WATCH NOW: This Information Could Save You Thousands

Humidity Meter - geni.us/Z6QMo
Silica Gel Packs (large) - geni.us/KWAXut
Camera Storage (small) - geni.us/Aqt3N3P
Camera Storage (large) - geni.us/VvUr
VIDEO GEAR]
A Camera - geni.us/fCo6 or howl.me/ckVm0l...
A Lens - geni.us/sKvSYgw or howl.me/ck41Fn...
B Camera (Table Top) - geni.us/FOSOn or howl.me/clacKm...
B Lens - geni.us/z0GG3y or howl.me/clacIJ...
On Camera monitor - geni.us/t7Fc or howl.me/clacMG...
My off camera monitor - geni.us/AHOu or howl.me/clacNM...
The LUTS I used for this video - bit.ly/42Q58uQ
[AUDIO GEAR]
Microphone (in shot) - geni.us/SAQ4uk7 or geni.us/PgtBlmS
Boom Microphone (out of shot) - geni.us/Tj8RI or howl.me/claeFm...
Cheaper alternative to boom mic (sounds just as good) - geni.us/0rN8FO or howl.me/claeF9...
XLR Audio Recorder - geni.us/yDUf or geni.us/PgtBlmS
USB Audio Interface - geni.us/ZdN1a or howl.me/claeyK...
Wireless Microphone (out of studio) - geni.us/FPC4s or geni.us/j4Wdr
Podcast/Voice Over Mic - geni.us/SAQ4uk7 or geni.us/PgtBlmS
In Shot Mic Arm - geni.us/J7Fp or howl.me/claeHe...
Editing Headphones - geni.us/WmwFC or howl.me/claeI1...
Editing Speakers (super cheap but awesome) - geni.us/wfLkz
Stand for Boom Mic and Overhead Camera - geni.us/8O8UtdY
[LIGHTING]
Main Light (Key Light) - geni.us/nQQ10
Main Softbox - geni.us/GysBN or howl.me/claeZm...
Light Stand (for Key/Main light) - geni.us/y4HuK4R
Hair Light - geni.us/waB7lTp or howl.me/clae0Z...
Background Light - geni.us/xFjA or howl.me/clae13...
Light Tubes (behind my monitor) - Small - geni.us/5Lvl Large - geni.us/4QPjp
[COMPUTER AND EDITING]
Monitor - geni.us/lLrTKSZ or howl.me/clae6l...
Computer - geni.us/rOHA or howl.me/clae7x...
Dock (one plug for power, audio, monitor, and 6 hard drives) - geni.us/lwJDmz
Keyboard - geni.us/bA16W or howl.me/clae8B...
Touchpad - geni.us/PLaLMh or howl.me/clae9z...
Editing Software I Use - www.apple.com/...
Awesome Free Editing Software (Pros use it!) - www.blackmagic....
Some links are affiliate links, you do not pay any extra, but I may get a small commissions. Using these links allows me to make more videos like this one.

[@markwiemels]

Humidity Meter - geni.us/Z6QMo Silica Gel Packs (large) - geni.us/KWAXut Camera Storage (small) - geni.us/Aqt3N3P Camera Storage (large) - geni.us/VvUr

[@photovideomusic]

Just to inform you Mark, both storage cabinet links seem to be for the small one (the 18L... well, it's the same one anyway, even if that's the big one.)

[@AlainCh2.]

My lenses stayed for two months over 60%.... near the plants...Aaarrgghh. Tomorrow the silica gel I ordered from Az will arrive Looking also for a cheap cabinet. You saved my lenses !! 🤞 ( I didn't do 2+2 🥴)

[@taiark4840]

Watched until 5:11, paused, made a drawer with a dehumidifier and humidity sensor, put my stuff in there, and kept watching. Thanks a ton for this video!!!

[@timsep1]

ordered the storage cabinet, had no idea these existed honestly, thank you so much!

[@markwiemels]

You are most welcome.

[@gordonmiles9995]

Lenses are not hermetically sealed. If you take your lens out in the freezing cold and bring it indoors, the moisture inside is going to condense. If you do that often enough, It creates a perfect breeding ground for Mold and fungus. And after that, it doesn't matter where you store them.

[@markwiemels]

I should have covered this as well, good tip.

