Can lenses be damaged by rapid temperature and/or humidity changes?











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12
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I live in South Dakota. So, I can go from 75°F (24°C) with moderate humidity (indoors) to 0°F (-18°C) and dry just by stepping outside. Can this damage my lenses?



I especially want to know about damage to its optical performance, due to crazing or changes in alignment, or anything else - such as condensation leading to fungus. And I'm including damage to the lens coating. But I'm also curious about other damage. For example, if it shifts the housing clearance and allows more dust to get in, which could impact the image quality.



And if it can cause damage, then what parameters should I stay within to prevent damage (duration of exposure, temperature, humidity, etc.)? And does it make a difference if the lens housing is plastic or metal?










share|improve this question




















  • 1




    I am not sure about the change, but storing lenses under humid conditions (and the warmer, the worse), makes it much more prone to fungus.
    – jarnbjo
    Nov 20 at 23:33










  • Not sure what you're looking for with this Q. It seems as if you already have a good sense of what could go wrong.
    – xiota
    Nov 21 at 0:47






  • 2




    @xiota I only have assumptions, based on my knowledge of autos and what I've heard about eye glasses, etc. When it comes to lenses, I know very little in this regard.
    – icor103
    Nov 21 at 3:37










  • what camera and lenses do you use? Professional-grade equipment might be more forgiving, for example
    – aaaaaa
    Nov 21 at 16:43










  • I use a 6d and a zeiss otus 85.
    – icor103
    Nov 21 at 17:23















up vote
12
down vote

favorite
2












I live in South Dakota. So, I can go from 75°F (24°C) with moderate humidity (indoors) to 0°F (-18°C) and dry just by stepping outside. Can this damage my lenses?



I especially want to know about damage to its optical performance, due to crazing or changes in alignment, or anything else - such as condensation leading to fungus. And I'm including damage to the lens coating. But I'm also curious about other damage. For example, if it shifts the housing clearance and allows more dust to get in, which could impact the image quality.



And if it can cause damage, then what parameters should I stay within to prevent damage (duration of exposure, temperature, humidity, etc.)? And does it make a difference if the lens housing is plastic or metal?










share|improve this question




















  • 1




    I am not sure about the change, but storing lenses under humid conditions (and the warmer, the worse), makes it much more prone to fungus.
    – jarnbjo
    Nov 20 at 23:33










  • Not sure what you're looking for with this Q. It seems as if you already have a good sense of what could go wrong.
    – xiota
    Nov 21 at 0:47






  • 2




    @xiota I only have assumptions, based on my knowledge of autos and what I've heard about eye glasses, etc. When it comes to lenses, I know very little in this regard.
    – icor103
    Nov 21 at 3:37










  • what camera and lenses do you use? Professional-grade equipment might be more forgiving, for example
    – aaaaaa
    Nov 21 at 16:43










  • I use a 6d and a zeiss otus 85.
    – icor103
    Nov 21 at 17:23













up vote
12
down vote

favorite
2









up vote
12
down vote

favorite
2






2





I live in South Dakota. So, I can go from 75°F (24°C) with moderate humidity (indoors) to 0°F (-18°C) and dry just by stepping outside. Can this damage my lenses?



I especially want to know about damage to its optical performance, due to crazing or changes in alignment, or anything else - such as condensation leading to fungus. And I'm including damage to the lens coating. But I'm also curious about other damage. For example, if it shifts the housing clearance and allows more dust to get in, which could impact the image quality.



And if it can cause damage, then what parameters should I stay within to prevent damage (duration of exposure, temperature, humidity, etc.)? And does it make a difference if the lens housing is plastic or metal?










share|improve this question















I live in South Dakota. So, I can go from 75°F (24°C) with moderate humidity (indoors) to 0°F (-18°C) and dry just by stepping outside. Can this damage my lenses?



I especially want to know about damage to its optical performance, due to crazing or changes in alignment, or anything else - such as condensation leading to fungus. And I'm including damage to the lens coating. But I'm also curious about other damage. For example, if it shifts the housing clearance and allows more dust to get in, which could impact the image quality.



And if it can cause damage, then what parameters should I stay within to prevent damage (duration of exposure, temperature, humidity, etc.)? And does it make a difference if the lens housing is plastic or metal?







lens weather environmental-dangers weather-sealing






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Nov 21 at 9:17









Dominik

53




53










asked Nov 20 at 22:05









icor103

463314




463314








  • 1




    I am not sure about the change, but storing lenses under humid conditions (and the warmer, the worse), makes it much more prone to fungus.
    – jarnbjo
    Nov 20 at 23:33










  • Not sure what you're looking for with this Q. It seems as if you already have a good sense of what could go wrong.
    – xiota
    Nov 21 at 0:47






  • 2




    @xiota I only have assumptions, based on my knowledge of autos and what I've heard about eye glasses, etc. When it comes to lenses, I know very little in this regard.
    – icor103
    Nov 21 at 3:37










  • what camera and lenses do you use? Professional-grade equipment might be more forgiving, for example
    – aaaaaa
    Nov 21 at 16:43










  • I use a 6d and a zeiss otus 85.
    – icor103
    Nov 21 at 17:23














  • 1




    I am not sure about the change, but storing lenses under humid conditions (and the warmer, the worse), makes it much more prone to fungus.
    – jarnbjo
    Nov 20 at 23:33










  • Not sure what you're looking for with this Q. It seems as if you already have a good sense of what could go wrong.
    – xiota
    Nov 21 at 0:47






  • 2




    @xiota I only have assumptions, based on my knowledge of autos and what I've heard about eye glasses, etc. When it comes to lenses, I know very little in this regard.
    – icor103
    Nov 21 at 3:37










  • what camera and lenses do you use? Professional-grade equipment might be more forgiving, for example
    – aaaaaa
    Nov 21 at 16:43










