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09/13/2010 12:01:10 PM · #1 |
Lens fogging? Just went to the beach for a wk and I had a bugger of a time with my lens'...they kept fogging up terribly....our hotel room was cold and the outdoors was very, very humid. It would take 15-30 minutes to clear each time, therefore some shots missed...sigh
I was just wondering if you guys have any tips for this problem? I even when so far as to put my stuff out on the balcony before we left to "help" them to acclimate...but it even did it from the car to outdoors...
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09/13/2010 12:08:38 PM · #2 |
| I just wipe it gently with my lens cloth. I use a Hakuba cloth which is a somewhat fluffy and can absorb a bit of moisture if it needs to. |
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09/13/2010 12:13:34 PM · #3 |
It happens... the lens is going to fog or even more fun, the sensor. You just have to give it time to equalize with ambient temperature. That's why my camera rides in the trunk of a car on the way to a shoot. Sometimes, I'll set it on my balcony before heading off.
Anyway, you can speed it up. Set the camera and lens in the sun for a bit. If you have a black gear bag, it'll also help heat it.
Also, in the case of sensor fogging, a hurricane blower can help speed up defoggoing along with giving your sensor a bit of a dedusting.
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09/13/2010 12:24:04 PM · #4 |
I also found out that my camera bag (black) keeps the lens' quite cold for awhile because of the foam around the lens' to protect them...
so there's no de-fog solution to use??? probably would effect the lens wouldn't it??? |
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09/13/2010 12:27:10 PM · #5 |
I find that so long as there is a temperature differential you'll get fog. The problem I had on a recent trip is that the glass never actually got that cold. I would take a couple of shots and put the lens cap back on. That was enough to insulate the lens from the relatively cold weather (it wasn't that cold...only about 5 or 6 degrees Celsius).
Message edited by author 2010-09-13 12:28:20. |
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09/13/2010 01:37:56 PM · #6 |
Yep, fog happens! ;-)
The technical reason is that the temperature of the lens is below the dew point of the surrounding air. The most effective method of avoiding it is to use any method you can of keeping the camera at (or slightly above) the air temperature, in which case there can never be any fogging.
Attempts to wipe off the condensation will just result in more condensation forming, so not really a solution. As previously posted, keeping the camera and camera bag out of air-conditioned spaces, thus avoiding fogging altogether, is the best solution. It's not always practical and sometimes risky (theft, overheating), however.
Keep in mind that if fog is forming on the lens, then it is nearly certain that condensation will also be forming inside the camera, e.g. sensor surface, mirror, electronics... this is not a good scenario. It's very clean water (distilled, by definition) but will cause temporary and/or permanent shorting of electronics if it remains too long.
Message edited by author 2010-09-13 13:38:18. |
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09/13/2010 01:59:20 PM · #7 |
| How about putting the camera in a plastic bag and sealing it before exiting your room? Wouldn't the condensation happen to the bag and not the camera once it's out of the air conditioned room? It may reduce the wait time before you can safely use your gear too. |
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09/13/2010 05:08:07 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by Jac:
How about putting the camera in a plastic bag and sealing it before exiting your room? Wouldn't the condensation happen to the bag and not the camera once it's out of the air conditioned room? It may reduce the wait time before you can safely use your gear too. |
what is happening is that the metal &/ plastic on my camera is colder than the air temperature therefore you will get fog. We even had problems this past week of getting out of the car (A/C) and our eye glasses (sun) would fog up as well....I just happen to live in a very, very humid state/region and it was just warmer where we were than where I live ...although even at home I have the same problem...
if you've never experienced the humidity of Florida...it's special |
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09/13/2010 05:48:06 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by Ja-9:
Originally posted by Jac:
How about putting the camera in a plastic bag and sealing it before exiting your room? Wouldn't the condensation happen to the bag and not the camera once it's out of the air conditioned room? It may reduce the wait time before you can safely use your gear too. |
what is happening is that the metal &/ plastic on my camera is colder than the air temperature therefore you will get fog. |
That's not strictly true. As Kirbic pointed out, it's a matter of the "dew point", the temperature at which moisture will condense out of the air. And THAT's a function of humidity. If you are in the desert, at close to 0% humidity, you won't get condensation regardless of the temperature differential.
