Condensation and temperature changes.

[NikonDude]

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Is it bad on a SLR for camera changes? I have a nikon D60.

Let's say I take it out of my air conditioned room, which is 70f, and take it outside, where it's 90f out, is that bad on it?

Now let's say I'm taking the SLR out at night to do a bulb of the stars, it's very dewy outside, and condensation is forming on the lens and body, is this bad on it?

 

[Josh66]

I wouldn't worry about dew so much (except that if it's on the lens it won't be doing image quality any favors).

Condensation can be minimized (or eliminated) if you let the gear equalize with the ambient temperature slowly.


I keep my bag closed for a while before I start taking pictures when I go out in the summer - this lets the temperatures equalize slowly (or at least slower).

I feel like I need a jacket if it's 70, so my apartment is usually closer to 80 in the summer with the air on. But when I go outside, it's 100 or 105, so 80 still feels good compared to that. Same temperature difference in your example, anyway...

I don't keep the camera in the bag specifically for condensation, that's just an added benefit. I keep it in the bag just because I don't start taking pictures right when I walk out the door. I can't say that I have ever noticed any condensation at all on any of my gear, ever. When I go back inside, the camera usually stays in the bag for a while then too.

 

[SCraig]

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Is it bad on a SLR for camera changes? I have a nikon D60.

Let's say I take it out of my air conditioned room, which is 70f, and take it outside, where it's 90f out, is that bad on it?

Now let's say I'm taking the SLR out at night to do a bulb of the stars, it's very dewy outside, and condensation is forming on the lens and body, is this bad on it?

Condensation normally occurs when going from a cooler area to a warmer area, and is usually not a problem when going from a warmer area to a cooler area. I said "Cooler" and "Warmer" because it doesn't have to be cold or hot, just cooler and warmer. I get condensation a lot when going into the reptile / fish / aviary building at the zoo even when it's in the 70's outside. They keep the building "Steamy" for the reptiles and anything under about 80 degrees outside is still cooler than inside.

Normally when I come in during the winter I leave my camera in the basement for a little while so that the temperature change isn't so abrupt. Other than that I don't worry about it, and have never had any problems. Even at the zoo I just use a blower bulb (NOT my breath!) to blow on the lens and viewfinder and it will clear it up pretty quickly.

 

[KmH]

How humid the warmer air is has a lot to do with it too. The cooler air is, the less moisture it can hold.

There is a lot more moisture in air at 100% humidity and an air temperture of 100°, than there is at 100% humidity air that is at only 25°.

Consequently, condesation is more of a problem in the summer, than in the winter.

One way to combat condensation is to put your camera in a large enough ziplock bag. Put the camera in the plastic bag and zip it shut bag, when you will be going from cool air to hot air.

Keep one or two re-usable metal dessicant canisters in your camera bag - Dry-Packs Indicating Silica Gel 40 Grams in Sturdy Aluminum Dehumidifying Canister - No Cobalt Chloride II - DP40CAN