  • I use a 6d and a zeiss otus 85.
    – icor103
    Nov 21 at 17:23








1




1




I am not sure about the change, but storing lenses under humid conditions (and the warmer, the worse), makes it much more prone to fungus.
– jarnbjo
Nov 20 at 23:33




I am not sure about the change, but storing lenses under humid conditions (and the warmer, the worse), makes it much more prone to fungus.
– jarnbjo
Nov 20 at 23:33












Not sure what you're looking for with this Q. It seems as if you already have a good sense of what could go wrong.
– xiota
Nov 21 at 0:47




Not sure what you're looking for with this Q. It seems as if you already have a good sense of what could go wrong.
– xiota
Nov 21 at 0:47




2




2




@xiota I only have assumptions, based on my knowledge of autos and what I've heard about eye glasses, etc. When it comes to lenses, I know very little in this regard.
– icor103
Nov 21 at 3:37




@xiota I only have assumptions, based on my knowledge of autos and what I've heard about eye glasses, etc. When it comes to lenses, I know very little in this regard.
– icor103
Nov 21 at 3:37












what camera and lenses do you use? Professional-grade equipment might be more forgiving, for example
– aaaaaa
Nov 21 at 16:43




what camera and lenses do you use? Professional-grade equipment might be more forgiving, for example
– aaaaaa
Nov 21 at 16:43












I use a 6d and a zeiss otus 85.
– icor103
Nov 21 at 17:23




I use a 6d and a zeiss otus 85.
– icor103
Nov 21 at 17:23










4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
18
down vote



accepted










There are several separate issues involved with your question. Let's look at each in turn.



Sudden temperature changes



When materials are subjected to sudden temperature changes they can tolerate the change or can be irreversibly damaged. It all depends on the materials involved, the temperature extremes involved, and just how rapid the change is. Take any lens element heated to something like 300-400°F and drop it into a bucket of ice water and it will most likely crack. That doesn't mean walking out of your 75°F house into 0°F winter will have the same effect. In fact, it almost certainly will not.



Although 0°F is a little extreme, moving from room temperature to outside where the temperature is just below freezing doesn't seem to permanently harm cameras and lenses. What it does do is affect the battery that powers the camera (more on that in a bit). When ideal optical performance is required in cold weather, such as for astrophotography, allowing all of the optical components to stabilize at the ambient temperature before starting to shoot will avoid temporary minor optical issues due to different parts of the lens/camera cooling at different rates.



Moving from warm to cold environments is usually a lot easier on camera gear, in terms of long term health, than the opposite. The primary culprit is humidity.



Humidity and condensation



Condensation and moisture can damage your camera and lenses in several ways.




  • Moisture can affect the electronics, particularly if a circuit is powered while wet. Allowing voltage to be applied to a circuit board while it is wet is a recipe for disaster. It will very often fry the electronics instantly.

  • Condensation can leave mineral deposits behind on optical surfaces when it dries. It can also "weld" dust to lens elements or the camera's sensor and filter stack immediately in front of the sensor.

  • If moisture is combined with a warm and dark environment, it can result in fungus growing inside the lens or camera. Keep in mind that fungus spores spread via air and are everywhere. So is dust. Even brand new lenses have dust in them. Those brand new lenses also probably have fungus spores in them. It's a biological fact of life when present in the Earth's atmosphere.


The most common cause of condensation on camera gear is caused by moving a cold camera and/or lens into a warm, humid environment. If the temperature of the camera or lens is below the dew point of the surrounding air, water droplets will condense on the cooler surfaces. This should be avoided as much as possible.



The easiest way to avoid condensation is to always put the camera/lens into a sealed bag before moving it from a cold to warm environment. The cold air sealed into the bag will contain less moisture than the warm air inside buildings. Leave the bag closed until the contents have warmed to room temperature. Any condensation that forms will do so on the exterior of the bag.



Cold and Batteries



Batteries are chemical devices that depend on chemical reactions to supply electricity. Those chemical reactions are affected by temperature. When batteries get very cold, their voltage drops rapidly. A battery that will power your camera for hundreds of shots at room temperature might only manage a few dozen frames in sub-freezing weather. The good news is that just warming the battery up restores some of its energy. If shooting in cold weather, carry plenty of spare batteries. Keep them warm inside your clothing. Swap the batteries in your camera and the warm batteries inside your clothes often.



Related questions here at Photography.SE:



I accidentally refrigerated my lens for a month. Should I be worried?
Operating camera in Arctic winter
What should I consider when using DSLRs in cold weather?
Inconsistent exposure with same settings--why?
Special Care for my Canon in the Alps
Is there any benefit to using a battery grip in frigid weather?
What precautions should I take when taking a camera into humid conditions?
How do I prevent condensation on a lens when outdoors?
How can I hasten the safe transition from air conditioning to hot/humid outdoors?
Preventing condensation on lens when shooting in a cold place
How do I dry water condensation off my camera?
How useful is silica gel for protecting SLR cameras against condensation from changes in temperature?
What will happen to a camera if it is taken to an environment beyond its operating temperature?
Besides several Pentax DSLRs, what cameras are rated for operation below 0 °C (32 °F)?
How is the cold resistance of entry level DSLRs?
Is it safe to keep my camera in the hot car?
What precautions should I take for carrying batteries/shooting in the heat?
What to consider when choosing a memory card? (Including operating environment)






share|improve this answer

















  • 5




    "Condensation can leave mineral deposits". Uh? Condensation is 100% pure H2O or at least darn close to distilled water. It may dissolve existing deposits, leave them elsewhere when evaporating, but it won't add minerals...
    – xenoid
    Nov 21 at 10:25






  • 1




    The list of related questions alone categorizes this one as canonical! One point on the battery swapping - just because a battery has died in the cold and you've swapped it out doesn't mean it's dead. Warm it up inside your coat or pants and it'll be good for another dozen or more shots again. If you run 3 batteries 1-camera, 2-left pocket, 3-right pocket and rotate in that order every time, you'll probably be good to go.
    – FreeMan
    Nov 21 at 14:51










