Macro photography in humid greenhouses

[LongLensPhotography]

I intend to shoot some tropical flowers (ie giant water lilies, bananas) in the botanical garden. The greenhouse is very humid, the condensation of moisture on the glass is a problem.

I will be taking 40D with 100mm f/2.8 macro USM and Speedlite 580EX (mk1 to make things worse) and ring flash adapter. I may also take 70-200mm with 1.4x.

Do I need to worry about the condensation inside the lens, camera and flash? Is there any *real* danger to ruin my kit?

 

[chris321]

I've done this before, and to be honest it scared the living daylights out of me! Walked into a greenhouse, everything steamed up, I was worried it was never going to de-mist! The only thing you can really do to minimise condensation is to try and somehow get your kit up to the same temperature as the greenhouse. Odd I know, but this will stop/reduce condensation appearing.

Maybe take the kit in a sealed plastic bag, leave it in the greenhouse for as long as you can for it to reach a similar temp, then take it out? Are you going to be in there for a long time?

Chris

 

[boyfalldown]

probably not - I shoot quite often in the Glasshouses at Kew and they're pretty humid. Take a tea towel to wipe excess moisture off, and allow your kit 5 mintues to adjust temperature before you take lens caps off to prevent the worst condensation. Not a real issue though, I've never tried changing a lens in there though

Hugh

 

[buckas]

lol done that at bristol zoo, walking round (in january!) walked into the exotics bit steamed up, wondered what the hell had happened, hah

would do what post #2 has said

 

[Arkady]

As others have said - keep the kit in a sealed bag until it reaches ambient temperature...this goes for hot+humid > cold as well as cold > hot+humid...

But I'd wait more than 15 minutes if there's a huge temperature & humidity difference...

Condensation inside your lenses could result in drying-spots on the optics which can only be removed by a service-centre...