Oh wise ones - what to do about lens fogging [ title edited as suggested ]

**aslyfox** · 03-18-2019, 07:02 AM

Oh wise ones

I take a lot of photos at zoos.

A common problem is going into a tropical rain forest exhibit and the lens and view finder fogging up.

This happened even if the lens is in a back pack

Any thoughts on how to deal with prevent this and/or how to speed up the " adjustment " time to defog the lens and view finder

Thanks

Last edited by aslyfox; 03-18-2019 at 08:59 AM.

jack002 · 03-18-2019, 07:08 AM - **1 Like**

I would have titled this "what do to about lens fogging", not "oh wise ones"

**sergysergy** · 03-18-2019, 07:12 AM

Originally posted by jack002

I would have titled this "what do to about lens fogging", not "oh wise ones"

that is wise

In some cases those places have double doors. You could wait in that transition area for a few minutes.

Docrwm · 03-18-2019, 07:14 AM - **1 Like**

Camera and lens inside coat where its both warm and moist prior to entering.

**Lowell Goudge** · 03-18-2019, 07:26 AM

Not wise but I’ll try

It’s no different than going into a greenhouse in the winter.

You just need to wait. Do the transition slowly, go in, then open your bag, wait a few minutes, then take camera out, wait a few more, then take off the lens cap. Time will be a function of the temperature difference. Sometimes 5-10 minutes.

Ideally from the perspective of condensate) you want your gear to be hotter than the damp environment to prevent fogging, but that has a different issue, it means that your camera, when cooling down will try to draw moisture in because as air cools it creates a low pressure (partial vaccum) inside the camera, so it is best to just let it equalize on its own

**pepperberry farm** · 03-18-2019, 07:32 AM

take a second body/lens just for the humid part of the zoo...?

photoptimist · 03-18-2019, 07:38 AM - **4 Likes**

Originally posted by Docrwm

Camera and lens inside coat where its both warm and moist prior to entering.

^^^THIS^^^

The trick is to keep the camera above the dew point of where ever you are going.
1. If you want to prevent or speed-up defogging, run the camera in liveview mode for about 15 minutes or so before going into a high-humidity location. Yes, it uses a lot of battery power but it will make the camera nice and toasty inside.
2. A "protective filter" can help. The thin glass of the filter might fog up, but it also warms up much faster than does a thick front element.
3. Do not zoom or use a long-focus-throw lens until everything is warmed up. Lenses that change length suck moist air into the lens and camera, fogging the interior.

(If you visit tropical locations where the hotel is heavily air conditioned and the outdoors is not, then the warmest place to store your camera is usually around the minifridge.)

08amczb · 03-18-2019, 07:38 AM - **1 Like**

If you heat up the camera before entering with a hand heater pack in your bag then it should not get foggy. Do not overheat it...

victormeldrew · 03-18-2019, 08:13 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by 08amczb

Do not overheat it...

I bought a house plant that had a warning...in red letters no less..."DO NOT OVERWATER"

As with you advice, completely useless unless you know how much is too much.

**csa** · 03-18-2019, 08:27 AM

Or you could try this sparingly on a lens:

https://www.amazon.com/oz-LensBrite-Anti-fog-Lens-Cleaner/dp/B00012BZH4?tag=pentaxforums-20&

**aslyfox** · 03-18-2019, 08:30 AM

Originally posted by jack002

I would have titled this "what do to about lens fogging", not "oh wise ones"

edited caption as suggested but that didn't help my problem

**aslyfox** · 03-18-2019, 08:32 AM

Originally posted by pepperberry farm

take a second body/lens just for the humid part of the zoo...?

tried the second lens idea

but since camera bag wasn't insulated, made no difference

**aslyfox** · 03-18-2019, 08:57 AM

Originally posted by photoptimist

. . . A "protective filter" can help. The thin glass of the filter might fog up, but it also warms up much faster than does a thick front element. . .

I do use a " protective " filter when storing or carrying lens but as soon as I remove it to take photos, the lens fogs

will have to see what happens if I leave it on

08amczb · 03-18-2019, 09:07 AM

Originally posted by victormeldrew

I bought a house plant that had a warning...in red letters no less..."DO NOT OVERWATER"

As with you advice, completely useless unless you know how much is too much.

104°F / 40°C as sepcified in the manual of all Pentaxes.

photoptimist · 03-18-2019, 09:10 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by aslyfox

I do use a " protective " filter when storing or carrying lens but as soon as I remove it to take photos, the lens fogs

will have to see what happens if I leave it on

You have to leave the filter on until the lens warms up.

When the filter fogs up, wipe it off. If it fogs up again, wipe it off again. You might even try the crazy step of breathing on the filter which will condense a lot of water on the filter but also warm it up quite quickly.

