Do you also have damp / fungus in your lens

[Glenn NK]

Exactly. I used to work for a company that built custom scientific testing machines. I lost a lot of respect for what passes for science during those 15 years.

So do you trust the oil companies "scientists" then?

If you don't trust ANY scientists, then what are you basing your beliefs on? Your own research?

I'd be interested in learning more about your methods and how you came to your conclusions.

[DanK]

Exactly. I used to work for a company that built custom scientific testing machines. I lost a lot of respect for what passes for science during those 15 years.

People building machines for scientists aren't scientists. If you want to learn how science works, you will have to look elsewhere. Do you show similar disdain for science when you need medication, when you fly in an airplane, or, for that matter, when you use a digital camera?

But I digress. Avoiding central heat won't reduce fungus. Heating reduces relative humidity. Silica gel hydrates very fast, so if you simply put a bag or two with your camera equipment in an unsealed area, it will do no good after a short time. Even in a sealed area it will hydrate fast unless the area is very small. If you are in a very humid area and want to lessen risk, put your gear in a sealed case, and use silica gel, like the Pelican containers, that has a colorant that indicates when the gel is hydrated and needs to be baked to dry it out. Ah, these pesky bits of scientific knowledge...

[NorthernFocus]

Mold in lenses has always and likely will always be an issue. There is an argument that mold spores are introduced during manufacture and then it is dependent on the temperatures that the lens experiences thereafter that determine whether they "bloom". I lived on the gulf coast of the US for several years. All of my lenses had mold in them. I've been in Alaska for 14 years, no noticeable mold in any lenses. But that data may be skewed by the fact that I now own higher end gear.

Regarding the climate change debate, there is a definite trend that I've noticed over the past several years. Being trained in the sciences and having earned my livelihood in technical positions my entire life, I am well acquainted with data acquisition and analysis techniques. And my analysis and opinions are not swayed by any sponsorships, desire to publish, etc. And I have definitely identified that my own personal health is in steady decline. I'm a reasonably fit person. Eat reasonably well, no real bad habits, and I work out every day unless something precludes doing so. And yet, I've experienced a slow but steady decline in physical strength, cardiovascular stamina, and visual acuity. This is a measureable phenomenon, not simple perception. I routinely measure my own pulse and blood pressure, track exercise repetitions and weights, minutes per mile run times, etc. There is an unmistakable trend in the data. Extrapolating the rate of decline and barring any catastrophic events, I anticipate that I will not be able to maintain my current lifestyle beyond the age of 80-85.

Being totally objective in my analysis of the data at hand, the only logical conclusion that I can come to is that climate change is having a negative impact on my health. It's real folks, wake up and smell the coffee. While you still can...

[DanK]

Being totally objective in my analysis of the data at hand, the only logical conclusion that I can come to is that climate change is having a negative impact on my health.

Um, that's not objectivity, it's mistaking correlation for causation. But perhaps that was your point?

[Mike Buckley]

wake up and smell the coffee

I hate the smell of coffee. In fact, my nose is so bad that I smell very few aromas or odors. Even so, the smell of coffee is so strong and bad that it's very easy for me to classify it as an odor, not an aroma.

[mknittle]

So do you trust the oil companies "scientists" then?

If you don't trust ANY scientists, then what are you basing your beliefs on? Your own research?

I'd be interested in learning more about your methods and how you came to your conclusions.

Why must you be so condescending? I hate people like that!

P.S. where did I say I don't trust "any scientists" you are assuming that you know what I think.

Now this is not the place for political arguments. Go take some pictures.

[NorthernFocus]

Um, that's not objectivity, it's mistaking correlation for causation. But perhaps that was your point?

Ya think???

True objectivity in mankind is precluded by human emotion. The problem with the human ego is that its effects are the same as intoxication. The very faculties necessary to recognize the condition are impaired by the condition itself. Having a string of letters adjacent to one's signature does not preclude this manifestation of human nature. Based on my own life experience it is more often than not indicative of an amplified manifestation of it.

I work with a room full of such people every day and am amazed at the propensity to accept data that is self affirming of their opinions and to reject data to the contrary.

True science headed for the exit when it stopped being heresy and became profitable.

[Glenn NK]

Rather than take some pictures, I'll look at my lenses. Nothing but dust.

Reminds me of a quote from Carl Zeiss when someone noticed that there were air bubbles in some of his lenses:

"My lenses are made to look through, not at".

[tao2]

Ah have around 18 lenses, all but 4 are fully manual. Only 2 were bought new. Most of the rest are FSU, with 4/5 Japanese. Three or four had some spores attached when ah bought them - but not heavy contamination. Stripped them down and used white bleach on two of them and iso alcohol on the other two. No damage tae coatings and the fungi have never returned. None of my other lenses are affected. Only my Minolta 35-105mm, Tokina 19-35mm and Sigma 75-300 are less than 30 years old.

Fungi need tae be removed ASAP. Even if a heavy infestation is completely removed there will be marks etched on the lens resembling the fungi, if not removed in time. These cannot be erased.

The danger of fungi is, of course, relative tae location. Ah live on a river estuary on the east coast of Scotland, a very mild micro-climate, so a good area tae avoid this problem anyway.

Never keep lenses in cases (apart fae field trips or travelling), that goes for cameras as well . There are all sorts of climate cases etc. available but it's been my(and friends/relatives) experience that tropical/highly humid locations are the worst and that's where protection is needed most. Mine's are on a couple of shelves in a "press" ( hall cupboard for the non-Scots . There's a silica gel pack on each shelf and that's it. Ah dry the gel packs on the radiators...low tech is the "GO" tech...



