Lens storage: box or no box?

wuxiekeji · Joined: 15 Aug 2012 Posts: 213

I live in a place with 60-70% humidity. For you fungus experts, which of these solutions would you recommend? None of my lenses have fungus but I'm trying to be proactive in preventing it.

(1) A small translucent plastic box with a closed lid and renewable silica gel pack inside, lenses stored inside with front caps off.
PROS: small amount of light gets into lens (impedes fungus?), dry (because of silica gel)
CONS: no ventilation; fungus spores can be stuck inside box with nowhere to go, light that gets into the box is all visible and may not be deadly enough to fungus (plastic kills UV)

Like this:

OR ... (2) On an open bedroom shelf with caps on
PROS: air ventilation
CONS: humidity, no light inside lenses (have to keep caps on to avoid sticky dust)

guardian · Joined: 18 Mar 2009 Posts: 1746

It's not even close for me. I by far prefer your first option.

I believe moistness and warmth favor fungus growth regardless other factors. I don't see light, except for UV light, as being a deterrent to fungus growth.

My own lenses are stored sealed in clear plastic bags, mostly individually, in the dark, with apertures closed down, and with a LARGE amount of silica gel in each bag adjacent to each lens. In addition, I store them in a cool place.

RSalles · Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2013 4:15 pm Post subject:

I prefer big boxes due to air cycling more easy, with fewer lens. Two pots with silica gel, a transparent big box, near where the sun shines and that's all.

Renato

Aanything · Expire: 2014-05-30

I keep my lenses in a metal locker with dehumidifiers inside: i keep humidity around 30-40%
The locker's door have little openings, so I guess a bit of air flows.
No uv light, though.
Since adopting this solution, i noticed no fungal growth on any lens, while it happened every now and then before when I kept them on a shelf with caps on.

exaklaus · Expire: 2011-12-02

visualopsins · Expire: 2025-04-11

I use air-tight waterproof Pelican cases with rechargeable indicating silica gel and inexpensive temperature/humidity gauge. Never a problem in 7 years in temperatures from below freezing to above 100F and humidity from 0 to 100%.

Your box with silica gel will be fine if box is kept inside comfortable home environment -- the silica gel will need renewing less often if the box lid seals well. An inexpensive temperature/humidity gauge inside box makes it easy to monitor. This one also remembers low & high numbers:

http://www.nationalmarineproducts.com/Compact_Hygro_Thermometer_Clock_p/16229.htm

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

I like these plastic storage boxes from The Really Useful Box Company. http://www.reallyusefulproducts.co.uk/uk/

The trays lift out, with small lenses the 21L box takes two trays - 32 lenses. With one tray a lens 6 1/4 inches long will stand on end. I have cut the partitions out of some trays to make a compartment 12 x 3 3/4 inches.
The 11lL box takes one tray and stacks perfectly on the 21L box. The 11L with a tray is perfect for filters up to about 67mm in the round case, ot Cokin A series in their case. I have this size box for converters and adapters, lens hoods and all the other small stuff that we seem to acquire.

The compartment trays are not included with the boxes, they are extra

The boxes are not airtight, I prefer air to circulate. I use silica bags in the boxes but I also have two small dehumidifiers ( Aldi supermarket ) running in the room where I keep all my stuff, the humidity level is generally around 50% and rarely up to 60%. I probably empty about 6 to 8 liters of water out of the dehumidifiers each week.

The boxes are excellent, I now have 8 each of the 21L and 11L boxes and I have been known to put a couple of boxes in the back of my 4x4 when I go out testing ( playing Laughing

) with a friend. And I've stood on two stacked boxes to get higher. You can always find plastic storage boxes at discount stores and supermarkets which are a lot cheaper than these, but you are unlikely to find stronger or better made ones.

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

cooltouch · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 9096 Location: Houston, Texas

I live in a place that regularly has 90%+ humidity outdoors. But I have central air and heat, so indoors, it's usually about 50%. Is this not your case? If not, I still wouldn't worry about it as long as the lenses are getting used outdoors. Sunlight kills fungus. Otherwise, I'd look into one of the storage suggestions mentoned above.

wuxiekeji · Joined: 15 Aug 2012 Posts: 213

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

http://www.homedepot.com/p/PERFECT-HOME-4-Pint-Dehumidifier-EWDH4/202261882#.UijHbNKsiSo

This is the exact model of dehumidifier that I use, I got two from Aldi supermarket for about £20 ( UK Pound ) each.

I don't think that air Sanitizer would be the ideal option, it doesn't take moisture out of the atmosphere. It's a tiny unit that sits in the socket and hits the germs with UV light; killing "99% of targeted airborne germs" I might be cynical, but the word "targeted" makes me wonder if it only kills the germs that go through the tiny device?
And as soon as you take your lens out to use it, it's exposed to airborne germs which will stay in the lens when it returns to storage. Personally I think trying to create a germ free environment is impossible, or at least impractical. It's easier and more effective to create an environment where the germs and spores cannot flourish. Controlling the moisture level and not storing lenses in the dark is probably a more reliable method of stopping fungus.

tao · Expire: 2015-03-12

I have in my study dry cabinets which I store cameras and lenses which I used often. They were noisy so I have them on timer to turn them off during my working period. The rest of the lens goes into air tight boxes with silicagel packets. (Silica gel only works effectively in confined spaces)

RnR · Expire: 2019-08-29

I use transparent plastic containers with a silicon seal in the lid. Closes to air tight on the cheap that I could find. Inside each is a rechargable silica unit. Every now and then I take the units out and power them up for a few hours. Humidity hovers around 30% according to the cheap hydrometers I have.

I'm kinda in awe of Lloydy's collection and organisation Very Happy

Farside · Expire: 2013-12-27

hifisapi · Joined: 25 Sep 2012 Posts: 941 Location: USA

since I have always stored my lenses in cases in air conditioned air ( cool and low humidity),
I have never had a problem with fungus. But just in case I have just bought a hundred packs
of silica gel to install in each lens case.

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

Nordentro · Expire: 2015-01-29

Well I do the oposite. I have old lens and camera cases (old leather) in boxes because they smell bad. Very Happy

And I keep my lenses more open so the air can circulate around them Wink

The air in my part of the country is considered "very dry".

hifisapi · Joined: 25 Sep 2012 Posts: 941 Location: USA

All I can say is I am very happy to have never had to experience the horror of having a good lens ruined by fungus in storage.
That must really suck. Bigtime.