Cold aircon + HOT climate

[cambolt]

I am moving to the United Arab Emirates in a couple of months. Does anyone have any experience shooting in a similar climate?

I am particularly concerned about cameras fogging up when walking out of a cold air conditioned building into the street (40+ degrees C, 104 F). I experienced this in Singapore back in my digital days when I used to use a bag, which I now want avoid if possible.

Is it likely that the condensation will damage any internals (Leica M2). Could it wreak havoc with the rangefinder or get inside the lens?

Thanks, and any general tips and pointers related to photography in the UAE would be appreciated.

 

[x-ray]

I've not been there but looked at the weather for there and was shocked at the very high humidity. This week it will hit as high as 85%.

This sounds like where I live in the southern US. We get temps in the 90's F and humidity of 85% regularly in the summer. Fogging lenses is a big problem here.

I would have guesses it would have been more like Arizons with 100+ F temps and 4% humidity. There you can't fog a lens if you try.

 

[goros]

It is a usual problem, specially in the UAE, where the A/C runs at full power. The solution is to put the camera inside a ziplock bag before leaving, when you are still in an A/C building, and keep it in the bag until the camera reachs the outside temperature.

It has worked for me in Dubai but also in Delhi (in the monsoon season).

Cheers

 

[cambolt]

I have heard about the ziplock bag solution, but it seems a bit of a hassle. How about a UV filter over the lens treated with a Nikon fog eliminator cloth http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/374564-REG/Nikon_8073_Fog_Eliminator_Cloths_3_Pack.html

Does anyone know if repeated fogging of the viewfinder/rangefinder window could cause problems?

 

[goros]

With the UV filter you will only avoid condensation on the most outer glass of the lens, but you will have condensation on any other surface of the camera and lens. Remember that it is not just the lens which is cold, but the whole thing.