[@carlos.sierra]

Great tip. Thanks 👍🏼

[@paintspirationsunlimited]

It matters where you store them that's why a dry cabinet with very low humidity is good. The condensation of water inside will subside in very dry environment. The only time these molds and fungus grow is when they are left in a humid air cause the fungus feeds of moisture to grow. IT DOES MATTER where you store them after use. Fungus can spawn but they don't grow overnight and spread like that

[@wkghrs]

How to minimize that? Put it in a bag before bringing it in?

[@markwiemels]

@@wkghrs Yes, I do it both ways, it's real trouble on a cruise ship, in and out of cold aircon.

[@DivinuZ]

Yah I live in Singapore and we are around 90% humidity so it’s normal to keep lenses in a dry cabinet here. Second hand sellers will mention how the lens was stored in their ads as well

[@kevinsim1514]

…”kept in a dry box” as we always say on clubsnap.

[@SiggyPony]

Well yes firstly don't let your lenses grow fungus 100% But 'Irreparable damage' is a strong word here. You won't know if the damage is irreparable without actually cleaning the optics in the lens. As someone who cleans fungus lenses regularly often there is no permanent damage. Not all types of fungus etch the glass, only some species. A lot of fungus even looking as bad as that lens did can be cleaned off completely without damage. And then if stored correctly afterwards you wouldn't know then lens ever had an issue. But also in terms of the damage, not all permanent damage from fungus is the same, sometimes the fungus only slightly effects the optics coating and you;d be hard pressed to tell a difference in the end image. All that said if it does get really bad and its a fungus that etches the glass then yup your screwed. I've actually only ever encountered 2 lenses with etched glass :) Considering the amount of lenses I've cleaned I consider myself very lucky haha.

[@markwiemels]

That’s very fair, I had etched glass on a lens that didn’t look this bad, but yes, maybe it could be cleaned. It would only be viable as a DIY job, the cost of a repair shop dealing with it would exceed the value of the lens. I plan to try and clean it.

[@SiggyPony]

@@markwiemels yeah DIY or people like me who purchase the most nasty lenses to clean for fun :) you never know what fungus you got till you clean it, the ones I had etched looked better then the lens in a video also. I spent 3 hours recalibrating the focus and mount screws in a Pentax Takumar 500mm f4.5 tonight, massive lens that I cleaned fungus out of a few months back. Lenses are like fun 3d puzzles 😅 just need infinate paitence haha.

[@markwiemels]

@@SiggyPonyyou are a better man than I, I squirm at the thought. This one is a freebie, so will be an experiment. Going to film the whole thing, as a reference for reassembly.

[@OutRAjious]

read somewhere that the presence of copper inhibits fungus….

[@nholmes86]

Tak more about the type of fungos next time 😅

[@ME2K23]

Just a little notice: Silica gel will work only for some time. Once they have absorbed humidity, they won't be really useful. Some beads will "swell" a litte as they absorb humidity, some will even change color, letting you know they've lost their effectiveness. The good news is, it usually can be brought back by gently heating them so the humidity (they've absorbed) evaporates, and then It can be used once again. I got some "large" packs from a big, well-known New York city store that sells camera gear, so they are indeed easy to find and order online.

[@jac1207]

So triple ziplock bag and throw a few silica packets in each bag layer? I also got a whole bunch of ammo boxes with good rubber gaskets, toss in enough silica to suck all the moisture out of the sealed area and just don't open it until you need to take the item out.

[@Strange-Viking]

@@jac1207 Just get a big airtight tupperware box, food storage containers usually are airtight. Plastics are more airtight then metal is. Metal, not a bad option does corrode. When metal corrodes the process consumes oxygen so depending on the gear you store that can either be good or bad. Some gaskets will dry out and shrink depending on the material used to vulcanise the gaskets. Oxygen eaters work on that principle, iron dust that corrodes to eat oxygen.

[@reiisthebestgirl]

Plain rice also absorbs moisture from air much like silica. Just have some rice sitting in cabinet and swap it every other month. I've done this before but switched to silica after I noticed some kitty litter is 100% silica and it is so dirt cheap there is no point even drying it for re use.

[@mufana1]

While high humidity is bad, low is also bad (below ~35/40%). Any rubber seals and lubricants will dry off.

[@tobias2313]

Rubber can't dry off when the humidity is low. Oxigen, ozone, high humidity, UV light, heat - even the fat from the skin / hand can cause chemical reactions with rubber, but this all never happend to my gear. Low hunidity is for manufactors not really good, because it can cause more electrostatics or problems with soldering.