  • @FreeMan The answer already says, "The good news is that just warming the battery up restores some of its energy. If shooting in cold weather, carry plenty of spare batteries. Keep them warm inside your clothing. Swap the batteries in your camera and the warm batteries inside your clothes often."
    – Michael Clark
    Nov 21 at 18:57










  • @FreeMan Which is what the quote above reflects: "... just warming the battery up restores some of its energy."
    – Michael Clark
    Nov 21 at 21:10








  • 1




    @xenoid The dust, lubricants, etc. already in the lens will pool in the droplets and leave observable residue behind long after the H-OH has evaporated.
    – Michael Clark
    Nov 22 at 4:23


















up vote
7
down vote













I've lived in Canada for a long time now. And my Nikon lenses have always been fine going from a comfy 25 degrees to minus 40 in a matter of minutes. Apart from some lens misting which I need to wipe sometimes, they've been impeccable.






share|improve this answer

















  • 3




    I find that going the other way presents more problems because it is typically more humid indoors, and condensation can form inside the lens. If I forget my camera in the car for more than a few minutes, for example. Although it doesn't get to -40°C where I live, it does get down to -30°C sometimes.
    – user128216
    Nov 21 at 2:54




















up vote
6
down vote













Changing environments, especially those that are as extreme the ones you describe, can damage your equipment for reasons you've already described within your question.




  • Different materials react to temperatures differently. This includes expansion, contraction, and changes in brittleness.

  • Warmth and humidity are favorable to fungus.

  • Water can condense and freeze on lenses, making them unusable.

  • Etc.


To prevent such problems:




  • Check your equipment documentation for acceptable operating parameters.


  • Keep your equipment in an insulated enclosure when changing environments so they can acclimate gradually. The more extreme the temperature change, the more time you should allow for acclimation. This applies to blistering heat as well as to freezing temperatures.


  • Consider using weather-resistant cameras and lenses that are designed to work in extreme environments. Consider using a "tough" compact camera.


  • Limit the number and frequency of extreme environment changes. For instance, rather than bringing your equipment indoors for only a short time before returning outside, keep your equipment in a locker outside.



See also:




  • What are these clusters of branching structures on/in my lens?






share|improve this answer






























    up vote
    1
    down vote













    Your lens and camera do not go from 75F to 0F immediately due to the thermal inertia of the lens components and because air, in itself, is not a very good thermal conductor.



    Moreover, pro-lens manufacturers use materials that have a very low coefficients of expansion. If I were you I would not worry about sudden contractions or expansion, because they don’t happen and since they don’t happen and the very low coefficient of expansion of the different materials won’t lead to misalignment in pro-lenses. But if you wish you can let the low temperature settle to all components of the lens, which means waiting for a long while as they reduce their temperature to 0F, if you think you need critical accuracy.



    But on the other hand, condensation inside the lenses could be a problem due to the electronic that most modern lenses have and fungus proliferation.



    If the lens isn’t airtight, when you move it form a place where it has stayed for a long while that has warm temperature and a high absolute humidity to a place with a much lower temperature and lower absolute humidity, this will be the physic phenomena that'll occur:




    1. The air within the lens will still be the one it got before with
      the same humidity.

    2. Its temperature will fall relatively fast (due to the low thermal
      inertia of the air).

    3. The air trapped will get below its dew point and its humidity will
      start to condensate (became liquid).

    4. You will end up with dew inside your lens.


    But on the other hand your climate must already be very dry (relative and absolute humidity) during the cold season and I don’t think you are increasing the absolute humidity of your “house” by much. If you were increasing the absolute humidity by a lot, you should get a dehumidifier for your equipment closet to avoid the physical phenomena explained before.



    A similar thing will happen when you go back inside from the freezing cold, if you have been outside for a while, the dew will occur on the outside of your equipment (notice the fogging of the glass in its outside). This is due to the fact that the low temperature of your equipment is lowering the temperature of the air surrounding it below its dew point. Inside the lens the outside air will raise its temperature but won’t generate any dew because it won’t become saturated.






    share|improve this answer





















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      4 Answers
      4






      active

      oldest

      votes








      4 Answers
      4






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes








      up vote
      18
      down vote



      accepted










      There are several separate issues involved with your question. Let's look at each in turn.



      Sudden temperature changes



      When materials are subjected to sudden temperature changes they can tolerate the change or can be irreversibly damaged. It all depends on the materials involved, the temperature extremes involved, and just how rapid the change is. Take any lens element heated to something like 300-400°F and drop it into a bucket of ice water and it will most likely crack. That doesn't mean walking out of your 75°F house into 0°F winter will have the same effect. In fact, it almost certainly will not.



      Although 0°F is a little extreme, moving from room temperature to outside where the temperature is just below freezing doesn't seem to permanently harm cameras and lenses. What it does do is affect the battery that powers the camera (more on that in a bit). When ideal optical performance is required in cold weather, such as for astrophotography, allowing all of the optical components to stabilize at the ambient temperature before starting to shoot will avoid temporary minor optical issues due to different parts of the lens/camera cooling at different rates.



      Moving from warm to cold environments is usually a lot easier on camera gear, in terms of long term health, than the opposite. The primary culprit is humidity.



      Humidity and condensation



      Condensation and moisture can damage your camera and lenses in several ways.




      • Moisture can affect the electronics, particularly if a circuit is powered while wet. Allowing voltage to be applied to a circuit board while it is wet is a recipe for disaster. It will very often fry the electronics instantly.

      • Condensation can leave mineral deposits behind on optical surfaces when it dries. It can also "weld" dust to lens elements or the camera's sensor and filter stack immediately in front of the sensor.

