Lens storage

Just had an old m lens cleaned I wondered if any one had thoughts on best practice for storage when not in use to avoid "growths" . ie, sealed in a box with dessicants or left open in a warm dry enviromment ?

I try not to store lenses as such, they are all in current use, that is in their appropriate Billingham or other bags, regularly used and kept dry and well aired.

I think the real killer for lenses is the damp, closed environment of old draweers or cupboards.

Dessicants are a good idea, wherever you store your equipment.
I keep any sachets of silica gel that come in packages to save buying any.
A particularly good source for freebies, is your local shoe shop - they throw loads away!

Hi,
As well as the precautioned already mentioned, be wary of the leather type hard cases. They can harbour the fungus spores and cause "infection"

Regards
Kim

LENS STORAGE: YOU MUST NOT USE OLD SILICA GEL SACHETS AS THESE HOLD LOTS OF MOISTER! GET THE NEW SELF INDICATING ONE'S
FROM A GUY IN THE U.K ON EBAY. THEY ARE REUSABLE, JUST PLACE IN OVEN AT 120 DEG C. COLOUR ORANGE WHEN DRY. GREEN WHEN WET!
I AM IN AUSTRALIA AND GOT FROM EBAY TOOK 5 DAYS.JUST GREAT

Jessops sell the self-indicating silica bags, basically they change colour as they absorb moisture. They're £2.49 for 2 reasonably large packs (http://www.jessops.com/search/viewproduct.cfm?Product=JESSG&CFID=6453416&...

Unfortunately, I followed some dodgy word of mouth advice and melted my silica bags in the oven whilst trying to desiccate them. Note the Jessops advice that an oven may be used to 'revive' the bags as long as it is used with 'extreme caution'. I'd suggest simply putting them in the airing cupboard.

In short, they're good for absorbing moisture, but they're not fire-proof!

Having once lost a lens to fungus, I now keep my lenses in an open display cabinet, where silica gel is unnecessary. They're also more accessible that way, and (to a photographer) look very impressive. (It helps to have lots!)

I have been told that lenses should be stored bottom up, with the aperture wide open (or on "A"), so as not to stress the iris spring.

George

Hi George,
Silica may not be necessary but a duster certainly would be

On a more serious note, I think that unless you live in a quite humid environment, a good air circulation is far more imortant than silica gel. The makers use it because they don't know how long their item is going to be sealed up in a plastic bag before sale. As long as you keep your equipment well aired, damp should not be a problem in a temperate zone. As to relieving the spring, surely it is better to store them at min aperture as the spring works to close the aperture? Also on the subject of storage, it is better to store the older mechanical Pentax's on 1 sec rather than a fast speed for the same reason. This does not apply to many of the FSU cameras which use a different slow speed mech.

Kim

Kim said: As to relieving the spring, surely it is better to store them at min aperture as the spring works to close the aperture?

Absolutely right. That's what I meant to say. It's been a hard week!

G