Vacation - Lessons Learned

cali92rs · 09-06-2011, 10:07 AM

So I just got back from Cancun after a week long vacation.
It was great, and my K-5 worked as expected.

But I did learn some lessons.
I am from dry, non-humid SoCal, so I did not realize the power of condensation in a tropical environment. As soon as I stepped out of my cool AirConditioned room, my camera and lens got a layer of condensation on it, and the lens and eye piece fogged up. After the temp of the camera normalized to the outside temp, it was fine. But it is real disconcerting the first time you see it.
Can there be long term effects to my non-weather sealed lenses from that type of exposure?

Also, I only brought prime lenses...although I do love prime lenses, i did feel like they got cumbersome on the Mayan ruins tour I took, and a zoom lens wouldve been greatly beneficial.

Now comes the processing

JinDesu · 09-06-2011, 10:17 AM

Put the lens in some sunlight or bright incandescent light for a little while and you should be cleared of anything that could grow on it.

ducdao · 09-06-2011, 10:19 AM

Originally posted by cali92rs

So I just got back from Cancun after a week long vacation.
It was great, and my K-5 worked as expected.

But I did learn some lessons.
I am from dry, non-humid SoCal, so I did not realize the power of condensation in a tropical environment. As soon as I stepped out of my cool AirConditioned room, my camera and lens got a layer of condensation on it, and the lens and eye piece fogged up. After the temp of the camera normalized to the outside temp, it was fine. But it is real disconcerting the first time you see it.
Can there be long term effects to my non-weather sealed lenses from that type of exposure?

Also, I only brought prime lenses...although I do love prime lenses, i did feel like they got cumbersome on the Mayan ruins tour I took, and a zoom lens wouldve been greatly beneficial.

Now comes the processing

I lived in Vietnam for 8 years and traveled almost all countries in South East Asia, so yes I know what you mean. I don't think there any long term effect if you maintain your equipment properly. What I normally do is after each trip I just store my equipment inside a dry cabinet to suck out all the excess humidity. If you don't have a dry cabinet, just store inside a ziploc bag with a few silica bags.

cali92rs · 09-06-2011, 10:27 AM

Awesome...thanks for the advice

**TomB_tx** · 09-07-2011, 06:51 AM

A similar problem in winter climates - but reversed. Bringing cameras inside would always fog them up, which caused lots of issues doing reportage and event work. I'd keep a second camera inside my coat to use until the others warmed up. But this was back in the '60s when cameras had no electronics. I'd worry more about electrical issues with condensation today. Texas has NO condensation issues this summer - and no rain.

atupdate · 09-07-2011, 06:58 AM

For your next trip, put the camera and lenses in Zip-Lock bags before going outside. This will relocated the condensation to the outside of the bag and off the camera. Remove the equipment from the bags once the equipment reaches the temperature outside (Doesn't take that long).

Tim

Clicker · 09-07-2011, 07:25 AM

Originally posted by atupdate

For your next trip, put the camera and lenses in Zip-Lock bags before going outside. This will relocated the condensation to the outside of the bag and off the camera. Remove the equipment from the bags once the equipment reaches the temperature outside (Doesn't take that long).

Tim

That's a great tip i usually just have a small face towel in the bag and don't take out the camera after a minute or two between climate changes longer for bigger gaps.

cali92rs · 09-07-2011, 03:48 PM

See, this is the great stuff you miss out on when you live in California, LOL.

abacus07 · 09-07-2011, 06:13 PM

Wow!

I have never seen condensation on anything in taiwan going from AC to 95F humid temps. How cold was your AC?

I did have this happen when I left the penguin exhibit at the aquarium though. It is annoying since you can't take pictures.

RioRico · 09-07-2011, 11:58 PM

Originally posted by cali92rs

See, this is the great stuff you miss out on when you live in California, LOL.

Stay at elevation and semi-deserts, and this doesn't happen. Even going from my heated mountain home out to a sub-zero meadow in mid-winter, my gear doesn't suffer condensation, not like I saw in a couple winters in Kansas. That's why I like the USA West, the Mexican and Guatemalan highlands, etc. No fog-over, por favor.

OutOfFocus · 09-12-2011, 07:35 PM

Happens in Houston too.