[@cameradoctor205]

As a camera tech I just want to add - regarding leaving the lenses outside to expose to UV light ... just be careful, especially with classic manual focus lenses, as I have seen plenty that have been left out for hours in hot midday sun, which can lead to the grease in the focus helicoids breaking down, and then condensing on either the glass, or more likely the diaphragm blades, and introducing a whole new issue ! ... and yes, I've had to write off many many lenses due to extreme fungus :(

[@Home4520]

[@lightloving683]

A whole house dehumidifier (along with an ERV) is what I use here in the Pacific NW. As a builder (who photographs), managing humidity is not only good for photographic equipment but critical for a healthy home and everything in it, including its owners.

[@nebukadnezzar3578]

Great and very important video! I can really recommend the reusable HPRC Dry Keeper pucks. A little expensive, but they mean less waste, and they suck up way more moisture than those tiny silica gel packs…

[@markwiemels]

Thanks for the tip.

[@hyperspacey]

I'm seeing a few comments about, "I never get my lenses wet, so fungus can't get in on the water" or whatever. It isn't just rain that carries fungus in it, it's in the air all the time in dust (in fact it's how a lot of spontaneously fermented beer is made- letting dust from the rafters get onto big open vats). Unless you've got an immaculately sealed lens or avoid using them at all, there's always a chance a tiny flake of dead skin or a mote of something gets sucked into the mechanism when you focus, carrying in a bit of the micro- or macro-biome onto the glass. Keeping your humidity levels down reduces the ability for those little spores to grow. You're always going to risk something happening with your equipment even if you leave it in a box somewhere though, I figure the best plan is to use it while you have it and store it while you don't. I got given an old AE-1P from a jumble sale that's speckled in green rust and has a zoom lens full of fungus from a life at the bottom of a carrier back in a coastal shoe cupboard; it's still good fun to take pictures with while I can see through it.

[@mokuadventures]

Awesome info, thank you so much. I live in a high humidity environment near the equator in the South Pacific, and have suffered from this in the past. Finally! You have helped me figure it out. Fa'afetai tele!

[@alexflo761]

It's always a good practice to expose the glass directly to sunlight for a few minutes (15-30) once a year to prevent fungal growth, especially in very humid environments. I have struggled with fungi on my lenses for a long time, and this sunlight method has worked perfectly. After the exposure to sunlight, I place the lenses in vacuum-sealed airtight bags with silica gel packets inside.

[@juliocesarpereira4325]

I know a technician who told me that the only kind of damage caused by fungi that cannot be clean is when the lens gets hazy. Otherwise, it can be restored. I myself had some fully restored. But of course, preventing is the best way and many thanks for this video. I'm already ordering more silica gel packs and a humidity meter.

[@xdarkangellouix]

I have almost the exact same hygrometer (different brand but the screen is the exact same) and it shows the humidity and temperature highs and lows over the last 24 hours, not since the batteries were inserted. Just something to keep in mind when checking the readings. Super helpful video, I think I need to find myself a plastic tub and some silica packets!

[@paulhill6559]

I bought a sizeable, clip-sealed, plastic, clear container; two digital hygrometers (for inside/outside of container); dehumidifier to fit. Works, constant "dry" environment = $40/£30

[@GillesQuennevilleGQ]

A lens or a camera body must never be stored in a dark place. Light is the best to protect and preserve your equipment. Even if it is humid when exposed to light there will never be damaging to your lenses.

[@johnbeattyphotos]

Very interesting video Mark. I have some lenses that are forty years old. I've lived in Fort Lauderdale FL and now in Mobile AL. We have 1 bazillion % humidity in the summers and it doesn't really go away in the winters. I have lenses that I store in camera bags (which I do have silica packs in) and others are on a shelf in my closet. I keep my house about 78 -74 degrees most of the year. I have never had any issues with fungus. Just after watching your video, I pulled out an old Nikor f1.4 50mm that I haven't used in over 22 years. Other than dust on the outside, (I even used my loupe and a pen light), and found no fungus or dust for that matter in the lens or on the glass. So, I would say in an airconditioned space is also good or I may be just lucky.

[@johnclarke1319]

desiccant sachets and a click clack box. and keep cooled equipment sealed until warm. used to carry camera in a ziplock bag until warmed up! It is putting away cold that is the big danger. Lived in tropics and you really have to protect from condensation. If one room in the house is cooler , it's a bad place to leave equipment.

