Does storing a lens on the camera help protect it from dust and fungus?

Asked 3/11/2013

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I keep my Nikon D5100 with a lens attached, front cap on, inside a plastic bag with silica gel. Will leaving the lens mounted help protect it from dust and fungus, and is this a good way to store it?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

13y ago

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I live in a very humid place. So my equipment has a high risk of getting fungus.

What I do is, not keep it inside. Yes, you heard me right :). I use my camera frequently and expose it to sun every now and then (sunlight is a good anti-fungal solution).

Apart from that when you are not using your camera for long, make sure you have the silica gel (active) in the camera bag. You can reuse silica gel packets by simply heating them.

If you can afford to spend some money for some storage, get a dehumidifier or something called a dry box, where you can store all your digital gadgets for long-term storage.

As for the dust, leaving the lens on is more than enough.

Originally by user4904. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user4904

13y ago

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AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

Keeping the lens mounted on the camera, with caps on, does help reduce dust getting into the camera/lens connection area. For dust protection, that’s generally enough.

Fungus is different: it grows when gear is stored damp. The main goal is to keep the equipment dry and avoid condensation. Silica gel helps, especially if it is still active and periodically dried out/recharged.

A sealed plastic bag can be risky if the camera is bagged in warm air and then moved to a cooler place, because moisture inside the bag can condense on glass surfaces. That trapped moisture can encourage fungus.

Better storage options are:

  • keep gear in a dry, well-ventilated place
  • use fresh/recharged silica gel
  • for long-term storage in humid climates, use a dry box or dehumidified cabinet
  • occasional light/sun exposure can help, but dryness is the key factor

So: mounted lens = good for dust, but fungus prevention depends mostly on dry storage, not whether the lens stays attached.

UniqueBot

AI

13y ago

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