09-06-2011, 10:07 AM	#1
cali92rs Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 3,354	Vacation - Lessons Learned So I just got back from Cancun after a week long vacation. It was great, and my K-5 worked as expected. But I did learn some lessons. I am from dry, non-humid SoCal, so I did not realize the power of condensation in a tropical environment. As soon as I stepped out of my cool AirConditioned room, my camera and lens got a layer of condensation on it, and the lens and eye piece fogged up. After the temp of the camera normalized to the outside temp, it was fine. But it is real disconcerting the first time you see it. Can there be long term effects to my non-weather sealed lenses from that type of exposure? Also, I only brought prime lenses...although I do love prime lenses, i did feel like they got cumbersome on the Mayan ruins tour I took, and a zoom lens wouldve been greatly beneficial. Now comes the processing

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09-06-2011, 10:17 AM	#2
JinDesu Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: New York City Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,638	Put the lens in some sunlight or bright incandescent light for a little while and you should be cleared of anything that could grow on it.

09-06-2011, 10:19 AM	#3
ducdao Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Montreal/Vermont Posts: 2,160	Originally posted by cali92rs So I just got back from Cancun after a week long vacation. It was great, and my K-5 worked as expected. But I did learn some lessons. I am from dry, non-humid SoCal, so I did not realize the power of condensation in a tropical environment. As soon as I stepped out of my cool AirConditioned room, my camera and lens got a layer of condensation on it, and the lens and eye piece fogged up. After the temp of the camera normalized to the outside temp, it was fine. But it is real disconcerting the first time you see it. Can there be long term effects to my non-weather sealed lenses from that type of exposure? Also, I only brought prime lenses...although I do love prime lenses, i did feel like they got cumbersome on the Mayan ruins tour I took, and a zoom lens wouldve been greatly beneficial. Now comes the processing I lived in Vietnam for 8 years and traveled almost all countries in South East Asia, so yes I know what you mean. I don't think there any long term effect if you maintain your equipment properly. What I normally do is after each trip I just store my equipment inside a dry cabinet to suck out all the excess humidity. If you don't have a dry cabinet, just store inside a ziploc bag with a few silica bags.

09-06-2011, 10:27 AM	#4
cali92rs Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 3,354 Original Poster	Awesome...thanks for the advice

09-07-2011, 06:51 AM	#5
TomB_tx Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,446	A similar problem in winter climates - but reversed. Bringing cameras inside would always fog them up, which caused lots of issues doing reportage and event work. I'd keep a second camera inside my coat to use until the others warmed up. But this was back in the '60s when cameras had no electronics. I'd worry more about electrical issues with condensation today. Texas has NO condensation issues this summer - and no rain.

09-07-2011, 06:58 AM	#6
atupdate Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Dayton, OH Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,724	For your next trip, put the camera and lenses in Zip-Lock bags before going outside. This will relocated the condensation to the outside of the bag and off the camera. Remove the equipment from the bags once the equipment reaches the temperature outside (Doesn't take that long). Tim

09-07-2011, 07:25 AM	#7
Clicker Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,241	Originally posted by atupdate For your next trip, put the camera and lenses in Zip-Lock bags before going outside. This will relocated the condensation to the outside of the bag and off the camera. Remove the equipment from the bags once the equipment reaches the temperature outside (Doesn't take that long). Tim That's a great tip i usually just have a small face towel in the bag and don't take out the camera after a minute or two between climate changes longer for bigger gaps.

09-07-2011, 03:48 PM	#8
cali92rs Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 3,354 Original Poster	See, this is the great stuff you miss out on when you live in California, LOL.

09-07-2011, 06:13 PM	#9
abacus07 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Taiwan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,075	Wow! I have never seen condensation on anything in taiwan going from AC to 95F humid temps. How cold was your AC? I did have this happen when I left the penguin exhibit at the aquarium though. It is annoying since you can't take pictures.

09-07-2011, 11:58 PM	#10
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	Originally posted by cali92rs See, this is the great stuff you miss out on when you live in California, LOL. Stay at elevation and semi-deserts, and this doesn't happen. Even going from my heated mountain home out to a sub-zero meadow in mid-winter, my gear doesn't suffer condensation, not like I saw in a couple winters in Kansas. That's why I like the USA West, the Mexican and Guatemalan highlands, etc. No fog-over, por favor.

09-12-2011, 07:35 PM	#11
OutOfFocus Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Houston, TX Photos: Gallery Posts: 140	Happens in Houston too.