Who dosen't use dry cabinet?

[spheredome]

It is worth to know that many many many people out there don't know what silica gel is, not to mention drybox and drycab. Just like ozonator.

So when they upgrade from compact to more expensive prosumer or dSLR, then they are introduced to such item by salesperson. Thus there will always be a process of justification to get one of these unknown item and the need for the large effort (in their mindset) into aquiring/transport one. Some people got this zen home concept design that adding any item require proper planning, else will destroy the zen spiritually.

Similar to CCTV at home, many knows what they are but require strong justification too bec it intrudes privacy and needs wiring and periodic review.

How many of you have proper vaccum cleaner at home, raise your hand.

 

[hoppie]

i have a dry cabinet but my cam always out of the cabinet and in my cam bag i store the rest of the lens i dun use in the Dry cabinet.

I got a friend who dun have a dry cab, he got 1 body and 2 lens, i asked him why, he says his wife say no place to put so CANNOT BUY!

 

[Simon_84]

i got fungus on both of my lens, after a well-clean service from mr fatigue, now i store all my lens in the $106 digihub 30L dry cabinet operating at 5W.
at last, i feel more at ease already.

if i can find space to put my tiny 30L in a crowded room, so can anyone, just a matter of space management within the room.

 

[oneluckyguy]

yaaa... I feel that alot people here keep saying that we drybox users don't use a dry cabinet because we're too cheapo to buy one. Pfft, I would even say that dry cabinets ara actually very cheap and affordable. But there are other underlying factors to consider also. Firstly, the dry cabinet needs a power outlet, means it must be out in the open and affects the aesthetics of the room. I spent like $8~10k just to renovate my room and have nice matching furniture, then suddenly got this $130 thing looking out of place.

same here.. the reason y i dun use dry cabinet is because, my room is so small.. where got space to put a dry cabinet ! Wait till i move to my own house... :dunno:

 

[shark78]

answer is simple. if you can buy the camera gears for thousands of dollar. and yet don't want to invest in cabinet. when fungus grow.
don't KBKP.
enough said?

 

[agape01]

Why is it that in my 10years of photography, never did I ever experience fungus in my lenses and I have never stored my lenses in the dry cabinet?

 

[Simon_84]

answer is simple. if you can buy the camera gears for thousands of dollar. and yet don't want to invest in cabinet. when fungus grow.
don't KBKP.
enough said?

ya, straight to the point.

 

[agape01]

Exactly... for camera collectors.

 

[hotwork77]

impressive, maybe you can share more of your secret of keeping fungus away beside not putting camera in a aircon room or regular clearing air con filter. that will be great help to many others.

btw, this year is only 2009, have to wait another 9 years for the Nikon F4 to be 30 years old.

There's no secret. In my house I have dehumidifiers (Delonghi) and air filters (Honeywell) running 24/7 because wife is asthmatic. Besides, I try not to take photos in the rain even if my camera is claimed to be water proofed with 1000 seals.

If you have aircon, try to give it some chemical cleaning once a year. Wash and dry your aircon filters at least once a month, more often if you need to. You will be surprised by the amount of vegetation. Aircon filter is fungus laden. It is there even when you clean it monthly. That's why I said "Hint".

At the end of the day it's how you treat the camera. Clean it throughly after each outing. Treat it gently and it will give you years of faithful service.

 

[spheredome]

In the nutshell.

If you are just having a camera, 2 lens and a flash. Go for drybox, it won't kill your equipment.

If you are just having a compact or prosumer cam. Just get the damn air tight lock box and NTUC packet form jumbo dehumifier if you don't know what silica gel is.

If you can accomodate an electric dry cabinet (dry cabinet can be desilicate base), then use it, as it is optimal choice.

The last choice of option is having well sized dehumidifer of your entire room or house, provide it is closed. Air filter is no guarantee unless you ozone shock an old room first.

 

[catchlights]

There's no secret. In my house I have dehumidifiers (Delonghi) and air filters (Honeywell) running 24/7 because wife is asthmatic. Besides, I try not to take photos in the rain even if my camera is claimed to be water proofed with 1000 seals.

