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Hey, I'm new to photography and would just like to know the correct storage places/techniques for my lens'. Can someone out there shed some light on this for me please. Don't want my investment to be damaged by my own lack of knowledge! Cheers.

I don't do anything specifically special (other than have body and lens caps on) - I just leave them in my camera bag or on a cupboard shelf. You don't want to be putting them anywhere damp or with wildly fluctuating humidity and/or temperatures or really dusty locations tho - so bathroom or laundry cupboards or in front of the airconditioning ducts/fireplaces or outside, etc would be a no.

Easy don't store them, USE them often.

Seriously though, here are the factors that I would consider when storing them for more than a week or so.

1) air moisture content and mould
2) Dust and FOD
3) Impact protection
4) Theft protection

I have found hard cases (like the pelican ones) which you can get from bunnings work well for extended storage and transport, they are also airtight and with a moisture adsorbent pack mould is most likely not gonna be a issue. These can be picked up for around 100 bucks (the big ones).

Everything else lives in a bag

The other option is a dry cabinet.

Thx for that. Good advice. Especially the use it often one... If only the wife agreed!! Lol

biggerry wrote:don't store them, USE them often.

Brad00 wrote:If only the wife agreed!! Lol

i got a few ideas on that one too...but I will save that for another day.

A the very least if you leave your gear sitting around for a awhile get some Silica Gel Desiccant Moisture Absorb packs, check ebay or similiar they are cheap and you can reuse them.

biggerry wrote: check ebay or similiar they are cheap and you can reuse them.

How do you 'reset' these suckers?

surenj wrote:

biggerry wrote: check ebay or similiar they are cheap and you can reuse them.

How do you 'reset' these suckers?

oven or microwave, I have a few baby ones too which have the moisture content indicators on them so you can get a idea of how much moisture is kicking around. We also have a de-humidifier - tyical terrace house with poor subground drainage etc...

biggerry wrote:We also have a de-humidifier

Same here. Can dry clothes without going outside!

Thanks. I will acquire from fleabay...

surenj wrote:

biggerry wrote:We also have a de-humidifier

Same here. Can dry clothes without going outside!

Thanks. I will acquire from fleabay...

lol, yeah and also good for drying out those Silica Gel Desiccant Moisture Absorb packs

I use a Pelican 1550 with a "Wonderful" moisture absorber pack (electronic refresh with moisture indicator).

However I do try to use all my lenses as often as possible

So does anyone on the forums actually own or use a Dry Cabinet or has everyone gone for a slightly more DIY or cost effective approach.

I'm considering one, but after reading the 18 different posts on here I'm feeling I might be paying for something I can achieve cheaper with a Pelican case / or a Bunnings Knock off which would also allow me to have a secure transport system.. which the cabinets don't offer.

Give the amount invested now in lenses, camera bodies and my steadily decreasing dry space, I was considering one of these so I could store gear in the garage out of the way.

A dry cabinet would be the way to go, but they are expensive and take up lots of room. My Pelican set up requires me to open the case every week or so to avoid the inside becoming too dry and ruining the rubber on the lenses as well as ensuring the drying unit does not need to be reset. A dry cabinet would do all of this automatically.

I also have a pelican case and silicon. However, recently I decided to go with a dry-cabinet. Considering the investment I have in my lenses, I figured a dry cabinet is worth it. I got the Wonderful brand, see http://www.drycabinet.com.au/ for a reseller near you. I got the 50L variety.

My biggest concern with the Pelican cases is what Cameron alludes to, an environment that is too dry. The dry cabinet looks after all that. It is very quiet to run and doesn't use much power. You set it to be about 40% humidity, it isn't that big, fits under the desk. Certainly makes it easier access then the pelican case. I am very happy with the dry cabinet. I may have a pelican case for sale soon

Alpha_7 wrote:So does anyone on the forums actually own or use a Dry Cabinet or has everyone gone for a slightly more DIY or cost effective approach.