      • If moisture is combined with a warm and dark environment, it can result in fungus growing inside the lens or camera. Keep in mind that fungus spores spread via air and are everywhere. So is dust. Even brand new lenses have dust in them. Those brand new lenses also probably have fungus spores in them. It's a biological fact of life when present in the Earth's atmosphere.


      The most common cause of condensation on camera gear is caused by moving a cold camera and/or lens into a warm, humid environment. If the temperature of the camera or lens is below the dew point of the surrounding air, water droplets will condense on the cooler surfaces. This should be avoided as much as possible.



      The easiest way to avoid condensation is to always put the camera/lens into a sealed bag before moving it from a cold to warm environment. The cold air sealed into the bag will contain less moisture than the warm air inside buildings. Leave the bag closed until the contents have warmed to room temperature. Any condensation that forms will do so on the exterior of the bag.



      Cold and Batteries



      Batteries are chemical devices that depend on chemical reactions to supply electricity. Those chemical reactions are affected by temperature. When batteries get very cold, their voltage drops rapidly. A battery that will power your camera for hundreds of shots at room temperature might only manage a few dozen frames in sub-freezing weather. The good news is that just warming the battery up restores some of its energy. If shooting in cold weather, carry plenty of spare batteries. Keep them warm inside your clothing. Swap the batteries in your camera and the warm batteries inside your clothes often.



      Related questions here at Photography.SE:



      I accidentally refrigerated my lens for a month. Should I be worried?
      Operating camera in Arctic winter
      What should I consider when using DSLRs in cold weather?
      Inconsistent exposure with same settings--why?
      Special Care for my Canon in the Alps
      Is there any benefit to using a battery grip in frigid weather?
      What precautions should I take when taking a camera into humid conditions?
      How do I prevent condensation on a lens when outdoors?
      How can I hasten the safe transition from air conditioning to hot/humid outdoors?
      Preventing condensation on lens when shooting in a cold place
      How do I dry water condensation off my camera?
      How useful is silica gel for protecting SLR cameras against condensation from changes in temperature?
      What will happen to a camera if it is taken to an environment beyond its operating temperature?
      Besides several Pentax DSLRs, what cameras are rated for operation below 0 °C (32 °F)?
      How is the cold resistance of entry level DSLRs?
      Is it safe to keep my camera in the hot car?
      What precautions should I take for carrying batteries/shooting in the heat?
      What to consider when choosing a memory card? (Including operating environment)






      share|improve this answer

















      • 5




        "Condensation can leave mineral deposits". Uh? Condensation is 100% pure H2O or at least darn close to distilled water. It may dissolve existing deposits, leave them elsewhere when evaporating, but it won't add minerals...
        – xenoid
        Nov 21 at 10:25






      • 1




        The list of related questions alone categorizes this one as canonical! One point on the battery swapping - just because a battery has died in the cold and you've swapped it out doesn't mean it's dead. Warm it up inside your coat or pants and it'll be good for another dozen or more shots again. If you run 3 batteries 1-camera, 2-left pocket, 3-right pocket and rotate in that order every time, you'll probably be good to go.
        – FreeMan
        Nov 21 at 14:51










      • @FreeMan The answer already says, "The good news is that just warming the battery up restores some of its energy. If shooting in cold weather, carry plenty of spare batteries. Keep them warm inside your clothing. Swap the batteries in your camera and the warm batteries inside your clothes often."
        – Michael Clark
        Nov 21 at 18:57










      • @FreeMan Which is what the quote above reflects: "... just warming the battery up restores some of its energy."
        – Michael Clark
        Nov 21 at 21:10








      • 1




        @xenoid The dust, lubricants, etc. already in the lens will pool in the droplets and leave observable residue behind long after the H-OH has evaporated.
        – Michael Clark
        Nov 22 at 4:23















      up vote
      18
      down vote



      accepted










      There are several separate issues involved with your question. Let's look at each in turn.



      Sudden temperature changes



      When materials are subjected to sudden temperature changes they can tolerate the change or can be irreversibly damaged. It all depends on the materials involved, the temperature extremes involved, and just how rapid the change is. Take any lens element heated to something like 300-400°F and drop it into a bucket of ice water and it will most likely crack. That doesn't mean walking out of your 75°F house into 0°F winter will have the same effect. In fact, it almost certainly will not.



      Although 0°F is a little extreme, moving from room temperature to outside where the temperature is just below freezing doesn't seem to permanently harm cameras and lenses. What it does do is affect the battery that powers the camera (more on that in a bit). When ideal optical performance is required in cold weather, such as for astrophotography, allowing all of the optical components to stabilize at the ambient temperature before starting to shoot will avoid temporary minor optical issues due to different parts of the lens/camera cooling at different rates.



      Moving from warm to cold environments is usually a lot easier on camera gear, in terms of long term health, than the opposite. The primary culprit is humidity.



      Humidity and condensation



      Condensation and moisture can damage your camera and lenses in several ways.




      • Moisture can affect the electronics, particularly if a circuit is powered while wet. Allowing voltage to be applied to a circuit board while it is wet is a recipe for disaster. It will very often fry the electronics instantly.

      • Condensation can leave mineral deposits behind on optical surfaces when it dries. It can also "weld" dust to lens elements or the camera's sensor and filter stack immediately in front of the sensor.

      • If moisture is combined with a warm and dark environment, it can result in fungus growing inside the lens or camera. Keep in mind that fungus spores spread via air and are everywhere. So is dust. Even brand new lenses have dust in them. Those brand new lenses also probably have fungus spores in them. It's a biological fact of life when present in the Earth's atmosphere.


      The most common cause of condensation on camera gear is caused by moving a cold camera and/or lens into a warm, humid environment. If the temperature of the camera or lens is below the dew point of the surrounding air, water droplets will condense on the cooler surfaces. This should be avoided as much as possible.



      The easiest way to avoid condensation is to always put the camera/lens into a sealed bag before moving it from a cold to warm environment. The cold air sealed into the bag will contain less moisture than the warm air inside buildings. Leave the bag closed until the contents have warmed to room temperature. Any condensation that forms will do so on the exterior of the bag.



