How do you store your lenses

**monochrome** · 10-31-2015, 01:34 PM

Originally posted by CreationBear

Very useful! Any ideas on why the proscription against filters? Moisture build-up between the filter and the objective, perhaps?

That's the way I heard (or read) it - but like I said, it's all cultural transmission of old wives' tales. I've never read anything authoritative or scientific.

But I do it all anyway.

CreationBear · 10-31-2015, 01:50 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by monochrome

it's all cultural transmission of old wives' tales

No real opportunity cost, I guess--besides, I've learned not to argue with old wives. Thanks!

rawr · 10-31-2015, 02:48 PM

I live in a region that is generally warm with very high humidity, so I have two of these 'Legend Wonderful' dry cabinets for lenses. They aren't very big (33x33x57 cm, 50 litre internal volume), but they can fit a lot in if need be. Also useful for storing old photos.

I usually store lens mount down, but sometimes that isn't possible due to space limitations. Hoods remain only for the most used lenses, filters are never mounted, front and rear lens caps always on.

**stevebrot** · 10-31-2015, 03:26 PM

Originally posted by wombat2go

Does anybody know if it is OK to store old lenses in attic store room along with a small qty of mothballs (napthalene) ?

I would be concerned about heat and humidity. The main living area of the house or cellar is preferable in my opinion. I dunno about the mothballs.

Steve

**stevebrot** · 10-31-2015, 03:27 PM

Originally posted by CreationBear

Moisture build-up between the filter and the objective, perhaps?

Yes, that and potential for corrosion at the threads.

Steve

**condor27596** · 10-31-2015, 04:09 PM

Thanks for the ideas. I generally just keep them in a camera bag. When going out and about I try to pre select the needed lenses. I just put them loose in a backpack. Usually with the Pentax bag that came with it. More often than not a cargo or jacket pocket.

redrockcoulee · 10-31-2015, 06:55 PM

Originally posted by rawr

I live in a region that is generally warm with very high humidity, so I have two of these 'Legend Wonderful' dry cabinets for lenses. They aren't very big (33x33x57 cm, 50 litre internal volume), but they can fit a lot in if need be. Also useful for storing old photos.

I usually store lens mount down, but sometimes that isn't possible due to space limitations. Hoods remain only for the most used lenses, filters are never mounted, front and rear lens caps always on.

In winter our indoor relative humidity is in the single digits.

The only Pentax lenses that are not in my camera bag are the 3 I am going to sell and the one that sits on a shelf, usually mounted on a film camera. The rest of yhe lenses are in camera bags ready to go shooting.

rawr · 10-31-2015, 07:14 PM

Originally posted by redrockcoulee

In winter our indoor relative humidity is in the single digits.

You are lucky. Winter or summer it rarely falls below 60% here. And it rains a lot. So oftentimes it will be 80% humidity indoors 24x7 for several weeks. Everything gets musty. I once had a camera bag go mouldy after just a few weeks when stored in a cupboard in my study, for example. And don't even think about hanging a leather jacket anywhere in the house that doesn't have excellent air circulation.

They do a brisk trade in dry cabinets at my local camera store.

**6BQ5** · 10-31-2015, 10:32 PM

I have two of these :

But in simulated wood finish.

Lenses easily fit standing up. Film camera bodies with small primes easily fit when the camera is turned sideways. Bodies with zooms need to be stored with the lens facing up. On top of the 15 unit organizer I keep my in-use cameras in their own bags. I have my K-3 next to my PZ-1 next to my Q7. This little organizer is part of Target's Room Essentials collection or something like that. These organizing units stack on top of each other. So, beneath this organizer I have a two drawer organizer. The drawers underneath contain my tripods, film, ring light, etc.

It's pretty neat system that is low cost. However, the low cost also means it's a little flimsy. Be gentle with it and it will last for a long time. Abuse it and it will all fall apart.

redrockcoulee · 11-01-2015, 12:36 PM

Originally posted by rawr

You are lucky. Winter or summer it rarely falls below 60% here. And it rains a lot. So oftentimes it will be 80% humidity indoors 24x7 for several weeks. Everything gets musty. I once had a camera bag go mouldy after just a few weeks when stored in a cupboard in my study, for example. And don't even think about hanging a leather jacket anywhere in the house that doesn't have excellent air circulation.

They do a brisk trade in dry cabinets at my local camera store.

Not here, I have a suede jacket from my motorcycle days that my wife won't throw out so it's in a room that has little air circulation in a closet that is only opened once a month, little bit of dust but no mould

**csa** · 11-01-2015, 12:50 PM

Originally posted by wombat2go

Does anybody know if it is OK to store old lenses in attic store room along with a small qty of mothballs (napthalene) ?

I would be afraid the lenses would absorb the odor of the mothballs, like cigarette smoke. Also possible damage to the rubber and or lens surfaces? I would rather store them in a tight container that mice, etc., could not get into.