[@rkivlogi]

How about a regular cabinet with some 2 dollar dehumidifiers? Not as cool of course, but will they keep the lenses in good shape?

[@andrewmason8691]

Interesting. Thanks for this video. For what it is worth, dew point is a better measure than humidity, but this is not universally understood.

[@DavidsonQWERTY]

Thank you so much for this video. I'm not a professional photographer; I do it just as a hobby. However, I've always been very concerned about fungus on my lenses, as the equipment I have was purchased with great difficulty. I usually keep silica gel packs near the lenses and the camera, but I wasn't aware of this humidity reader and the ideal readings. Once again, thank you very much for this video.

[@DigitalChadLife]

I showed my mom camera gear and she told me how her gear did not work coming out of storage after years. I bought a 50l Ruggard dry cabinet after doing some research and checking the relative humidity of my house.

[@dan.allen.digital]

Great video mark. I am also careful about acclimating my gear in the summer from AC to Humidity, and the winter from below freezing to heat to reduce the chance of rapid condensation forming in the interior optics. I will also prefer weather sealed prime lenses in high humidity summer conditions vs zoom lens which suck in outside air. Oddly of all the vintage lenses I have bought that have radioactive elements I have never seen fungus in any of those. So maybe that's the solution, bring back the thorium glass!

[@roycejohnson929]

I use Damprid containers out here in New Zealand, they are about 500 mm in capacity and you purchase a 4 Ltr container of the damprid fill material. They pull all the moisture out of the air and you need to tip out the contents after a few weeks then refill with the damprid dry material. Very cheap and works well. Have them in my Motor Home as well.

[@SMGJohn]

Send the lenses in to a specialised shop every 10 years, I bought a few older Canon EF lenses, and because I have some equipment to do laptop repairs, I took these lenses apart myself, it took me like 2 hours to carefully disassemble one lens and give it a good clean, I had to look up extremely carefully all the chemicals you can use and whatnot, I bought another 50mm f1.2 used that was from 1998, another EF lens and I saw a lot of dust in there and this time I looked up what a certified place would take and for 200 bucks to have them do it in a clean room? Yeah, its no brainer to be honest, and it came back and it was clean and everything worked, they even oiled the motor up and the aperture blades so it was way more quiet then when I bought it. Needless to say, lenses need service too! Specially 15+ years old ones with dust in there, some of it might not be dust, it could be fungus.

[@rw3452]

Love that door with the yellow light

[@JangoAC]

I noticed too that he leaves it open on purpose and it looks very pleasing with the contrast to the blue background light on the left :)

[@isaias9516]

It’s all about the little details 😁

[@maartenmidden1651]

Feels a bit distracting to me.

[@andrewlukescott]

GOOD LORD WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THERE?!

[@rw3452]

@@andrewlukescott 🤣. Maybe there’s a cocoon

[@scpecialist]

4 years ago I paid $700 to repair my Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8 G ED N lens due to fungus. Three of the lens groups within the lens were changed and recalibrated. There was silica gel in the lens case, but it did not help at all. A solution is to run a mini moisture absorbing device next to the lens in the storage environment.

[@JangoAC]

Great video as always! I learned so much from you and saved so much money by watching your videos! Just this morning I recieved a Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 in basically mint condition. It reminds me a lot of the lens you have here in the video. I got my Tamron for only 90€ on ebay. I know its big and old but it actually works perfectly well with the Viltrox adapter you recommended on the M50 mark2. No Firmware update was required and the autofocus is no where near as loud, as some reviews on YT make it seem. Its also quick and reliable. This is a huge upgrade compared to the 15-45mm kit lens and since I dont do video I dont care about the AF noise or it being the non VC version. I can recommend it for anyone who doesnt mind the extra size and weight. I mean, compared to a fullframe setup its still very compact.

[@jayyaj7050]

I've been keeping all my lenses in a weather sealed hard case practically since day one. I got it for pretty cheap, I believe off Amazon. I also keep a pack or two of silica gel in there just in case. Despite keeping my home pretty humid due to chronic sinus and nose issues, they're still fungus free, after 15 years for some of my older lenses.