PS - climate change would be a good subject for another thrtead..."since records began?" in the UK's case? ...around 1924.

[Glenn NK]

I work with a room full of such people every day and am amazed at the propensity to accept data that is self affirming of their opinions and to reject data to the contrary.

It's alive and well - I'm in the middle of a book called "The War That Ended Peace", about the years before WWI.

This tendency to ignore reality was a common thread in the personalities of both the political and military leaders of the day (and I'm quite sure it applies to present leaders too).

[Mike Buckley]

climate change would be a good subject for another thread

Amen to that!

[Bill Yeung]

It all depends on where you live.
In Asia, (Hong Kong), humidity is so high that all the wall of the house will "sweat" condensation during Feb, March every year.
so, you visit Hong Kong , Asia photography forum. Dehumidifier lens storage box is a must!
My own experience years ago. I visited Hong Kong, brought along my flash bracket, only one month, I found the screws are all rusted after I returned to Vancouver! Then you can imagine how is it affecting the lens!

Also back to the days when I owned a Nikon FM2, I brought it to Sri Lanka, Mar Davis..... People recommended me to take the camera to factory cleaning after so close to the sea water.

I am lucky now in Canada, and never need to worry about humidity. Indoor is always around 50% humidity. It is dry!!

We have good reasons to believe water, sea water, humidity all have concern in camera and lens.

[MrB]

It is mankind's curiosity and ingenuity that has progressed us to this stage, where all of us here can afford and enjoy the technology that not only enables our adventures in photography, but also allows us to participate in worldwide discussions about lens fungus, or the climate, or whatever. There should be the optimistic view, that those same human characteristics will drive science, technology and industry towards solutions to any problems that might result from climate change (AGW or otherwise), as there is plenty of evidence that this progress has always occurred and is always happening.

Philip

[IzzieK]

I thought "Climate change" was invented by Al Gore....ooooppppssss!!

[Werner]

Back to the topic: My lenses are fungus-free.

cheers W.

[AB26]

It appears to be a sign of the times that more and more people in fact according to LCE MOST people will find that their gear has fungus in the optics.

Never seen any fungus growing in JHB climate unless it is a very damp dark enclosed area.
Fungus in my lens? Will check but I doubt it very much. Dust – oh yes!

“Earth warming” I love it. I thrive in summer heat.

To all those “prophets/scientists of doom”, making billions, for your masters, from selling “carbon credits”, what are you going to do about population growth? Is it not population growth that makes man plunder earths natural resources? Perhaps, if the world population is reduced, you will not be making all those billions and that does not suit you?
You can fool some of the people some of the time but you cannot fool all the people all the time.
There is none as blind as those whom do not wish to see!

For the moon will turn red and the rivers will all be poison and man will have no place to lay his head to rest.

Ice age? Dinosaurs? Perhaps there is a time for man to go?

[xpatUSA]

“Earth warming” I love it. I thrive in summer heat.

To all those “prophets/scientists of doom”, making billions, for your masters, from selling “carbon credits”, what are you going to do about population growth? Is it not population growth that makes man plunder earths natural resources? Perhaps, if the world population is reduced, you will not be making all those billions and that does not suit you?

For the moon will turn red and the rivers will all be poison and man will have no place to lay his head to rest.

Ice age? Dinosaurs? Perhaps there is a time for man to go?

Finally we agree on something, Andre

I view mankind as a incurable virus and it's effect not unlike those sped-up clips of an orange rotting on the ground.

I'll be 74 next month . . . Yippee! To the young of this forum . . . my condolences.

[rpcrowe]

When I was a combat cameraman in Vietnam, we always tried to prevent fungus on our lenses and other equipment in that very hot and humid atmosphere. There were several things we did, which worked pretty well to prevent/reduce the fungus...

1. We got rid of any leather accessories such as cases and straps. Leather appears to be a breeding ground for fungi. In the 1950's and 1960's, cameras were often supplied with leather cases and leather straps. Many lens cases were made of leather. Those lens cases were particularly bad for attracting fungi.

2. We never stored our gear in cases but, always left the gear open to air...

3. We used a standard gymnasium standing metal locker to store our gear. We modified the locker by adding wire shelves (like those in a home kitchen oven) instead of the solid metal shelves. We also kept a low wattage incandescent light bulb burning 24/7 at the bottom of the locker to dry the air.

I don't worry about fungus all that much in the San Diego, California area because we generally have very low humidity, In fact, sometimes we wish for more moisture in the atmosphere, especially when the humidity falls below 20%.

I am a little concerned that the retro look in cameras has added leather accessories again. I would definitely get rid of these, or at lest not store the cameras/lenses in leather cases.

Ted: I guess that I can count myself among the "young of this forum" because I won't hit 74 until June. I feel like a youngster!

[IzzieK]

I've never seen no heard anyone who is really happy for being 74...before. Good on you, Ted!

Finally we agree on something, Andre

I view mankind as a incurable virus and it's effect not unlike those sped-up clips of an orange rotting on the ground.

I'll be 74 next month . . . Yippee! To the young of this forum . . . my condolences.

[IzzieK]

Thank you for the advice Richard...well given.

.........
Ted: I guess that I can count myself among the "young of this forum" because I won't hit 74 until June. I feel like a youngster!

and still doing good for mankind and doggiekind...