Does it make a differnece at what aperature you store your lenses over longer periods of inactivity (2+ months or longer)? ie., is it better to open fully or close down?

-- Brooks (bvonarx@home.com), August 30, 2001

Answers

No but...

It is very important to exercise you camera and lenses at least every three months. This keeps the lubricants from separating and gumming up the works. Move every lever, dial and ring on your camera and lenses. Fire off all the shutter speeds, especially the slower speeds. Finally, as it says in the song, store it in a cool dry place.

Cheers,

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), August 30, 2001.

Tips on avioding fungus. Do not store in dark enclosed space for long periods of time, especially in damp environment. This includes safes and safe deposit boxes, and in camera baggs in the closet. Make sure the inner elements are exposed to strong light source from time to time (like taking pictures outside!). Have heard some of the older lenses can have the aperture seize if left closed for a very long time (many years). The newer lenses do not have such a tight tolerance on the aperture blades, so I doubt if it would be a problem.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), August 30, 2001.

It is a popular misconception that exposing your lenses to sunlight will prevent or kill fungus. The misconception stems from the true fact that UV light does inhibit/kill fungus, however glass (*any* glass, even a window pane) attenuates enough UV radiation that its fungicidal properties are nil. Leica lenses with absorban cement and/or UV-absorbent multicoating are even less permeable to UV. Some benefit might be gained by taking lenses out on a warm, *dry* day, but leaving them sit in the sun will only serve to test Leica's claim that they hold up at extremes of temperature ;>) The advice not to store lenses in a dark and/or damp environment is sound, as fungus spores proliferate, but once they start growing in a lens, exposure to sunlight will not stop it. Even here in S. Florida, simply keeping lenses in a cupboard in an air-conditioned room has always been sufficient, I've never had a fungus situation. To be on the safe side, I keep tubs of Damp-Rid in with them. The water collects in the reservoir unederneath and the crystals are replaceable when used up. I like it better than the silica cannisters which I was always forgetting to refresh when they turn pink.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), August 30, 2001.

Store a lens set at infinity and wide open to avoid or at least minimize an oil sediment evaporating from the parts lubricated on the glass surfaces.

-- Victor Randin (ved@enran.com.ua), August 31, 2001.