      Cold and Batteries



      Batteries are chemical devices that depend on chemical reactions to supply electricity. Those chemical reactions are affected by temperature. When batteries get very cold, their voltage drops rapidly. A battery that will power your camera for hundreds of shots at room temperature might only manage a few dozen frames in sub-freezing weather. The good news is that just warming the battery up restores some of its energy. If shooting in cold weather, carry plenty of spare batteries. Keep them warm inside your clothing. Swap the batteries in your camera and the warm batteries inside your clothes often.



      Related questions here at Photography.SE:



      I accidentally refrigerated my lens for a month. Should I be worried?
      Operating camera in Arctic winter
      What should I consider when using DSLRs in cold weather?
      Inconsistent exposure with same settings--why?
      Special Care for my Canon in the Alps
      Is there any benefit to using a battery grip in frigid weather?
      What precautions should I take when taking a camera into humid conditions?
      How do I prevent condensation on a lens when outdoors?
      How can I hasten the safe transition from air conditioning to hot/humid outdoors?
      Preventing condensation on lens when shooting in a cold place
      How do I dry water condensation off my camera?
      How useful is silica gel for protecting SLR cameras against condensation from changes in temperature?
      What will happen to a camera if it is taken to an environment beyond its operating temperature?
      Besides several Pentax DSLRs, what cameras are rated for operation below 0 °C (32 °F)?
      How is the cold resistance of entry level DSLRs?
      Is it safe to keep my camera in the hot car?
      What precautions should I take for carrying batteries/shooting in the heat?
      What to consider when choosing a memory card? (Including operating environment)






      share|improve this answer

















      • 5




        "Condensation can leave mineral deposits". Uh? Condensation is 100% pure H2O or at least darn close to distilled water. It may dissolve existing deposits, leave them elsewhere when evaporating, but it won't add minerals...
        – xenoid
        Nov 21 at 10:25






      • 1




        The list of related questions alone categorizes this one as canonical! One point on the battery swapping - just because a battery has died in the cold and you've swapped it out doesn't mean it's dead. Warm it up inside your coat or pants and it'll be good for another dozen or more shots again. If you run 3 batteries 1-camera, 2-left pocket, 3-right pocket and rotate in that order every time, you'll probably be good to go.
        – FreeMan
        Nov 21 at 14:51










      • @FreeMan The answer already says, "The good news is that just warming the battery up restores some of its energy. If shooting in cold weather, carry plenty of spare batteries. Keep them warm inside your clothing. Swap the batteries in your camera and the warm batteries inside your clothes often."
        – Michael Clark
        Nov 21 at 18:57










      • @FreeMan Which is what the quote above reflects: "... just warming the battery up restores some of its energy."
        – Michael Clark
        Nov 21 at 21:10








      • 1




        @xenoid The dust, lubricants, etc. already in the lens will pool in the droplets and leave observable residue behind long after the H-OH has evaporated.
        – Michael Clark
        Nov 22 at 4:23













      up vote
      18
      down vote



      accepted







      up vote
      18
      down vote



      accepted






      There are several separate issues involved with your question. Let's look at each in turn.



      Sudden temperature changes



      When materials are subjected to sudden temperature changes they can tolerate the change or can be irreversibly damaged. It all depends on the materials involved, the temperature extremes involved, and just how rapid the change is. Take any lens element heated to something like 300-400°F and drop it into a bucket of ice water and it will most likely crack. That doesn't mean walking out of your 75°F house into 0°F winter will have the same effect. In fact, it almost certainly will not.



      Although 0°F is a little extreme, moving from room temperature to outside where the temperature is just below freezing doesn't seem to permanently harm cameras and lenses. What it does do is affect the battery that powers the camera (more on that in a bit). When ideal optical performance is required in cold weather, such as for astrophotography, allowing all of the optical components to stabilize at the ambient temperature before starting to shoot will avoid temporary minor optical issues due to different parts of the lens/camera cooling at different rates.



      Moving from warm to cold environments is usually a lot easier on camera gear, in terms of long term health, than the opposite. The primary culprit is humidity.



      Humidity and condensation



      Condensation and moisture can damage your camera and lenses in several ways.




      • Moisture can affect the electronics, particularly if a circuit is powered while wet. Allowing voltage to be applied to a circuit board while it is wet is a recipe for disaster. It will very often fry the electronics instantly.

      • Condensation can leave mineral deposits behind on optical surfaces when it dries. It can also "weld" dust to lens elements or the camera's sensor and filter stack immediately in front of the sensor.

      • If moisture is combined with a warm and dark environment, it can result in fungus growing inside the lens or camera. Keep in mind that fungus spores spread via air and are everywhere. So is dust. Even brand new lenses have dust in them. Those brand new lenses also probably have fungus spores in them. It's a biological fact of life when present in the Earth's atmosphere.


      The most common cause of condensation on camera gear is caused by moving a cold camera and/or lens into a warm, humid environment. If the temperature of the camera or lens is below the dew point of the surrounding air, water droplets will condense on the cooler surfaces. This should be avoided as much as possible.



      The easiest way to avoid condensation is to always put the camera/lens into a sealed bag before moving it from a cold to warm environment. The cold air sealed into the bag will contain less moisture than the warm air inside buildings. Leave the bag closed until the contents have warmed to room temperature. Any condensation that forms will do so on the exterior of the bag.



      Cold and Batteries



      Batteries are chemical devices that depend on chemical reactions to supply electricity. Those chemical reactions are affected by temperature. When batteries get very cold, their voltage drops rapidly. A battery that will power your camera for hundreds of shots at room temperature might only manage a few dozen frames in sub-freezing weather. The good news is that just warming the battery up restores some of its energy. If shooting in cold weather, carry plenty of spare batteries. Keep them warm inside your clothing. Swap the batteries in your camera and the warm batteries inside your clothes often.



