Topic: Storing Your Cameras

[Info Red]

I did a search of the forum, but didn't find what I was looking for.  If this has already been addressed in another thread, please accept my apologies.

I have a fair amount of cameras - not nearly as many as some collections I've seen, but a couple dozen, perhaps - and lately I have noticed my complete lack of organization in how I store them!  I use most of my cameras fairly often, so most of them are kept in their bags, ready to go out the door.  But now I'm wondering if that is the best thing for their health.  What is the best method for keeping them free of haze, mold, fungus, dust, poltergeists, and other enemies of such equipment?  Do you have a preferred way of doing this?  Shelving, cabinets, cases with doors, camera bags with dessicants, plastic bins with lids?   Do you pull batteries when they are not in use?  Do you become really elaborate, with humidifiers/dehumidifiers and air filtration systems?  All suggestions welcome!

Thanks in advance for your input,

Info Red

[Miller]

Info

I had a long hiatus (nearly a decade) and in that time my cameras were stored in the dark at pretty much room temperature. Some were in Lowepro type bags and others of less importance loose in storage boxes.

Yes I did empty them of any batteries and none have suffered in anyway as I expected as regards foam seals rotting etc... I guess a credit to the manufacturers and buying well graded secondhand gear in the first place.

Rgds

Mlr

[LT]

Good Question!

Here is my storage practice.  I'm probably over cautious, but that is probably not a bad thing:

1. remove lenses and give them periods of time without front and back caps so the air circulates and doesn't stagnate.

2. Remove all batteries

3. Keep body caps on camera to keep dust out

4. Keep in a cool dry area that isn't prone to temperature changes with as little humidity as possible.

5.  Get them all out every 3 months and give them a test - fire shutter, wind on, test moving components etc. give them a wipe/ clean lens elements with a Lenspen to avoid buildup of haze film.

[Francois]

Pretty much what Leon said except I don't remove the lenses. I figure lens or body caps pretty much do the same thing.

As for storage, for the cheap stuff, I opt for labeled Banker's Boxes. They're strong and the cardboard lets the content adapt to the humidity level. Most important thing is to keep the cameras off the floor, in a room without excess humidity (damp smelly basements are not good... my basement is pretty dry and doesn't smell so I store them there).

For the more important ones, I have a glass display cabinet to store them.

[Pete_R]

I don't do anything special but I do try and use them all periodically as Leon does. If they are kept in a centrally heated house, I don't think there's much chance of fungus etc. so I don't use dessicated coconut (or whatever it is) to keep them dry. Fungus can be a problem though. I've seen the damage it can do to lenses, but I think the conditions have to be pretty damp for it to happen.

From a practical point of view I (OK, the wife) was getting fed up having them lying all over the place so I bought a chest of drawers with shallower than normal drawers and they mostly live in there, though I've already outgrown it. I think these are called Wellington chests and the drawers are just the right depth for most of my cameras, though I have a couple that have to lay flat. I lined the base of the drawers with cork mats to stop things sliding around. Overall, it works well. I could just do with another.

[Ed Wenn]

"aka Mr Angry" - I love it!

 

Great photo, Peter. Lovely rows of cameras waiting to be called up to perform active service (or to be flogged on evilBay).

I keep mine all over the house and in the shed in a variety of boxes, cupboards & drawers. I always intend to use them the next day, but rarely get round to it.

[gregor]

mine are lying around on various shelves and random furniture surfaces, until my wife tells me she's sick of seeing cameras all over, especially when, "we could have taken a long vacation instead of buying all of 'those things'."

Then I tuck most of them away in a cupboard that's relatively organized... and start planning a vacation for us.

[edthened]

Och a keep most o' ma camera collection in large plastic storage boxes.
Re cameras a yooz regularly ar in ma Tamrac bag, an re wuns a wawnt tae hav handy f'r neer fyootyoor yoos ar in "Really Useful Box" boxes frae http://www.reallyusefulproducts.co.uk/ , so ther
P.S.   Re foti is d-g-t-l f'r illustraeshun purposes onlie   

[Francois]

Really organized there Edthened!

But as they say: if you can't find it, you can't use it

For a long time I used plastic shoeboxes for storage. Their width is perfect for most cameras. They keep the dust out and they handle easily.