I have a dry cabinet which I bought about 12 months ago as mould is a real problem at my place. I had 2 lenses ruined by mould before I bought the cabinet but have not had any problems since. The cabinet has temp and humidity guages on the door so you can see how it is performing and when it is opened on a hot humid day you see the spike in the guages before it does it thing and bring the conditions back down to an acceptable level.
I have the Wonderful AD-40c which cost me just over $300. I can fit in a D300 with grip, D70s, 24-70 2.8, 50 1.4, 70-300 ed vr, 105 micro 2.8 vr and a small video camera. It came from Legend Camera Services in Sydney but was purchased via the ECS website.

It would be nice if the dry-cabinet concept was combined with a 'fire-bomb-thief' proof safe as well.

surenj wrote:It would be nice if the dry-cabinet concept was combined with a 'fire-bomb-thief' proof safe as well.

Buy an old bank building with the safe still intact

I have a de-humidifier that controls the whole room where I keep all my gear as well as computer, printing paper and canvas. I have had it for 15 years, it works really well. No mould. I keep the lenses in a cupboard, some stay in the bag with the camera.

glamy wrote:I have a de-humidifier that controls the whole room where I keep all my gear as well as computer, printing paper and canvas. I have had it for 15 years, it works really well. No mould. I keep the lenses in a cupboard, some stay in the bag with the camera.

do you run the de-humindifier all day, or intermittently?

biggerry wrote:do you run the de-humindifier all day, or intermittently?

All day affair may be quite expensive in the long run.

radar wrote:

surenj wrote:It would be nice if the dry-cabinet concept was combined with a 'fire-bomb-thief' proof safe as well.

Buy an old bank building with the safe still intact

biggerry wrote:

glamy wrote:I have a de-humidifier that controls the whole room where I keep all my gear as well as computer, printing paper and canvas. I have had it for 15 years, it works really well. No mould. I keep the lenses in a cupboard, some stay in the bag with the camera.

do you run the de-humindifier all day, or intermittently?

It works like a fridge, I leave it on the same setting all the time so it does run intermittently. Some days it won't run because the air is dry, some days it will remove 5 or 6 L of water...

Andre do you find the 50L is big enough for all your gear you want to protect, given you've got slightly more gear then me (I"d happily mind your 200-400) I think the larger one is a bit pricey!

radar wrote:Buy an old bank building with the safe still intact

Would still be damp.

Craig,

Alpha_7 wrote:Andre do you find the 50L is big enough for all your gear you want to protect, given you've got slightly more gear then me (I"d happily mind your 200-400) I think the larger one is a bit pricey!

That's the only lens that doesn't fit in there, I still have that one in my pelican case with the desiccant silicon. Everything else fits in the cabinet.

cheers,

André

Thanks Andre, out of interest do you have much room to expand (ie free space on your shelves) ? I'd definitely want my Leica in there, and I have an Antique Kodak that also should be protected. I'd hazard a guess a 200-400 or anything larger is never on my Radar if you pardon the pun so I think a 50L should do nicely.

Not sure of how many lenses you have Craig but my cabinet is now fairly full. Now that I am happy with the Wonderful Dry Cabinets, I will look at getting a separate one for the 200-400. Something a bit wider.

Les Porter here in Newcastle has some reasonable prices, so if you are up this way, check out his prices. You could always use his prices to talk down the guys at ECS or wherever you decide to purchase. Les has price list on his website.
www.lesporter.com.au

They exist! It's so hard to come up with something new these days....everything has been thought of.

http://www.lesporter.com.au wrote:DOUBLE STEEL THEFT-PROOF DRY CABINETS
MD-080 W451xD400xH686, 88 litres, 45kg. $925.20
MD-100 W451xD400xH850, 112 litres, 55kg. $1,068.20

So update : I've ordered a 50L dry cabinet, but asked for delivery to be delayed until November. So I'll let you know my thoughts when I get the puppy then. Pretty excited that I'll have a dedicated spot for all my gear, which makes it easier to find and keep clean and fungus free!

I love my dry cabinet. Just wish I had one before my slides all got stuffed.
I live in a pretty humid area so it was a cheap insurance policy.