If you have aircon, try to give it some chemical cleaning once a year. Wash and dry your aircon filters at least once a month, more often if you need to. You will be surprised by the amount of vegetation. Aircon filter is fungus laden. It is there even when you clean it monthly. That's why I said "Hint".

At the end of the day it's how you treat the camera. Clean it throughly after each outing. Treat it gently and it will give you years of faithful service.

thanks for sharing your tips, really appreciate that.
But can I conclude that even I'm using a 200L dry cabinet still cheaper than your current installation in term of initial set up and maintenance?

 

[ponders]

i have a dry box for 15 years already...

before that my lens would mould in 3-4 months.

But generally if you subject your camera to constant varying humidity/temperature.. it is not a condusive environment for the fungus/mould to grow.

My work camera is seldom in the dry box. my collection cameras are in dry box.

both never get fungus.

Fungus grows fastest if you put the camera in the same place and leave it there unmoved.

 

[hotwork77]

thanks for sharing your tips, really appreciate that.
But can I conclude that even I'm using a 200L dry cabinet still cheaper than your current installation in term of initial set up and maintenance?

You're right...still cheaper anytime.

Except Wife's health demands that I have dehumidifiers and air filters in the house which I have no choice. I guess that since the stupid whole house is a giant "dry cabinet" I can save a few quid by not buying a dry cabinet. The humidity in my house is roughly 65% which is about the upper limit to prevent mildew from popping up.

The point really is that after each use, I make it a point to clean up the equipment so that I don't leave my perspiration and skin flakes onto the camera which will fester mould growth. Of course our fellow brothers at CS would probably have other tips as well and I look forward to learn from them. ;p

 

[catchlights]

You're right...still cheaper anytime.

Except Wife's health demands that I have dehumidifiers and air filters in the house which I have no choice. I guess that since the stupid whole house is a giant "dry cabinet" I can save a few quid by not buying a dry cabinet. The humidity in my house is roughly 65% which is about the upper limit to prevent mildew from popping up.

The point really is that after each use, I make it a point to clean up the equipment so that I don't leave my perspiration and skin flakes onto the camera which will fester mould growth. Of course our fellow brothers at CS would probably have other tips as well and I look forward to learn from them. ;p

yes, I understand you have to do it this way.

maybe you can consider this product to clean the gears after shoots..

Anyone used Cyber Clean to clean lens?

 

[spheredome]

My understanding is asthma attack will worsen in dry air, so why dehumidifier instead of humdifier?

You're right...still cheaper anytime.

Except Wife's health demands that I have dehumidifiers and air filters in the house which I have no choice. I guess that since the stupid whole house is a giant "dry cabinet" I can save a few quid by not buying a dry cabinet. The humidity in my house is roughly 65% which is about the upper limit to prevent mildew from popping up.

The point really is that after each use, I make it a point to clean up the equipment so that I don't leave my perspiration and skin flakes onto the camera which will fester mould growth. Of course our fellow brothers at CS would probably have other tips as well and I look forward to learn from them. ;p

 

[siaoguitar]

I just put in a newly bought rechargeable dehumidifier in my dry box, very nice RH ~ 40 to 42% . No worries....

 

[kokster]

if fungus grow on our lens, can we bring it to the service to get it cleaned?

 

[siaoguitar]

Yes, you can, to people like "camera hospital"

if fungus grow on our lens, can we bring it to the service to get it cleaned?

 

[sougen]

I'm using a "customized drybox" (hint: unconventional) to store my lens and camera. Of late the space is getting a bit crowded for my liking, but it still is able to store in 3 consumer lenses, 1 3rd-party flash unit, 1 battery grip and other knick-knacks useful for photography.

I must say, I have yet to see my lens and camera getting that damn fungal outgrowth. *touches wood and prays to God*

 

[oneluckyguy]

My understanding is asthma attack will worsen in dry air, so why dehumidifier instead of humdifier?

coz if the air is humid and fungus starts to grow in unseen corners of the house, they release spores which can worsen asthma.