[@combatwombat71]

I've lost numerous lenses (and thousands of pounds worth of refractor telescopes!) to mould, living in a damp house in the wettest county of the UK (Devon) where it rains probably 250 days a year. Even expensive Canon L series lenses now full of mould. I bought the largest lens dehumidifier cabinet I could afford about 2 years ago now, and my mould-free and new lenses live in there, along with the camera bodies. No more problems!

[@trottingwolf]

I got a cheap plastic storage box that has a rubber seal from Home Depot. Then I bought a gun safe desicant thing from Amazon. Not quite as nice as the cabinet, but just as effective and not very expensive.

[@davidfromborneo259]

I have had this problem. If your lenses are weather resistant this has not happened to me so far, I keep my lenses in daylight with the caps off. I live in south east asia!

[@vincentmulder70]

Thanks a lot! I have ordered the meters and some silica from you links

[@debratav9921]

Very useful info for owners od camera with interchangeable or fixed lenses, point and shoot camera camcorders. Thanks a ton.

[@unclebuck5957]

THANKS FOR THE GREAT INFORMATION

[@CartyCantDance]

Mark, your presentation style has gotten so seamless that I sat through a whole video of Information I already knew just in case you had a tidbit of information I might need. I’m sure plenty of beginners will appreciate this PSA, and as someone who just picked up 4 vintage lenses in South Asia, it’s got me look at the dust in them with bated breath.

[@markwiemels]

Super kind of you to say, I really appreciate the support. Thank You.

[@robertkoernke588]

Interesting that the lens could became 'beyond repair'... since you seemed to be holding an "L-Type" lens the parts would be Metal and Glass and any fungus, could be cleanable if taken apart and put back together. Of course I've never tried it personally.

[@robmas57]

Living in Florida I guess I need to find a new hobby.

[@Brian.mp4]

Found out my old Canon 28-70 f/2.8L is filled with fungus. Is it worth trying to take it apart to try to remove it?

[@hautehussey]

It probably didn’t go in perfectly clear, you just couldn’t see it yet. And how you put it in matters a a lot too. Don’t put it in wet, for example!

[@Coppersulfate9009]

great video but it just feels like you're repeating the same thing over and over the video could probaby fit in less than 5 mins

[@JACKnJESUS]

I use dry boxes...always.

[@ME2K23]

What about using a "Foodsaver" type, vacuum/sous vide container, or bag? 🤔

[@pakko7416]

Very good video, useful advice! I have lenses from my student years, decades old and are all in immaculate condition simply because I always packed them in sealed bags and boxes with silicagel sachets. Similarly with my cameras, particularly the Nikon film cameras (F2A, FM2) which I unpack rarely. Good idea to discuss the fungus issue.

[@minahasa999]

In south east Asia, one week out of dry box guarantee a fungus den. One month even INSIDE dry box (even with controlled humidity), there will be fungus.. need to shower lenses with hard sun rays for 10-15 minutes at least once a month.

[@lrmcatspaw1]

Correct me if I am wrong, but can't you just unscrew the lens and clean it at the first sign of trouble and put it back together? (Yes, with the added risk of actually damaging something or breaking it). NVM, you answered it later :D.

[@davidak_de]

Very click-baity start, but it's fair here. I have this exact Humidity Meter on my table and it shows 40%, so i'm fine. I often store lenses in my lens bag where i have thrown silica gel packs in. So i have already done everything right :)

[@EddoWagt]

I knew about fungus but had no idea at what kind of humidity it would grow, I have a couple of lenses which are fine right now, but I have them in a room which is apparently 60% humid. I guess I'll buy some more silica gel and put them in a box

[@SongTown]

I have this fungus thing on my Blackmagic sensor. It has no effect on the image quality as long as I don't go above f4 aperture. It begins to be visible after that.

[@daemon1143]

With respect to killing your fungus with UV, it should be noted that glass cuts out most if not all UV, so this isn't a functional solution for fungus on the inside of a lens, unless it's dissembled.

[@csc-photo]

Great info here. I picked up a Ruggard dry cabinet on sale about 2 years ago, absolutely love it and totally worth the small investment. I don’t do long term storage but I’m in the northeast and there are plenty of humid days during spring and summer. I keep the cabinet set to 45%. Runs completely silent. Also keeps dust off and looks cool 😎

[@TheShadeSki]

In Singapore our humidity is 80+, working in a 2nd hand lens and camera store for more than 4 years, Majority of the lenses and camera that does have mold are usually from owners that dont frequently use their camera or lens and store it in a dry box.

