Lens Storage

**Pentastic** · 11-16-2012, 09:08 PM - **1 Like**

Let's say I had a friend who had accumulated - say 40 - nice lenses and wanted to know the best ideas for storing them. I have been - excuse me - my friend has been using old camera bags but it's hard to remember what is in each bag. Are they any other good ideas? It would also be best if my wife - I mean my friend's wife, did not see the scope of this collection.

Docrwm · 11-16-2012, 09:16 PM

Your friend shouldn't use a glass humidity controlled case then because when your wife visits him she will be able to see all then nice lenses.

Chaos_Realm · 11-16-2012, 09:27 PM - **1 Like**

I have a friend that is in a similar situation. This said friend has been investigating things such as Ikea draws to store them and getting foam inserts with cut outs for each lens. Each lens has its spot, and is not rattling round in bags bashing into each other. He feels that the best place to keep them is in a garage or somewhere the better half is not inclind to look.***

***Note - If (reads: when) the wife were to discover this storage, spare pillow and blankets are stored in the cupboard, and the couch is a suitable place to be for the next couple of nights.

bdparker · 11-16-2012, 10:17 PM - **1 Like**

Your friend could get/make a dry cabinet, cover the outside in tin sheet, paint it red and lable it flammable chemicals do not touch.

markl62 · 11-17-2012, 12:11 AM

I think your friend should just man up and tell his wife, this is how it is.

But whatever your friend decides, i understand those silica gel things are good to keep the moisture away when storing photographic equipment

huyie · 11-17-2012, 01:22 AM

Make sure to at least store them with some sort of electronic moisture dehumidifier to prevent any nasty mould spreading.

p38arover · 11-17-2012, 01:49 AM

Originally posted by markl62

I think your friend should just man up and tell his wife, this is how it is.

You're not married, are you?

sam-joseph · 11-17-2012, 03:27 AM

Your friend could store them at my house, well away from the prying eyes of said wife.

Regards

bdparker · 11-17-2012, 03:42 AM

Originally posted by sam-joseph

Your friend could store them at my house, well away from the prying eyes of said wife.

Regards

And I guess to ensure they still function, take them out occasionally to test them

Sagitta · 11-17-2012, 12:09 PM

I think your friend should get one of those big glass display cases with the light bulbs and the mirrors and all of those bits and tell their wife "Look what I bought us, I'm taking this side, the rest is yours."

Then if the wife protests you can feign frustration about how you bought her such a nice present and she's rejecting it? WTF?

JenniferLeigh · 11-17-2012, 03:03 PM

Originally posted by markl62

I think your friend should just man up and tell his wife, this is how it is.

I agree, but then again if my boyfriend confessed he had a secret stash of lenses.... I'd jump him in excitement.

It might be easier to confess rather than face that ackward conversation when you come home and your wife is waiting for you, with your collection spread out on the table.

Docrwm · 11-17-2012, 03:16 PM

Originally posted by JenniferLeigh

I agree, but then again if my boyfriend confessed he had a secret stash of lenses.... I'd jump him in excitement.

It might be easier to confess rather than face that ackward conversation when you come home and your wife is waiting for you, with your collection spread out on the table.

Or tells you that she loaned them to someone else.

p38arover · 11-17-2012, 06:51 PM

Originally posted by JenniferLeigh

I agree, but then again if my boyfriend confessed he had a secret stash of lenses.... I'd jump him in excitement.

Oi! If you are ever in Australia, I have a secret stash of lenses!

**jatrax** · 11-17-2012, 08:43 PM

You have (I mean your friend has) three separate problems:
1) Protecting the lenses from physical damage. Hard cases with foam cut-outs or bags with separate compartments or individual lens cases are best for this.

2) Protecting the lenses from damp / fungus. While it might be tempting to store them in the garage / basement to avoid issues with #3 this is not optimal unless you live in a very dry climate. I've seen too many lenses with fungus growing in them to discount this issue. Best thing is a dry cabinet of some type either in a warm dry room or a separately heated or de-humidified closed box. Silica gel packs will work, but remember they only work until they have absorbed all the moisture they can, after that they are useless. You can dry them out under low heat in the oven to re-use but if you don't they lose any usefulness after a fairly short time depending on the humidity.

3) Storing them away from prying eyes. Not my place to give anyone marriage advice, but I'm going on 32 years with the same woman and I never buy anything without discussing it. Why just the other day I was browsing the ol' ebay thing and noticed a very nice FA*250-600. Honey, I says, can I buy a new lens? Sure, if you need it she replies. Now I may have neglected to mention it cost $3,500 but hey I DID let her know, right?

I have a closet in my studio with 2 shelves dedicated to lenses and other gear. The room is warm and dry and the lenses are carefully arranged on the shelf. I keep what I'm using in my go bag and swap that around depending on what I'm working on.

And no I didn't get the FA*250-600. Just because it would have been OK with the wife doesn't mean I need it or can afford it.

11-16-2012, 09:08 PM - 1 Like	#1
Pentastic Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 60	Lens Storage Let's say I had a friend who had accumulated - say 40 - nice lenses and wanted to know the best ideas for storing them. I have been - excuse me - my friend has been using old camera bags but it's hard to remember what is in each bag. Are they any other good ideas? It would also be best if my wife - I mean my friend's wife, did not see the scope of this collection.

