Hi from Samoa

[petermmc]

I've been working in Samoa for the past two weeks. I have taken a lot of photos between working and sweating. I am coming back to Aus tomorrow and will return to Samoa in a month for more work.

I am concerned at effect the high level of humidity could have on my camera and lenses. As much as possible I am leaving my camera in its case and taking it out in air conditioned rooms as they tend to be dryer. It rains a lot here also and I was thinking of putting the cam case in a plastic bag in my back pack.

Any suggestions for keeping lenses moist free yet acknowledging my need to continually take shots in some quite humid and intensely hot conditions.

Kind regards

Peter Mc (reporting at the front from the South Pacific) PS I have just caught up with what has happened this week regarding hacking. From my point of view, I tried to post a Samoan Photo and couldn't remember how to go through pixipost so I went to look for the thread which wasnt there. The point being that it was really good to have all the old threads and info as the depth and usefulness of a year of info is very useful to me so far from home. Thanks Gary & team for all your quick work in getting it all back together.

[Oneputt]

When I lived and worked in the tropics I used to keep my film cameras in a six pack esky, and this worked quite well. The real problem occurs when you move quickly say between a humid outdoor setting and and airconditioned room, and even more so in reverse. The trick is to keep conditions as stable as you can.

[petermmc]

Thanks Oneputt

I have probably been doing exactly the reverse.

Regs

Peter Mc

[DionM]

Biggest problem is as Oneputt suggested, going from cool dry to hot moist is the worst due to condensation forming (think removing a can of drink from the fridge).

So in tropics, going from inside to outside is worst ... and for the cold area, going from outside to inside.

Best way is to minimise sharp temperature changes, which can be done by leaving camera gear in its bag for a bit longer (greater thermal mass means the camera warms up more slowly and isn't hit with moisture laden air immediately and when it is cold). Or plastic bag it so that condensation forms on the bag, and not on the equipment. So in your case, when going outside, plastic bag them or leave them in the camera bag for 10-15 mins before removing.

Of course, once the temperature change has happened (ie, you've been outside for a while) feel free to shoot away as often as you want. When you come back into AC, use that to dry the gear out. You don't need to bag it when coming in as it is dryer cooler air.

[petermmc]

Thanks DionM

I'm back in Aust now and I think my lenses are sounding a sigh of relief. I will take your advice for my next trip and not rush to get my warm lens out in a very cold air conditioned room.

Regards

Peter Mc

[Dug]

Silica gel and lots of it.

Get a plastic tub big enough to hold all your camera gear and a couple of Kilos of Silica Gel. When you get home from a shoot just seal your camera and gear in the tub. make sure the tub is airtight and check that the silica gel is blue not pink, if and when it turns pink just dry it out in the oven and reuse when it turns blue again.

Good luck cheers doug