful and unrepeatable

henrya

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by thunder

Especially if you are about to photograph something wonderful and unrepeatable

henrya

too true - thats also the time that your battery will go dead or, as on one particularly annoying occasion in my case, you discover that you didnt put you card back in the camera after down loading

[Jadeyduck]

Mines 35mm film, imagine how annoying that is

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Jadeyduck

Mines 35mm film, imagine how annoying that is

i remember those days - you could nearly guarantee that the fim would run out just as something exciting happened - two bodies is the only fool proof answer

[Elean0r]

Originally Posted by eeyore

i remember those days - you could nearly guarantee that the fim would run out just as something exciting happened - two bodies is the only fool proof answer

Either that or you'd find the film hadn't been winding on properly and there were no pictures at all

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by eeyore

also keep some little packets of silica gel in your lens pouches - this will absorb any moisture that gets in and stop the lens from winding up with water inside (pro lenses are weather proof but the cheaper ones arent) - if a lens gets water inside it it is pretty well guaranteed to steam up at every possible opportunity.

The silica gel will need frequent activation if it is constantly exposed to moist air. Put it into the oven at around 200 C. You'll need to do this very frequently - probably at least once a week if used in a non-sealed container. You also need quite a lot of gel - the teaspoon or so of gel provided with some items is pretty well useless! Ideally you should also have an indicator with it. Paper soaked with a solution of cobalt chloride (and dried) will show pink if the silica gel is exhausted and blue if it is active.

Jim