      Related questions here at Photography.SE:



      I accidentally refrigerated my lens for a month. Should I be worried?
      Operating camera in Arctic winter
      What should I consider when using DSLRs in cold weather?
      Inconsistent exposure with same settings--why?
      Special Care for my Canon in the Alps
      Is there any benefit to using a battery grip in frigid weather?
      What precautions should I take when taking a camera into humid conditions?
      How do I prevent condensation on a lens when outdoors?
      How can I hasten the safe transition from air conditioning to hot/humid outdoors?
      Preventing condensation on lens when shooting in a cold place
      How do I dry water condensation off my camera?
      How useful is silica gel for protecting SLR cameras against condensation from changes in temperature?
      What will happen to a camera if it is taken to an environment beyond its operating temperature?
      Besides several Pentax DSLRs, what cameras are rated for operation below 0 °C (32 °F)?
      How is the cold resistance of entry level DSLRs?
      Is it safe to keep my camera in the hot car?
      What precautions should I take for carrying batteries/shooting in the heat?
      What to consider when choosing a memory card? (Including operating environment)






      share|improve this answer












      There are several separate issues involved with your question. Let's look at each in turn.



      Sudden temperature changes



      When materials are subjected to sudden temperature changes they can tolerate the change or can be irreversibly damaged. It all depends on the materials involved, the temperature extremes involved, and just how rapid the change is. Take any lens element heated to something like 300-400°F and drop it into a bucket of ice water and it will most likely crack. That doesn't mean walking out of your 75°F house into 0°F winter will have the same effect. In fact, it almost certainly will not.



      Although 0°F is a little extreme, moving from room temperature to outside where the temperature is just below freezing doesn't seem to permanently harm cameras and lenses. What it does do is affect the battery that powers the camera (more on that in a bit). When ideal optical performance is required in cold weather, such as for astrophotography, allowing all of the optical components to stabilize at the ambient temperature before starting to shoot will avoid temporary minor optical issues due to different parts of the lens/camera cooling at different rates.



      Moving from warm to cold environments is usually a lot easier on camera gear, in terms of long term health, than the opposite. The primary culprit is humidity.



      Humidity and condensation



      Condensation and moisture can damage your camera and lenses in several ways.




      • Moisture can affect the electronics, particularly if a circuit is powered while wet. Allowing voltage to be applied to a circuit board while it is wet is a recipe for disaster. It will very often fry the electronics instantly.

      • Condensation can leave mineral deposits behind on optical surfaces when it dries. It can also "weld" dust to lens elements or the camera's sensor and filter stack immediately in front of the sensor.

      • If moisture is combined with a warm and dark environment, it can result in fungus growing inside the lens or camera. Keep in mind that fungus spores spread via air and are everywhere. So is dust. Even brand new lenses have dust in them. Those brand new lenses also probably have fungus spores in them. It's a biological fact of life when present in the Earth's atmosphere.


      The most common cause of condensation on camera gear is caused by moving a cold camera and/or lens into a warm, humid environment. If the temperature of the camera or lens is below the dew point of the surrounding air, water droplets will condense on the cooler surfaces. This should be avoided as much as possible.



      The easiest way to avoid condensation is to always put the camera/lens into a sealed bag before moving it from a cold to warm environment. The cold air sealed into the bag will contain less moisture than the warm air inside buildings. Leave the bag closed until the contents have warmed to room temperature. Any condensation that forms will do so on the exterior of the bag.



      Cold and Batteries



      Batteries are chemical devices that depend on chemical reactions to supply electricity. Those chemical reactions are affected by temperature. When batteries get very cold, their voltage drops rapidly. A battery that will power your camera for hundreds of shots at room temperature might only manage a few dozen frames in sub-freezing weather. The good news is that just warming the battery up restores some of its energy. If shooting in cold weather, carry plenty of spare batteries. Keep them warm inside your clothing. Swap the batteries in your camera and the warm batteries inside your clothes often.



      Related questions here at Photography.SE:



      I accidentally refrigerated my lens for a month. Should I be worried?
      Operating camera in Arctic winter
      What should I consider when using DSLRs in cold weather?
      Inconsistent exposure with same settings--why?
      Special Care for my Canon in the Alps
      Is there any benefit to using a battery grip in frigid weather?
      What precautions should I take when taking a camera into humid conditions?
      How do I prevent condensation on a lens when outdoors?
      How can I hasten the safe transition from air conditioning to hot/humid outdoors?
      Preventing condensation on lens when shooting in a cold place
      How do I dry water condensation off my camera?
      How useful is silica gel for protecting SLR cameras against condensation from changes in temperature?
      What will happen to a camera if it is taken to an environment beyond its operating temperature?
      Besides several Pentax DSLRs, what cameras are rated for operation below 0 °C (32 °F)?
      How is the cold resistance of entry level DSLRs?
      Is it safe to keep my camera in the hot car?
      What precautions should I take for carrying batteries/shooting in the heat?
      What to consider when choosing a memory card? (Including operating environment)







      share|improve this answer












      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer










      answered Nov 21 at 3:07









      Michael Clark

      126k7142356




      126k7142356








      • 5




        "Condensation can leave mineral deposits". Uh? Condensation is 100% pure H2O or at least darn close to distilled water. It may dissolve existing deposits, leave them elsewhere when evaporating, but it won't add minerals...
        – xenoid
        Nov 21 at 10:25






      • 1




        The list of related questions alone categorizes this one as canonical! One point on the battery swapping - just because a battery has died in the cold and you've swapped it out doesn't mean it's dead. Warm it up inside your coat or pants and it'll be good for another dozen or more shots again. If you run 3 batteries 1-camera, 2-left pocket, 3-right pocket and rotate in that order every time, you'll probably be good to go.
        – FreeMan
        Nov 21 at 14:51










