Can storing a lens in a refrigerator damage it?
Asked 8/29/2014
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I accidentally left a Sigma 35mm f/1.4 inside a backpack in a refrigerator at about 43°F (6°C) for around a month. The lens was not frozen. Can this kind of cold storage damage a lens, and is there anything I should do when bringing it back to room temperature?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
11y ago
2 Answers
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Storing the lens in the refrigerator for a month or even indefinitely at 43° will not harm it in any way. What could potentially damage it is removing it from that environment without taking adequate precautions.
Any time you move your camera or lens from a cold environment, such as your refrigerator, to a warmer one you should be sure to place it in a container of some kind so that the temperature change is gradual enough that moisture in the warmer air does not condense on or, more importantly, inside the lens. This can be as simple as a zip lock bag or a camera case or the backpack it was stored in when it was in the refrigerator. If you do have moisture condense inside the lens it will usually leave water spots behind. Moisture can also promote the formation of fungus inside the lens. If the moisture is extensive enough, it can even cause havoc with the electronics of the lens.
This question and the answers submitted cover how to prevent condensation when going from cold air to moist hot air: What precautions should I take when taking a camera into humid conditions?
After the fact, you need to dry it out as best you can. See How do I dry water condensation off my camera?
Originally by user15871. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user15871
11y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
A month at about 43°F (6°C) is very unlikely to harm the lens. That temperature is above freezing, and lenses and cameras are commonly used in similar or colder conditions.
The main risk is not the cold storage itself, but condensation when the cold lens is brought into a warmer, more humid room. Moisture from the air can condense on the outside and potentially inside the lens if it warms too quickly. That can leave spots and, over time, encourage fungus.
Best practice is to let it warm up gradually while sealed or enclosed—such as in a zip bag, camera bag, or the closed backpack it was already in—before opening or using it. If you already took it out, just inspect it for visible condensation and let it fully acclimate before use.
In short: the fridge temperature itself should not have damaged the lens; just be careful about condensation during warm-up.
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