Storing camera lenses and bodies when not in use

[jtm6]

My apologies in advance if this is a FAQ or sticky. I searched the forum and couldn't find anything specific. If there is a resource here, please let me know and I'll delete the thread (if I can).

I've been accumulating some lenses that have value to me and I want to protect them. What is the best way to store camera lenses and bodies when not in use? I've read many different internet suggestions but I've never come across anything definite. I've heard everything, from leaving lenses exposed to light (on a shelf with the aperture wide open) for mold prevention to keeping everything dark in an airtight pelican case.

Thanks in advance.

 

[david.elliott]

What you need to do / should do depends greatly upon what sort of environment you are in. Are you located in a dry area or a very humid area?

 

[jtm6]

What you need to do / should do depends greatly upon what sort of environment you are in. Are you located in a dry area or a very humid area?

I'm in the Pacific Northwest (Washington state). Temperatures are moderate. Natives think anything outside of 40-70°F is extreme. AC isn't very common because we don't get steamy 95% humidity, however it rains 13 months of the year so there is almost always some degree of humidity that permeates into the apartment. Definitely never a dry heat like in the southwest.

 

[Beemermark]

What you need to do / should do depends greatly upon what sort of environment you are in. Are you located in a dry area or a very humid area?

It isn't the area your in, it's the house or apartment. Here on the coast it either very hot and humid or cold and dry. My HVAC runs 99% of the year maintaining the temperature at 75 and the humidity below 35% So I don't much care what the weather is outside. My stuff is either on the book shelf, floor or under the bed. This setup has worked great from Arizona to New Jersey to North Carolina.

 

[.... _]

Biggest cause of fungus is warm, dark, humid environments. And fungus needs food and food comes in the form of protein which leather is largely made of.

So
1. a dryish environment
2. moderate temp
3. NO LEATHER LENS POUCHES

exposure to UV light kills fungus which is why people say put in sunlight but my personal opinion is dry and no fungus food is good. If you have a UV light source then put lenses under it for a few hours before putting into storage.

 

[DNG]

I store mine in an Armore, with the Iris Closed!! in my AC cooled apartment.
Storing with blades closed, allows the least amount blade overlap, and helps keep the lub from other lens parts, at the edges where it can seep on the blades.

 

[.... _]

http://lenses.zeiss.com/photo/en_DE/other/service/fungus_on_lenses.html

 

[Geordiepete]

I keep mine in a Toyo 'Auto Clean Dry Cabi', or a dry cabinet. I keep all my lenses and cameras in there because it is humid where I live, South Japan. My cabinet is plugged in, has five shelves, and displays the internal temperature and humidity.
You might not need al that, but you might want to look at airtight dry boxes and silica gel packs. That is a cheap solution. I'd stick a $5 hygrometer in each box too, to keep an eye on the humidity in there.

 

[Ibon Recio]

Another question about the Leicas M:
How do I store my Leica M6 and M3, with the shutter load or not load? and Why?
Thanks!!!

 

[KoNickon]

Leave the shutter untensioned -- only exception might be Hasselblads. Good tip about setting the lens to the smallest aperture, though of course with an automatic diaphragm lens (SLRs) you may need to remove the lens from the camera to get it to stop down. Leather cases are a bad idea for longterm storage (though I honor that one in the breach). More or less, if where your gear is stored is comfortable for you, then your gear should be OK also. Let air circulate.

 

[dleibow]

Leica lenses

Leica lenses

What about the leather cases that Leica lenses come in?

 

[E__WOK]

Leave the shutter untensioned -- only exception might be Hasselblads. Good tip about setting the lens to the smallest aperture, though of course with an automatic diaphragm lens (SLRs) you may need to remove the lens from the camera to get it to stop down. Leather cases are a bad idea for longterm storage (though I honor that one in the breach). More or less, if where your gear is stored is comfortable for you, then your gear should be OK also. Let air circulate.

About the shutter tension, you can only get wear and tear by cycling the shutter. Whether it stays cocked or uncocked shouldn't matter much, just like shocks on a car.

 

[Rob-F]

About the shutter tension, you can only get wear and tear by cycling the shutter. Whether it stays cocked or uncocked shouldn't matter much, just like shocks on a car.

That is my understanding also. The metal only fatigues when it is being actively flexed during use. Static tension causes no wear. Besides, the difference between cocked and relaxed is not necessarily large. Leica shutter springs are 40% tensioned when released, and 60% when cocked. Other cameras may differ a bit, I'm sure.