I was half expecting Gerry to DIY this. Perhaps out of a single piece of aluminium..... [Mac edition.... ]

surenj wrote:I was half expecting Gerry to DIY this. Perhaps out of a single piece of aluminium..... [Mac edition.... ]

We a backlit logo too ?

Alpha_7 wrote:

surenj wrote:I was half expecting Gerry to DIY this. Perhaps out of a single piece of aluminium..... [Mac edition.... ]

We a backlit logo too ?

As long as it pulses, yes.

gstark wrote:

Alpha_7 wrote:

surenj wrote:I was half expecting Gerry to DIY this. Perhaps out of a single piece of aluminium..... [Mac edition.... ]

We a backlit logo too ?

As long as it pulses, yes.

This is so yesterday.
A gold/carbonfibre composite to match my taps please.

Mr Darcy wrote:

gstark wrote:

Alpha_7 wrote:

surenj wrote:I was half expecting Gerry to DIY this. Perhaps out of a single piece of aluminium..... [Mac edition.... ]

We a backlit logo too ?

As long as it pulses, yes.

This is so yesterday.
A gold/carbonfibre composite to match my taps please.

Is that the one with the double overhead grease nipples?

surenj wrote:I was half expecting Gerry to DIY this. Perhaps out of a single piece of aluminium..... [Mac edition.... ]

Alpha_7 wrote:We a backlit logo too ?

Mr Darcy wrote:This is so yesterday.
A gold/carbonfibre composite to match my taps please.

gstark wrote:As long as it pulses, yes.

Don't laugh, I was checking out a couple of old used safes teh other day, one of these with a cheap de-humidifer and I reckon i could be onto a winner. The only problem is that i would need to set down some concrete pylons since the safe is 1.5 ton.

The only other issue is I need a diamond tip cutter to put the dehumidifier hole in the back of the safe..anyone got one those lying around?

clowns...

gstark wrote:Is that the one with the double overhead grease nipples?

yes please, i'll have two.

biggerry wrote:The only problem is that i would need to set down some concrete pylons since the safe is 1.5 ton.

No need. Just put it in the basement. No basement? No worries. Just put it in the middle of the lounge room. You'll have one soon enough.

biggerry wrote:I need a diamond tip cutter

sorry I can't find mine. I think it is under my thermic lance.

biggerry wrote:yes please, i'll have two.

At $1800 each it would be cheaper to just buy the dry cabinet.

Mr Darcy wrote:No need. Just put it in the basement. No basement? No worries. Just put it in the middle of the lounge room. You'll have one soon enough.

Mr Darcy wrote:At $1800 each it would be cheaper to just buy the dry cabinet.

ahh grasshopper.. look and ye shall find..actually i know where a really nice one is..its even a walk in sized version, just pick it up from the old dunlop factory..

are we nearly off topic yet? sorry Brad, i'll take the blame for this one.

biggerry wrote:just pick it up from the old dunlop factory..

There was a moderate sized iron/steel container there. You will need a truck to move it though... It's very ventilated so mould shouldn't be an issue.

surenj wrote:

biggerry wrote:just pick it up from the old dunlop factory..

There was a moderate sized iron/steel container there. You will need a truck to move it though... It's very ventilated so mould shouldn't be an issue.

It even comes with artwork pre-installed!

So my cabinet arrived on Friday (same day we moved house). and then I finally plugged it in last night, fits all my gear with room to grow a little. Plus the Leica will be moving in there once it's home too. Tidy little unit, suprisingly small but spacious on the inside (a bit like the TARDIS without the space and time travel

I am considering adding a secondary heavy duty locking system to it, but given the window can't be that sturdy.

Hey there..!! Nice stuff..!! Thank you for sharing it with us.

You are a drop kick. We hate spammers here.

As if a pathetic post like this would encourage anyone to have anything to do with your product.

michaelbarring wrote:Hey there..!! Nice stuff..!! Thank you for sharing it with us.