      • @FreeMan The answer already says, "The good news is that just warming the battery up restores some of its energy. If shooting in cold weather, carry plenty of spare batteries. Keep them warm inside your clothing. Swap the batteries in your camera and the warm batteries inside your clothes often."
        – Michael Clark
        Nov 21 at 18:57










      • @FreeMan Which is what the quote above reflects: "... just warming the battery up restores some of its energy."
        – Michael Clark
        Nov 21 at 21:10








      • 1




        @xenoid The dust, lubricants, etc. already in the lens will pool in the droplets and leave observable residue behind long after the H-OH has evaporated.
        – Michael Clark
        Nov 22 at 4:23














      • 5




        "Condensation can leave mineral deposits". Uh? Condensation is 100% pure H2O or at least darn close to distilled water. It may dissolve existing deposits, leave them elsewhere when evaporating, but it won't add minerals...
        – xenoid
        Nov 21 at 10:25






      • 1




        The list of related questions alone categorizes this one as canonical! One point on the battery swapping - just because a battery has died in the cold and you've swapped it out doesn't mean it's dead. Warm it up inside your coat or pants and it'll be good for another dozen or more shots again. If you run 3 batteries 1-camera, 2-left pocket, 3-right pocket and rotate in that order every time, you'll probably be good to go.
        – FreeMan
        Nov 21 at 14:51










      • @FreeMan The answer already says, "The good news is that just warming the battery up restores some of its energy. If shooting in cold weather, carry plenty of spare batteries. Keep them warm inside your clothing. Swap the batteries in your camera and the warm batteries inside your clothes often."
        – Michael Clark
        Nov 21 at 18:57










      • @FreeMan Which is what the quote above reflects: "... just warming the battery up restores some of its energy."
        – Michael Clark
        Nov 21 at 21:10








      • 1




        @xenoid The dust, lubricants, etc. already in the lens will pool in the droplets and leave observable residue behind long after the H-OH has evaporated.
        – Michael Clark
        Nov 22 at 4:23








      5




      5




      "Condensation can leave mineral deposits". Uh? Condensation is 100% pure H2O or at least darn close to distilled water. It may dissolve existing deposits, leave them elsewhere when evaporating, but it won't add minerals...
      – xenoid
      Nov 21 at 10:25




      "Condensation can leave mineral deposits". Uh? Condensation is 100% pure H2O or at least darn close to distilled water. It may dissolve existing deposits, leave them elsewhere when evaporating, but it won't add minerals...
      – xenoid
      Nov 21 at 10:25




      1




      1




      The list of related questions alone categorizes this one as canonical! One point on the battery swapping - just because a battery has died in the cold and you've swapped it out doesn't mean it's dead. Warm it up inside your coat or pants and it'll be good for another dozen or more shots again. If you run 3 batteries 1-camera, 2-left pocket, 3-right pocket and rotate in that order every time, you'll probably be good to go.
      – FreeMan
      Nov 21 at 14:51




      The list of related questions alone categorizes this one as canonical! One point on the battery swapping - just because a battery has died in the cold and you've swapped it out doesn't mean it's dead. Warm it up inside your coat or pants and it'll be good for another dozen or more shots again. If you run 3 batteries 1-camera, 2-left pocket, 3-right pocket and rotate in that order every time, you'll probably be good to go.
      – FreeMan
      Nov 21 at 14:51












      @FreeMan The answer already says, "The good news is that just warming the battery up restores some of its energy. If shooting in cold weather, carry plenty of spare batteries. Keep them warm inside your clothing. Swap the batteries in your camera and the warm batteries inside your clothes often."
      – Michael Clark
      Nov 21 at 18:57




      @FreeMan The answer already says, "The good news is that just warming the battery up restores some of its energy. If shooting in cold weather, carry plenty of spare batteries. Keep them warm inside your clothing. Swap the batteries in your camera and the warm batteries inside your clothes often."
      – Michael Clark
      Nov 21 at 18:57












      @FreeMan Which is what the quote above reflects: "... just warming the battery up restores some of its energy."
      – Michael Clark
      Nov 21 at 21:10






      @FreeMan Which is what the quote above reflects: "... just warming the battery up restores some of its energy."
      – Michael Clark
      Nov 21 at 21:10






      1




      1




      @xenoid The dust, lubricants, etc. already in the lens will pool in the droplets and leave observable residue behind long after the H-OH has evaporated.
      – Michael Clark
      Nov 22 at 4:23




      @xenoid The dust, lubricants, etc. already in the lens will pool in the droplets and leave observable residue behind long after the H-OH has evaporated.
      – Michael Clark
      Nov 22 at 4:23












      up vote
      7
      down vote













      I've lived in Canada for a long time now. And my Nikon lenses have always been fine going from a comfy 25 degrees to minus 40 in a matter of minutes. Apart from some lens misting which I need to wipe sometimes, they've been impeccable.






      share|improve this answer

















      • 3




        I find that going the other way presents more problems because it is typically more humid indoors, and condensation can form inside the lens. If I forget my camera in the car for more than a few minutes, for example. Although it doesn't get to -40°C where I live, it does get down to -30°C sometimes.
        – user128216
        Nov 21 at 2:54

















      up vote
      7
      down vote













      I've lived in Canada for a long time now. And my Nikon lenses have always been fine going from a comfy 25 degrees to minus 40 in a matter of minutes. Apart from some lens misting which I need to wipe sometimes, they've been impeccable.






      share|improve this answer

















      • 3




        I find that going the other way presents more problems because it is typically more humid indoors, and condensation can form inside the lens. If I forget my camera in the car for more than a few minutes, for example. Although it doesn't get to -40°C where I live, it does get down to -30°C sometimes.
        – user128216
        Nov 21 at 2:54















      up vote
      7
      down vote










      up vote
      7
      down vote









      I've lived in Canada for a long time now. And my Nikon lenses have always been fine going from a comfy 25 degrees to minus 40 in a matter of minutes. Apart from some lens misting which I need to wipe sometimes, they've been impeccable.