Furthermore, when you DO have high humidity, condensation only happens when the camera is brought into a humid environment whilst its temperature is at, or below, the dew point. Now, typically, an air-conditioned environment is also a very low-humidity environment. Therefore, in theory, if you seal the camera into an air-tight enclosure whilst within the air-conditioning zone, then move the camera outside and allow it to come to the ambient temperature before removing it from the sealed environment, you will not get condensation on the camera.
So, in theory, Jac is correct. In practical terms, it's not always that easy...
R. |
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09/13/2010 05:52:43 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
Originally posted by Ja-9:
Originally posted by Jac:
How about putting the camera in a plastic bag and sealing it before exiting your room? Wouldn't the condensation happen to the bag and not the camera once it's out of the air conditioned room? It may reduce the wait time before you can safely use your gear too. |
what is happening is that the metal &/ plastic on my camera is colder than the air temperature therefore you will get fog. |
That's not strictly true. As Kirbic pointed out, it's a matter of the "dew point", the temperature at which moisture will condense out of the air. And THAT's a function of humidity. If you are in the desert, at close to 0% humidity, you won't get condensation regardless of the temperature differential.
Furthermore, when you DO have high humidity, condensation only happens when the camera is brought into a humid environment whilst its temperature is at, or below, the dew point. Now, typically, an air-conditioned environment is also a very low-humidity environment. Therefore, in theory, if you seal the camera into an air-tight enclosure whilst within the air-conditioning zone, then move the camera outside and allow it to come to the ambient temperature before removing it from the sealed environment, you will not get condensation on the camera.
So, in theory, Jac is correct. In practical terms, it's not always that easy...
R. |
aaaaa haaaa, bit slow on the uptake sometime...it's probably that age thing....lol I see your point now... |
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09/21/2010 02:39:35 AM · #11 |
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09/21/2010 03:16:29 AM · #12 |
If you are driving in the heat to where you want to shoot, you can hold the camera with lens out the window for a minute while you are going along, and it will warm right up.
Nuke it in the microwave for a couple of minutes just before heading out. Pesky water will be long gone. Use mitts to hold the camera so you don't toast your fingers. It makes the batteries last a lot longer too.
Did I actually say that? Just kidding. Don't try the nuke thing, no matter how much fun it looks like it would be.
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09/21/2010 04:26:35 AM · #13 |
| So, when the old mind is fogging up and memory seems to become an issue, put the head in a plastic bag. Like the bearman says, I may be correct in practical terms but it's not always that simple ;-P |
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02/16/2012 12:25:49 AM · #14 |
Necro bump!
I'm headed to Houston next week, and one of the places on my "must go" list is the Butterfly Center at the Natural Science museum. The temperature in the dome is that of tropic levels. Outside Houston temps should be about 70F with about 70% humidity outside. My dad said the first time he went his lens fogged up instantly for about a half hour, and the second time snuggling his camera under his shirt before entering seemed to do the trick.
Now my question... Would I be crazy to buy a couple handwarmers to toss in my bag rather than snuggling with my camera? Is there something I'm not considering? Risk of them leaking, getting too hot, etc. |
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02/16/2012 12:37:01 AM · #15 |
| Leaking would be a big concern, as the disposable ones are filled with iron oxide which will be a royal pain to get out of your camera bag should one burst. They're pretty resilient though. They get pretty hot though, so I'd be cautious of putting them on parts of your camera that have adhesive (like rubber grip). |
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02/16/2012 06:55:50 AM · #16 |
the whole thread got me thinking, a sealed plastic bag will keep the moisture from condensing on your equipment, but being in a sealed bag wont make it warm up any quicker and if its not in a bag and dos fog up the moisture will evaporate when it does warm up... so in both cases the camera warms up at the same rate and no moisture will be on the gear when its done.
so does the sealed bag really actually do anything? |
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02/16/2012 08:13:01 AM · #17 |
When I was on the swim team and the goggles would fog up, if you spit in them and rinsed, they wouldn't fog up as quickly.