03-18-2019, 07:02 AM	#1
aslyfox Seeker of Knowledge Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Topeka, Kansas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 24,581	Oh wise ones - what to do about lens fogging [ title edited as suggested ] Oh wise ones I take a lot of photos at zoos. A common problem is going into a tropical rain forest exhibit and the lens and view finder fogging up. This happened even if the lens is in a back pack Any thoughts on how to deal with prevent this and/or how to speed up the " adjustment " time to defog the lens and view finder Thanks Last edited by aslyfox; 03-18-2019 at 08:59 AM.

03-18-2019, 08:30 AM	#11
aslyfox Seeker of Knowledge Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Topeka, Kansas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 24,581 Original Poster	Originally posted by jack002 I would have titled this "what do to about lens fogging", not "oh wise ones" edited caption as suggested but that didn't help my problem Last edited by aslyfox; 03-18-2019 at 08:59 AM.

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03-18-2019, 07:08 AM - 1 Like	#2
jack002 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Missouri Photos: Albums Posts: 727	I would have titled this "what do to about lens fogging", not "oh wise ones"

03-18-2019, 07:12 AM	#3
sergysergy Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,170	Originally posted by jack002 I would have titled this "what do to about lens fogging", not "oh wise ones" that is wise In some cases those places have double doors. You could wait in that transition area for a few minutes.

03-18-2019, 07:14 AM - 1 Like	#4
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Camera and lens inside coat where its both warm and moist prior to entering.

03-18-2019, 07:26 AM	#5
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,888	Not wise but I’ll try It’s no different than going into a greenhouse in the winter. You just need to wait. Do the transition slowly, go in, then open your bag, wait a few minutes, then take camera out, wait a few more, then take off the lens cap. Time will be a function of the temperature difference. Sometimes 5-10 minutes. Ideally from the perspective of condensate) you want your gear to be hotter than the damp environment to prevent fogging, but that has a different issue, it means that your camera, when cooling down will try to draw moisture in because as air cools it creates a low pressure (partial vaccum) inside the camera, so it is best to just let it equalize on its own

03-18-2019, 07:32 AM	#6
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,678	take a second body/lens just for the humid part of the zoo...?

03-18-2019, 07:38 AM - 4 Likes	#7
photoptimist Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 5,124	Originally posted by Docrwm Camera and lens inside coat where its both warm and moist prior to entering. ^^^THIS^^^ The trick is to keep the camera above the dew point of where ever you are going. 1. If you want to prevent or speed-up defogging, run the camera in liveview mode for about 15 minutes or so before going into a high-humidity location. Yes, it uses a lot of battery power but it will make the camera nice and toasty inside. 2. A "protective filter" can help. The thin glass of the filter might fog up, but it also warms up much faster than does a thick front element. 3. Do not zoom or use a long-focus-throw lens until everything is warmed up. Lenses that change length suck moist air into the lens and camera, fogging the interior. (If you visit tropical locations where the hotel is heavily air conditioned and the outdoors is not, then the warmest place to store your camera is usually around the minifridge.)

03-18-2019, 07:38 AM - 1 Like	#8
08amczb Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 796	If you heat up the camera before entering with a hand heater pack in your bag then it should not get foggy. Do not overheat it...

03-18-2019, 08:13 AM - 1 Like	#9
victormeldrew Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: South West UK Photos: Albums Posts: 1,493	Originally posted by 08amczb Do not overheat it... I bought a house plant that had a warning...in red letters no less..."DO NOT OVERWATER" As with you advice, completely useless unless you know how much is too much.

03-18-2019, 08:27 AM	#10
csa Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Montana mountains Posts: 10,133	Or you could try this sparingly on a lens: https://www.amazon.com/oz-LensBrite-Anti-fog-Lens-Cleaner/dp/B00012BZH4?tag=pentaxforums-20&

03-18-2019, 08:32 AM	#12
aslyfox Seeker of Knowledge Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Topeka, Kansas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 24,581 Original Poster	Originally posted by pepperberry farm take a second body/lens just for the humid part of the zoo...? tried the second lens idea but since camera bag wasn't insulated, made no difference

03-18-2019, 08:57 AM	#13
aslyfox Seeker of Knowledge Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Topeka, Kansas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 24,581 Original Poster	Originally posted by photoptimist . . . A "protective filter" can help. The thin glass of the filter might fog up, but it also warms up much faster than does a thick front element. . . I do use a " protective " filter when storing or carrying lens but as soon as I remove it to take photos, the lens fogs will have to see what happens if I leave it on

03-18-2019, 09:07 AM	#14
08amczb Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 796	Originally posted by victormeldrew I bought a house plant that had a warning...in red letters no less..."DO NOT OVERWATER" As with you advice, completely useless unless you know how much is too much. 104°F / 40°C as sepcified in the manual of all Pentaxes.

03-18-2019, 09:10 AM - 1 Like	#15
photoptimist Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 5,124	Originally posted by aslyfox I do use a " protective " filter when storing or carrying lens but as soon as I remove it to take photos, the lens fogs will have to see what happens if I leave it on You have to leave the filter on until the lens warms up. When the filter fogs up, wipe it off. If it fogs up again, wipe it off again. You might even try the crazy step of breathing on the filter which will condense a lot of water on the filter but also warm it up quite quickly.