10-31-2015, 02:48 PM	#48
rawr Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: GMT +10 Photos: Albums Posts: 11,478	I live in a region that is generally warm with very high humidity, so I have two of these 'Legend Wonderful' dry cabinets for lenses. They aren't very big (33x33x57 cm, 50 litre internal volume), but they can fit a lot in if need be. Also useful for storing old photos. I usually store lens mount down, but sometimes that isn't possible due to space limitations. Hoods remain only for the most used lenses, filters are never mounted, front and rear lens caps always on. Last edited by rawr; 10-31-2015 at 02:53 PM.

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10-31-2015, 01:34 PM	#46
monochrome SMC PENTAX LENSES Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: St. Louis, Missouri Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,426	Originally posted by CreationBear Very useful! Any ideas on why the proscription against filters? Moisture build-up between the filter and the objective, perhaps? That's the way I heard (or read) it - but like I said, it's all cultural transmission of old wives' tales. I've never read anything authoritative or scientific. But I do it all anyway.

10-31-2015, 01:50 PM - 1 Like	#47
CreationBear Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 2,395	Originally posted by monochrome it's all cultural transmission of old wives' tales No real opportunity cost, I guess--besides, I've learned not to argue with old wives. Thanks!

10-31-2015, 03:26 PM	#49
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 31,488	Originally posted by wombat2go Does anybody know if it is OK to store old lenses in attic store room along with a small qty of mothballs (napthalene) ? I would be concerned about heat and humidity. The main living area of the house or cellar is preferable in my opinion. I dunno about the mothballs. Steve

10-31-2015, 03:27 PM	#50
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 31,488	Originally posted by CreationBear Moisture build-up between the filter and the objective, perhaps? Yes, that and potential for corrosion at the threads. Steve

10-31-2015, 04:09 PM	#51
condor27596 Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Raleigh, NC, USA Posts: 777	Thanks for the ideas. I generally just keep them in a camera bag. When going out and about I try to pre select the needed lenses. I just put them loose in a backpack. Usually with the Pentax bag that came with it. More often than not a cargo or jacket pocket.

10-31-2015, 06:55 PM	#52
redrockcoulee Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Medicine Hat Posts: 2,188	Originally posted by rawr I live in a region that is generally warm with very high humidity, so I have two of these 'Legend Wonderful' dry cabinets for lenses. They aren't very big (33x33x57 cm, 50 litre internal volume), but they can fit a lot in if need be. Also useful for storing old photos. I usually store lens mount down, but sometimes that isn't possible due to space limitations. Hoods remain only for the most used lenses, filters are never mounted, front and rear lens caps always on. In winter our indoor relative humidity is in the single digits. The only Pentax lenses that are not in my camera bag are the 3 I am going to sell and the one that sits on a shelf, usually mounted on a film camera. The rest of yhe lenses are in camera bags ready to go shooting.

10-31-2015, 07:14 PM	#53
rawr Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: GMT +10 Photos: Albums Posts: 11,478	Originally posted by redrockcoulee In winter our indoor relative humidity is in the single digits. You are lucky. Winter or summer it rarely falls below 60% here. And it rains a lot. So oftentimes it will be 80% humidity indoors 24x7 for several weeks. Everything gets musty. I once had a camera bag go mouldy after just a few weeks when stored in a cupboard in my study, for example. And don't even think about hanging a leather jacket anywhere in the house that doesn't have excellent air circulation. They do a brisk trade in dry cabinets at my local camera store.

10-31-2015, 10:32 PM	#54
6BQ5 Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Nevada, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,323	I have two of these : But in simulated wood finish. Lenses easily fit standing up. Film camera bodies with small primes easily fit when the camera is turned sideways. Bodies with zooms need to be stored with the lens facing up. On top of the 15 unit organizer I keep my in-use cameras in their own bags. I have my K-3 next to my PZ-1 next to my Q7. This little organizer is part of Target's Room Essentials collection or something like that. These organizing units stack on top of each other. So, beneath this organizer I have a two drawer organizer. The drawers underneath contain my tripods, film, ring light, etc. It's pretty neat system that is low cost. However, the low cost also means it's a little flimsy. Be gentle with it and it will last for a long time. Abuse it and it will all fall apart.

11-01-2015, 12:36 PM	#55
redrockcoulee Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Medicine Hat Posts: 2,188	Originally posted by rawr You are lucky. Winter or summer it rarely falls below 60% here. And it rains a lot. So oftentimes it will be 80% humidity indoors 24x7 for several weeks. Everything gets musty. I once had a camera bag go mouldy after just a few weeks when stored in a cupboard in my study, for example. And don't even think about hanging a leather jacket anywhere in the house that doesn't have excellent air circulation. They do a brisk trade in dry cabinets at my local camera store. Not here, I have a suede jacket from my motorcycle days that my wife won't throw out so it's in a room that has little air circulation in a closet that is only opened once a month, little bit of dust but no mould

11-01-2015, 12:50 PM	#56
csa Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Montana mountains Posts: 9,272	Originally posted by wombat2go Does anybody know if it is OK to store old lenses in attic store room along with a small qty of mothballs (napthalene) ? I would be afraid the lenses would absorb the odor of the mothballs, like cigarette smoke. Also possible damage to the rubber and or lens surfaces? I would rather store them in a tight container that mice, etc., could not get into.