You could try spitting on your lens... :) |
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02/16/2012 08:31:12 AM · #18 |
Originally posted by mike_311:
the whole thread got me thinking, a sealed plastic bag will keep the moisture from condensing on your equipment, but being in a sealed bag wont make it warm up any quicker and if its not in a bag and dos fog up the moisture will evaporate when it does warm up... so in both cases the camera warms up at the same rate and no moisture will be on the gear when its done.
so does the sealed bag really actually do anything? |
You're right that it doesn't speed up the process of regulating the temperature of the camera, but it stops moisture from condensing on the lens and inside the camera, so it's good for the health of your camera. |
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02/16/2012 08:43:44 AM · #19 |
Originally posted by Ja-9:
Lens fogging? Just went to the beach for a wk and I had a bugger of a time with my lens'...they kept fogging up terribly....our hotel room was cold and the outdoors was very, very humid. It would take 15-30 minutes to clear each time, therefore some shots missed...sigh
I was just wondering if you guys have any tips for this problem? I even when so far as to put my stuff out on the balcony before we left to "help" them to acclimate...but it even did it from the car to outdoors... |
Just throw it... HARD... against a brick wall, a concrete sidewalk, a car (someone elses, not your own, of course)...
Technically, anything that would cause it damage.
You show that lens that YOU are in control... don't let it take advantage of you!
On a more serious note... I have found that, like others have stated, placing it in a ziploc bag can be of some help. It'll just have to acclimate to the temperature you are in.
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02/16/2012 08:54:58 AM · #20 |
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02/16/2012 09:05:45 AM · #21 |
12 Volt Hair Dryer
Assuming your car with cig lighter is close. |
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02/16/2012 10:40:12 AM · #22 |
Originally posted by spiritualspatula:
Leaking would be a big concern, as the disposable ones are filled with iron oxide which will be a royal pain to get out of your camera bag should one burst. They're pretty resilient though. They get pretty hot though, so I'd be cautious of putting them on parts of your camera that have adhesive (like rubber grip). |
How about making my own hand warmers? I've seen a couple do-it-yourself articles about using pie weights in a pouch. That wouldn't leak, and I could microwave them before I left the hotel. I would imagine they wouldn't get too hot. Might even be able to bribe businesses into letting me use a microwave if I'm out too long and they get too cool.
Which would hold heat better; rice or pie weights? I think pie weights are clay, so that would be my guess.
Message edited by author 2012-02-16 10:42:26. |
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02/16/2012 10:55:55 AM · #23 |
ive had this when shooting gigs in winter, hot sweaty nightclub, go outside for a smoke in teh cold say -2 centrigrade, back into the gig and the camera fogged... took the lens off and within a minute it was ok again
Message edited by author 2012-02-16 10:56:21. |
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02/16/2012 11:50:45 AM · #24 |
Originally posted by aliqui:
Necro bump!
I'm headed to Houston next week, and one of the places on my "must go" list is the Butterfly Center at the Natural Science museum. The temperature in the dome is that of tropic levels. Outside Houston temps should be about 70F with about 70% humidity outside. My dad said the first time he went his lens fogged up instantly for about a half hour, and the second time snuggling his camera under his shirt before entering seemed to do the trick.
Now my question... Would I be crazy to buy a couple handwarmers to toss in my bag rather than snuggling with my camera? Is there something I'm not considering? Risk of them leaking, getting too hot, etc. |
I think your camera is going to be upset. I mean what would you want? Some good snuggle time or a couple of chemical handwarmers? |
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02/16/2012 03:06:24 PM · #25 |
Originally posted by Spork99:
I think your camera is going to be upset. I mean what would you want? Some good snuggle time or a couple of chemical handwarmers? |
Sometimes it's just not appropriate to snuggle your gear in public. That's why I'm offering a more organic approach. :) |
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