"Trip, trap, trip, trap! " went the bridge.

"Who's that tripping over my bridge?" roared the troll .

There certainly has been a bumper crop of them this summer.

michaelbarring wrote:Hey there..!! Nice stuff..!! Thank you for sharing it with us.

You are a drop kick. We hate spammers here.

As if a pathetic post like this would encourage anyone to have anything to do with your product.

Trevor's comments are entirely appropriate, and fully supported by myself.

Just for the record, you lying little piece of shit, your location is Mumbai, not Australia.

A quick lesson for you in business: if you're running a business, and you want to attract customers, the first thing you need to do is demonstrate honesty and integrity. Which part of your membership and first post, where you're saying that you're in Australia but are actually in Mumbai, displays that initial level of honesty, integrity and ethics, so any people here - all whom are known to one another and have been for a number of years - would be attracted to do business with you?

You are a liar - right from the get go. There is no way in hell that any intelligent person would even consider offering you the time of day. Your IQ is lower than your shoe size.

Please, do the world a favour and just kill yourself: you have no place on an earth where there are honest, decent citizens.

Fuckwit!

(Yes, it's Sunday, so I'm feeling somewhat restrained).

C'mon Gary, You're holding back. Tell us what you really think.

Just to get back to the storage of lenses....you can get too precious with all of this. They are not Faberge eggs....they are tools and quite at their happiest when they are out in the field, the rain , the snow, the streets and the city. I don't think most of you are aware of just how rugged a good quality Nikkor or Canon lens is. Photojournalists the world over are subjecting their lenses to some pretty harsh environments without having the lenses fail. I've known award winning newspaper photographers who literally throw their cameras and lenses into the back of the car with the greatest of disrespect. I keep my lenses, and I have about 9 of them, wherever I leave them. On the carpet under the desk, on a table, in a bag, in a drawer....the idea of buying a humidty controlled cabinet seems ludercrous to me unless you live in the tropics like, say , Sumatra. Most modern lenses are well sealed against the ingress of moisture and I don't think I have ever seen a modern Nikkor or Canon with a mould problem, although this was common with pre 1960 lenses that were not so well sealed. To maintain your lenses in good condition, (and I think it has been said here elsewhere),
1.Protect them from breakage/ drop onto concrete etc
2. Don't drop them into the sea
3. If they get wet in the rain then don't put them back into your camera bag until they dry off
4. Occassionly give them a dust down with a small clean paintbrush
5.Keep a UV or skylight filter on the lens for extra protection of the front element...but do take it off for critical sharpness or studio work or when you want to use atmospheric or aerial perspective as an element of your image.
By the way...the biggest threat to your precious lens is....dah dah.....theft. Don't leave it unattended on the back seat of your car or in an unattended camera bag on the ground whilst you are engrossed in photographing some subject that has caught your eye. Enjoy your lens, put it to work, discover its sweet spot and take photographs .Use the humidifier for your Cuban cigars.

Great advice Matt. I have always wondered about how a fake safe (with nothing much in it) and a secret compartment in a cupboard or wall to hide photo stuff. It would be an interesting DIY project...

All my lens failures have so far been due to dropping them.

Suren
Household insurance is a more relaxing way to protect your investment. Record all serial NOs and take photographs of all your equipment. Let your insurance commpany know what gear you have. In the most unlikely event you are robbed then at least you get to buy some brand new gear, not that that's always a satisfactory outcome because we can get emotionally attached to some of our gear...or at least, I do.

Matt. K wrote:we can get emotionally attached to some of our gear...or at least, I do.

Interestingly, there is largely an inverse correlation between my emotional attachment to the gear I have and the cost of replacement.

Matt. K wrote:Household insurance is a more relaxing way to protect your investment.

Just a quick note on this - I know of 2 occasions where photographers have had their household insurance claims denied after being robbed as they were earning an income from photography and in their wisdom the insurance companies decided that they needed to be insured under a business policy. I'm not sure if there is an allowable income but I'd suggest if you earn anything from your gear you read the fine print before relaxing completely.