[@kumar0209]

How long does it take for fungus to form on average in an average humid temperature?

[@colinhertz]

Silica gel packets are also useful

[@KurtisPape]

Damn, I have been storing my lenses under my kitchen sink, think ill need to find a new hiding spot

[@markwiemels]

haha...

[@PawePiotrowskiUK]

I have 30-35% all the time. Is that OK?

[@sparkestudio]

Important topic sir. Thanks for bringing this up. I heard about this situation myself, I live along the west "wet" coast. It's a problem for lenses especially in low laying areas of the house and near places of water, like near the hot water tank or near a cold window where condensation can happen or in a package that is sitting on top of a concrete floor that tends to be cooler than the ambient air which again condensation due to temp difference a good home for those "fun guys" ;).

[@xybersurfer]

why not simply wipe the mold off? nevermind. you later explained that it etches into the glass at a certain point

[@lowlowseesee]

i thought this might be click bait....nope. wow this is nuts

[@vincentj3093]

Did you move to Arizona for health reasons? No I was getting fungus on my camera gear.

[@Maebbie]

fungus amongus

[@_octanis]

Thanks for this, hadn't even crossed my mind. Ordered a meter before the video was even done.

[@mickeyduvel]

Me too! :)

[@acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE]

Thanks for this video. I live in a high humidity area and the only times my lenses have grown fungus is when they are not used regularly. I think the combination of UV while shooting and that the seals are exercised when using the lens, helps it stay clear. I think long term storage of lenses allows moisture past the seals.

[@M.Redsky]

what about weather sealed lenses? Is fungus a concern when a lens is weather sealed?

[@houghwhite411]

Can't be too safe

[@markwiemels]

They still get issues.

[@enshongmiranda]

You know what would be nice? If someone can manufacture a hardcase (like Pelican) that works as a drybox when plugged in. Come on, someone do it! I hate having to take out all my gear and put in my dry cabinet and then move them out again when we have a shoot. Come on, anyone do it! it would be a best seller!

[@stuartcreighton3410]

Hi Mark, Excellent info. Any idea of how to get a Ruggard 50L in Melbourne AU without all the exorbitant shipping fees from U.S / Amazon etc?

[@bodinian]

If you have a lens collection, get a dry cabinet. Get it now instead of after you've lost lenses to fungus. I live in a climate where it isn't a major threat and I got one anyway to keep my stuff under ideal storage conditions and out of the reach of dust, critters, or acute humidity spikes.

[@carlos.sierra]

The terror that just entered my body… 😮

[@RunoRansom]

Important video for anyone who wants to protect their (expensive) equipment from fungus. The humidity in my room is around 50%. Nevertheless, I always store my lenses in a camera case with silica bags. There's also a thermometer and hygrometer in the case, which I can access via an app.

[@Andy-rk9mu]

is lens fungus contagious?

[@TheEPROM9]

I have fixed a few lenses with fungus, common on vintage ones. IPA is often good at killing the stuff. Worth getting a lens spanner as it mostly grows on the front or rear elements.

[@ronjenkins4257]

I drop silica gel packets into my camera bag. It's not sealed, but they might help. Haven't had a problem.

[@steves0k]

Just a quick note. Silica gels work but they also need to be dried out from time to time because they hold moisture after a while. You can get coloured gels to let you know when they are wet.

[@eriztonoqarzwoss]

" "Different from" and not "different than". This is a common mistake

[@Snapit551]

Buy a dehumidifier

[@CyclopsJoeVideos]

Thanks for this Man !!!!

[@erick_fernandez_78910]

I live in the desert where I’ve soaked my long sleeve shirt and jeans with water hose before a bike commute in summer and was bone dry 10 minutes later hahaha😂

[@KiR_3d]

I've bought two mechanical hygrometers by your advice. They are cheap and shows values in +5/-5 precision. My room has around 25-30% of humidity. I think it's pretty dry. And I feel it myself (for a long time already). Not very healthy but seems ideal for lenses, right? :)

[@ianstobie]

How long does silica gel last? Surely once it starts absorbing dampness it gets less and less effective. And can you restore it in say a microwave, or do you just have to buy a new supply.

[@billrossignon8621]

I learned the hard way after storing a lens in a file cabinet during high humidity. I now store all my lens and cameras in a clear airtight plastic storage container with a hygrometer and silica beads. Get a clear container so you can see the reading without opening it. Every time it is opened can let in humidity. Get a hygrometer that can be calibrated as some cheap ones are inaccurate by 10 - 15 percent. Lots of videos online on how to calibrate them.