11-16-2012, 09:16 PM	#2
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Your friend shouldn't use a glass humidity controlled case then because when your wife visits him she will be able to see all then nice lenses. Last edited by Docrwm; 11-16-2012 at 09:33 PM.

11-17-2012, 12:11 AM	#5
markl62 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Brisbane Qld Aust Posts: 220	I think your friend should just man up and tell his wife, this is how it is. But whatever your friend decides, i understand those silica gel things are good to keep the moisture away when storing photographic equipment Last edited by markl62; 11-17-2012 at 12:46 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Camera Lens Storage and Humidity?	iht	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	11	12-27-2023 02:59 PM
Bag for 645D and lens storage	andrewteee	Pentax Medium Format	3	10-16-2012 04:38 PM
Cheap filter/lens storage?	ripit	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	4	10-29-2011 07:32 AM
Lens storage	luckyrabbit	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	17	01-29-2009 05:33 PM
lens hoods, lens caps, UV filters and camera storage	Ed in GA	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	4	12-22-2007 01:40 PM

11-16-2012, 09:27 PM - 1 Like	#3
Chaos_Realm Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Melbourne, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,251	I have a friend that is in a similar situation. This said friend has been investigating things such as Ikea draws to store them and getting foam inserts with cut outs for each lens. Each lens has its spot, and is not rattling round in bags bashing into each other. He feels that the best place to keep them is in a garage or somewhere the better half is not inclind to look.* *Note - If (reads: when) the wife were to discover this storage, spare pillow and blankets are stored in the cupboard, and the couch is a suitable place to be for the next couple of nights.

11-16-2012, 10:17 PM - 1 Like	#4
bdparker Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 307	Your friend could get/make a dry cabinet, cover the outside in tin sheet, paint it red and lable it flammable chemicals do not touch.

11-17-2012, 01:22 AM	#6
huyie New Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Melbourne Posts: 19	Make sure to at least store them with some sort of electronic moisture dehumidifier to prevent any nasty mould spreading.

11-17-2012, 01:49 AM	#7
p38arover Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Western Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,084	Originally posted by markl62 I think your friend should just man up and tell his wife, this is how it is. You're not married, are you?

11-17-2012, 03:27 AM	#8
sam-joseph Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Newcastle, NSW, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,086	Your friend could store them at my house, well away from the prying eyes of said wife. Regards

11-17-2012, 03:42 AM	#9
bdparker Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 307	Originally posted by sam-joseph Your friend could store them at my house, well away from the prying eyes of said wife. Regards And I guess to ensure they still function, take them out occasionally to test them

11-17-2012, 12:09 PM	#10
Sagitta Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Maine Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,081	I think your friend should get one of those big glass display cases with the light bulbs and the mirrors and all of those bits and tell their wife "Look what I bought us, I'm taking this side, the rest is yours." Then if the wife protests you can feign frustration about how you bought her such a nice present and she's rejecting it? WTF?

11-17-2012, 03:03 PM	#11
JenniferLeigh Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Southern Alberta Posts: 281	Originally posted by markl62 I think your friend should just man up and tell his wife, this is how it is. I agree, but then again if my boyfriend confessed he had a secret stash of lenses.... I'd jump him in excitement. It might be easier to confess rather than face that ackward conversation when you come home and your wife is waiting for you, with your collection spread out on the table.

11-17-2012, 03:16 PM	#12
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Originally posted by JenniferLeigh I agree, but then again if my boyfriend confessed he had a secret stash of lenses.... I'd jump him in excitement. It might be easier to confess rather than face that ackward conversation when you come home and your wife is waiting for you, with your collection spread out on the table. Or tells you that she loaned them to someone else.

11-17-2012, 06:51 PM	#13
p38arover Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Western Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,084	Originally posted by JenniferLeigh I agree, but then again if my boyfriend confessed he had a secret stash of lenses.... I'd jump him in excitement. Oi! If you are ever in Australia, I have a secret stash of lenses!

11-17-2012, 08:43 PM	#14
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	You have (I mean your friend has) three separate problems: 1) Protecting the lenses from physical damage. Hard cases with foam cut-outs or bags with separate compartments or individual lens cases are best for this. 2) Protecting the lenses from damp / fungus. While it might be tempting to store them in the garage / basement to avoid issues with #3 this is not optimal unless you live in a very dry climate. I've seen too many lenses with fungus growing in them to discount this issue. Best thing is a dry cabinet of some type either in a warm dry room or a separately heated or de-humidified closed box. Silica gel packs will work, but remember they only work until they have absorbed all the moisture they can, after that they are useless. You can dry them out under low heat in the oven to re-use but if you don't they lose any usefulness after a fairly short time depending on the humidity. 3) Storing them away from prying eyes. Not my place to give anyone marriage advice, but I'm going on 32 years with the same woman and I never buy anything without discussing it. Why just the other day I was browsing the ol' ebay thing and noticed a very nice FA250-600. Honey, I says, can I buy a new lens? Sure, if you need it she replies. Now I may have neglected to mention it cost $3,500 but hey I DID let her know, right? I have a closet in my studio with 2 shelves dedicated to lenses and other gear. The room is warm and dry and the lenses are carefully arranged on the shelf. I keep what I'm using in my go bag and swap that around depending on what I'm working on. And no I didn't get the FA250-600. Just because it would have been OK with the wife doesn't mean I need it or can afford it.