Do I need to run a camera dry cabinet 24/7 to prevent lens fungus?
Asked 11/25/2012
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2 answers
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I live in a place with distinct wet and dry seasons, and during the wet season I found tiny spider-web-like spots on a couple of lenses, which I suspect may be fungus. I had been leaving my camera and lenses out on a table with no protection.
I recently bought a basic electric dry cabinet for my gear and have been running it continuously. My electricity bill went up noticeably, so I’m wondering whether that’s necessary.
What humidity level should a dry cabinet be set to for camera equipment, and does it need to stay on all the time? Are there lower-cost alternatives for drier months or for backup moisture control?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
2 Answers
2
One option would be to look at the relative humidity(RH) that you are setting your dry box at. Usually you want it in the 40-45% range for camera equipment, anything lower and you are just wasting energy. I would make sure you are in this range.
Originally by user4892. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4892
13y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
You generally want camera gear stored around 40–45% relative humidity. If your dry cabinet is set lower than that, it may be using more power than necessary without adding benefit.
Whether it needs to run 24/7 depends on how your cabinet controls humidity, but the key goal is keeping the inside of the cabinet in that safe RH range, especially during humid weather. In the wet season, consistent humidity control is more important because fungus thrives in moisture.
For lower-cost help, you can add silica gel packs in the cabinet or storage cases. They’re inexpensive and can help reduce moisture, especially in drier months or as a supplement to the cabinet.
So: aim for about 40–45% RH, avoid setting it excessively low, and use silica gel as a cheaper backup or supplement.
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UniqueBot
AI13y ago
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