When storing your camera lenses at home, the most important thing is to avoid humidity. Humidity is the top threat to your lenses in storage, but you can avoid it by picking a spot carefully, dehumidifying the room, or using a dry cabinet.
I’m Caleb, and I have five years of photography experience. My specialty is sports photography, and I’ve shot many different sports and leagues over the years at the college and semi-pro levels.
In this article, I’ll explain how to store your lenses to avoid damage and keep them in top condition. If you have a growing collection of lenses and want them to last, keep reading for the complete guide.
Contents
How to Store Camera Lenses Properly at Home
When you store your lenses, you should have the lens caps on and keep them in a secure location where they aren’t in danger of falling.
Some lenses come with pouches, which can be an excellent tool for storage. If your lens doesn’t come with a pouch, you can easily buy them online or from a camera store.
Hard cases are another great storage option. If you get a case that’s sealed against the elements, you can have some peace of mind that your lenses are safe even in an event like flooding.
There’s more to worry about than blunt damage to your lenses. Humidity is arguably a more significant threat, and protecting your lenses from it is key for them to have a long life.
1. Avoiding Humidity
Humidity is a major problem for lens storage because it can lead to the emergence of moisture and, eventually, fungus. The fungus can actually damage the lens and lead to worse performance in several areas.
The most straightforward way to avoid this is to keep your lenses somewhere cool and dry. If you’re in a humid area, one tool that can help is moisture-absorbing packets, which you can keep in the same bag or container as your lens.
Keeping a dehumidifier in the room is another viable option, though it can also get expensive, depending on the model you choose.
2. Using a Dry Cabinet
An option designed specifically for camera equipment and other electronics is an electronic dry cabinet.
A dry cabinet operates like a dehumidifier, but the dry space is contained within the cabinet. The things you keep here will be kept dry, even if the environment outside is humid.
Most people don’t need to go as far as buying a dry cabinet. However, if your area experiences humid weather, it can be a handy tool.
Like with dehumidifiers, dry cabinets can vary in price. It’ll cost more than $150 for most models, and the pricing can go into the hundreds if you want a larger one, but it’s a long-term investment that doesn’t need to be replaced for the foreseeable future.
FAQs
Here are some of the frequently asked questions around lenses and storage.
Can You Store Camera Lenses On Their Side?
Yes, you can store camera lenses on their side. However, you should ensure the lens is in a secure position, not one where it will roll.
How Do You Store Lenses Without a Lens Box?
If you don’t have a hard case to store a lens, another good option is a camera bag, especially if you have one with internal dividers for a close fit.
How Do I Store a Camera Without a Dry Box?
Some alternatives to using a dry box include anti-moisture packets and dehumidifiers. Both of these will help you avoid the problems of moisture and fungus developing.
Conclusion
Humidity and moisture are your main enemies when storing your lenses, but luckily, there are several ways to deal with these problems.
The easiest is to avoid placing your lenses in a humid area, to begin with. Still, if that isn’t an option, you can use a dehumidifier, anti-moisture packets, or a dry cabinet to accomplish the same effect.
Is humidity a problem for your camera lenses? Let us know in the comments!
