Dry cabinets

[Unframed Dave]

Never heard of these until this morning. My gear is all stored in a spare room with low heat. Our house is drafty, poorly insulated and generally cold. Should I be thinking of getting one?

They are not that expensive and cost little to run.

Thoughts?

 

[Uncle Kevriano]

Probably not a bad idea for anything that's not weather sealed, like the older cameras and lenses you own, because humidity will cause mould spores etc. Whether it's as much as an issue for modern gear or modern houses I doubt. Obviously modern does not apply to your house.

 

[iamdlewis]

Are you in an area which experiences high humidity as an everyday thing? If yes then get one of not then -> Are you in an area which gets a few months of high humidity and you do not use A/C? If yes then get one of not then it is probably a waste of money for the purchase and on going expense of running it.
If where you store your gear is generally cold then there is less of a chance of mold growing which is what the dry cabinets prevent from happening.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Are you in an area which experiences high humidity as an everyday thing?

My friend back in London keeps grumbling about the humidity. I'd hate to tell her, but honestly, from my viewpoint of a super-humid bit of tropical 13 degrees north, she doesn't even know what humidity is!

I have a dry cabinet. I'm not sure, but I don't think I'd bother in Britain. Well, ok, having used one here, I would there because hey, why not. As mentioned, it is hardly expensive on our scale of photography prices, and I haven't measured (or even looked at the plate on the back (maybe I did on the day that I bought it) but I'm guessing that running costs is in the order of light bulb.

Even in a not-very-very-humid climate, I'd add one more thing to your list. Do you have lenses or bodies that are seldom used? That's the kit that is most at risk. And it might be the heirloom historical collection. Buy it a cabinet.

My every-day kit lives in the bag. Yes, it would be better discipline to put it back in the cabinet every day, but I don't. I do put it away for drying time when I'm not going out for a few days.

 

[Unframed Dave]

I've had a hygrometer running for a few days and it has topped this morning at 67%. Not exactly the tropics, but a fair bit above the 40 - 50 recommended.

 

[FowlersFreeTime]

I've had a hygrometer running for a few days and it has topped this morning at 67%. Not exactly the tropics, but a fair bit above the 40 - 50 recommended.

Sounds like a dry cabinet would be a good idea then.
Here in Florida, its very humid, but all houses have central a/c so my house hovers between 47-51%.
Back at my parents house in Jamaica, no a/c and humidity can be in the 60-ish percent and I have fungus on my old telescope and all the eye pieces for it. So yes, I think a dry cabinet could be a useful purchase in your case.

 

[spudhead]

Dave I have had a lens or two with issues over the years, one quite a new lens that was water sealed as they say and a Sony, it was used in light rain and clearly moisture entered some how. So now I always empty my kit bag when home and lay the kit out for it to reach room temp slowly. I have been aware of these cabinets for years, and for sure if I were you and could find a cabinet big enough for some of the kit you have I think I would get one anyway it cannot hurt.

 

[Unframed Dave]

Peaked at 73 this morning after 3 days of showery rain.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Get that cabinet!

 

[Unframed Dave]

Just waiting for black Friday!

 

[spudhead]

Just waiting for black Friday!

Have you found one that will fit the big gear in if so please let me know

 

[Unframed Dave]

Have you found one that will fit the big gear in if so please let me know

Biggest I can find on amazon is 105 litres.

 

[Unframed Dave]

OK, so there were no deals on "black Friday" relating to dry cabinets.

What I did discover is that none of the 105 litre cabinets or under will take a 600 f4. For that, you need one with a double footprint and at that stage the price rockets from the 500ish point to the starts at 1500 point.

I'm still looking about.

 

[Uncle Kevriano]

OK, so there were no deals on "black Friday" relating to dry cabinets.

What I did discover is that none of the 105 litre cabinets or under will take a 600 f4. For that, you need one with a double footprint and at that stage the price rockets from the 500ish point to the starts at 1500 point.

I'm still looking about.

Could you not build one?

 

[Unframed Dave]

Could you not build one?

Possible, I suppose. Would just need to find the guts and the controller, the rest is just a sealed box and a door.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

none of the 105 litre cabinets or under will take a 600 f4

Not even if you take the shelf(s) out? My modest Sirui 50 ltr would have a height capacity of 450mm without its shelf. You could just pile up everything else or use something like a section of wine-storage stuff to replace the shelves.