Condensation in air when changing lens in snowy mountain?

5 years 3 months ago #626278 by Raymond Z
When you are up in the snowy mountains and you change a lens, are you able to do so out in the open even when no snow with out getting in trouble with condensation?  If you are under freezing temp is it still a problem?


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5 years 3 months ago #626283 by Nikon Shooter
Cold air contains waaaay less humidity than warm air.
So, no problem to change lenses when in cold air.

The problem is in the other direction: when cold gear
is taken in warm air.

Light is free… capturing it is not!
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5 years 3 months ago #626322 by Janet Schlage
But now, if he goes indoors to warmer air after being outdoors in the cold and changing lenses, would that give any problems?


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5 years 3 months ago - 5 years 3 months ago #626329 by Nikon Shooter

Janet Schlage wrote: But now, if he goes indoors to warmer air after being outdoors in the cold and changing lenses, would that give any problems?


Yep, the cold gear will fog immediately. The foggy cold lens
will remain foggy until it warms up then water stains in and
out of the barrel on every glass… not a good idea.

The warmer one that will be mounted can go out without 
problem but the time the cold camera was inside, it fogged
as well: mirror, prism, ect!

Personally, I leave a 600 mm/D850 combo in the car all winter
to avoid condensation problem. If I should take that combo in
the studio for any reason, I will first get it in a large plastic bag
while still in the cold and empty the maximum air out of the
bag then close it tight. It will spend the night that way in the
studio and no problem is to be expected.

One can always go to the cold trouble free but not the other way!

HTH! :P

Light is free… capturing it is not!
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5 years 3 months ago #626347 by garyrhook
The operative word here is acclimation. If you haven't changed lenses outdoors, then the air is what it was. If you change lenses, it's not full of humidity (per the above). So it all works out.

Bringing your equipment into  warm environment means letting it come up to temperature. Slower is better (again, per the above).

Running in and out of buildings in cold weather is no worse than in and out of air conditioned buildings in hot, sticky weather. Temperature differences encourage condensation.


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