[@plhilmar1]

Thank you so much for the heads up, didn't know what the conditions were to be concerned about fungus. I'll be sure to look into picking up a storage cabinet next chance I get.

[@Bob-Horse]

Great video and a very important one in my view. I have recently purchased the exact same ‘humidity’ meters so if you live in the U.K., here is where I got it from: Robert Morley & Co. Ltd., Pianos, Harpsichords & Clavichords. Hope that is helpful.

[@TerenceKearns]

People shouldn't live where they can get that kind of fungal growth. Go as an environmental epidemiologist what that does to the brain/nervous-system. It's a good way to ruin your life without knowing why you're losing your mind.

[@baronbarbaron]

Where I live the climate is OK, it's not very humid and it's rare to develop such nasties. But it often happens that my friends buy lenses from Japan or Germany (the cars rust very badly there too). When we come across such an objective, we treat it with vapors of ammonia solution and H2O2. We leave the objective raised above the solution and close it in a transparent container. The lens is without the caps and if possible in sunlight, if not, put a UVC lamp, but do not leave it on constantly, but for two hours a day. And so 15-20 days. Like after the 8-9th day the fungus are dead, but it still stays there to kill the remaining spores. And storage takes place in a cabinet with a transparent door, if possible with a mirror on the back wall of the cabinet, again without caps. In this way, the lens receives the necessary dose of UV light in a natural way.

[@matt_pang]

Crap...ever since switching to sony...i'd better check my old canon EF lenses. Rofl😅

[@Badgerheist]

If you're adventurous, you can try repairing it yourself. I've never tried it on any modern zoom lenses, which can be crazy complicated, but vintage lenses can be much more accommodating and simple to work on. Once the affected element is removed from the barrel, a 50/50 mix of hydrogen peroxide and ammonia works really eell to remove stubborn fungus. I've even found a microfiber cloth or cellulose wipe and a lens cleaning solution like Zeiss or Pancro can be enough for many fungus infections, restoring the element to very usable condition.

[@perlyg]

went on a hike shoot, forgot my new sigma 16mm 1.4 lens in the bag, left it in my room for 2 months, and well fungus is everywhere now, i payed 4000$ ttd which is alot of money

[@NoosaHeads]

Buy a vacuum "Foodsaver" sealer. Put the lens in one or two sealed and evacuated plastic bag(s) and never worry about fungus again. Alternatively, store with a small bag of thymol.

[@Primeros1000]

I was worried about this, my backpack got wet at seaworld and had my lenses in there I thought it had dried up but few days later everything seem moist. Nothing seems to had grown since it was about 2 days but everything had been dried since

[@h.o.j2375]

Anyone who owns electronics and have common sense will have a dehumidifier in their tech rooms. As someone who lives in a sub tropical climate it is basic knowledge. I have 2 dehumidifiers in the house running full time to keep the humidity between 40-50%.

[@MrMiles-gi1hl]

I've cleaned hundreds of lenses with fungus. Maybe only 1 or 2 had irreparable damage. Its not catastrophic. Just throw some desiccant packs in where you store your lenses and call it a day.

[@BryceShamwow]

Jesus, I thought it was enough to just not get them wet. Thank you for this video: I live in the lousy Pacific Northwest and the humidity is 93% today.

[@Globetrotter-1]

If you see a fungus spot inside the lens, simply place the affected glass element facing bright sunshine for a short period and this will not only kill the fungus but also prevent it from growing or spreading. After that, simply use and store the lens in your camera bag as usual for years to come.

[@benmlee]

Boxes are too big. I just put a pack of desiccant in a large Ziploc bag. Seems to work fine when we lived near the ocean.

[@TimTangents]

I never knew about this. i thought it had to do with scratches or something. Thank you for this profound information!

[@jc.baptiste]

This can be fixed by applying

[@atruceforbruce5388]

Your right fungus is bad.....the worst infact, feel free to sell me all those nikon lenses for dirt cheap, I'll take them apart, clean and fix them and have some sweet lenses.

[@gillisjack]

Very useful information! thank you! I did have a problem with humidity in our condo for a while, which has since been resolved, but I do plan to get some of the monitors you featured to keep track of any future issues in order to protect my lenses.