      share|improve this answer












      I've lived in Canada for a long time now. And my Nikon lenses have always been fine going from a comfy 25 degrees to minus 40 in a matter of minutes. Apart from some lens misting which I need to wipe sometimes, they've been impeccable.







      share|improve this answer












      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer










      answered Nov 21 at 0:54









      shobhit chaudhry

      894




      894








      • 3




        I find that going the other way presents more problems because it is typically more humid indoors, and condensation can form inside the lens. If I forget my camera in the car for more than a few minutes, for example. Although it doesn't get to -40°C where I live, it does get down to -30°C sometimes.
        – user128216
        Nov 21 at 2:54
















      • 3




        I find that going the other way presents more problems because it is typically more humid indoors, and condensation can form inside the lens. If I forget my camera in the car for more than a few minutes, for example. Although it doesn't get to -40°C where I live, it does get down to -30°C sometimes.
        – user128216
        Nov 21 at 2:54










      3




      3




      I find that going the other way presents more problems because it is typically more humid indoors, and condensation can form inside the lens. If I forget my camera in the car for more than a few minutes, for example. Although it doesn't get to -40°C where I live, it does get down to -30°C sometimes.
      – user128216
      Nov 21 at 2:54






      I find that going the other way presents more problems because it is typically more humid indoors, and condensation can form inside the lens. If I forget my camera in the car for more than a few minutes, for example. Although it doesn't get to -40°C where I live, it does get down to -30°C sometimes.
      – user128216
      Nov 21 at 2:54












      up vote
      6
      down vote













      Changing environments, especially those that are as extreme the ones you describe, can damage your equipment for reasons you've already described within your question.




      • Different materials react to temperatures differently. This includes expansion, contraction, and changes in brittleness.

      • Warmth and humidity are favorable to fungus.

      • Water can condense and freeze on lenses, making them unusable.

      • Etc.


      To prevent such problems:




      • Check your equipment documentation for acceptable operating parameters.


      • Keep your equipment in an insulated enclosure when changing environments so they can acclimate gradually. The more extreme the temperature change, the more time you should allow for acclimation. This applies to blistering heat as well as to freezing temperatures.


      • Consider using weather-resistant cameras and lenses that are designed to work in extreme environments. Consider using a "tough" compact camera.


      • Limit the number and frequency of extreme environment changes. For instance, rather than bringing your equipment indoors for only a short time before returning outside, keep your equipment in a locker outside.



      See also:




      • What are these clusters of branching structures on/in my lens?






      share|improve this answer



























        up vote
        6
        down vote













        Changing environments, especially those that are as extreme the ones you describe, can damage your equipment for reasons you've already described within your question.




        • Different materials react to temperatures differently. This includes expansion, contraction, and changes in brittleness.

        • Warmth and humidity are favorable to fungus.

        • Water can condense and freeze on lenses, making them unusable.

        • Etc.


        To prevent such problems:




        • Check your equipment documentation for acceptable operating parameters.


        • Keep your equipment in an insulated enclosure when changing environments so they can acclimate gradually. The more extreme the temperature change, the more time you should allow for acclimation. This applies to blistering heat as well as to freezing temperatures.


        • Consider using weather-resistant cameras and lenses that are designed to work in extreme environments. Consider using a "tough" compact camera.


        • Limit the number and frequency of extreme environment changes. For instance, rather than bringing your equipment indoors for only a short time before returning outside, keep your equipment in a locker outside.



        See also:




        • What are these clusters of branching structures on/in my lens?






        share|improve this answer

























          up vote
          6
          down vote










          up vote
          6
          down vote









          Changing environments, especially those that are as extreme the ones you describe, can damage your equipment for reasons you've already described within your question.




          • Different materials react to temperatures differently. This includes expansion, contraction, and changes in brittleness.

          • Warmth and humidity are favorable to fungus.

          • Water can condense and freeze on lenses, making them unusable.

          • Etc.


          To prevent such problems:




          • Check your equipment documentation for acceptable operating parameters.


          • Keep your equipment in an insulated enclosure when changing environments so they can acclimate gradually. The more extreme the temperature change, the more time you should allow for acclimation. This applies to blistering heat as well as to freezing temperatures.


          • Consider using weather-resistant cameras and lenses that are designed to work in extreme environments. Consider using a "tough" compact camera.


          • Limit the number and frequency of extreme environment changes. For instance, rather than bringing your equipment indoors for only a short time before returning outside, keep your equipment in a locker outside.



          See also:




          • What are these clusters of branching structures on/in my lens?






          share|improve this answer














          Changing environments, especially those that are as extreme the ones you describe, can damage your equipment for reasons you've already described within your question.




          • Different materials react to temperatures differently. This includes expansion, contraction, and changes in brittleness.

          • Warmth and humidity are favorable to fungus.

          • Water can condense and freeze on lenses, making them unusable.

          • Etc.


          To prevent such problems:




          • Check your equipment documentation for acceptable operating parameters.


          • Keep your equipment in an insulated enclosure when changing environments so they can acclimate gradually. The more extreme the temperature change, the more time you should allow for acclimation. This applies to blistering heat as well as to freezing temperatures.


          • Consider using weather-resistant cameras and lenses that are designed to work in extreme environments. Consider using a "tough" compact camera.


          • Limit the number and frequency of extreme environment changes. For instance, rather than bringing your equipment indoors for only a short time before returning outside, keep your equipment in a locker outside.



          See also:




          • What are these clusters of branching structures on/in my lens?







          share|improve this answer














          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer








          edited Nov 21 at 0:42

























          answered Nov 20 at 23:56









          xiota

          7,60821447




          7,60821447






















              up vote
              1
              down vote













              Your lens and camera do not go from 75F to 0F immediately due to the thermal inertia of the lens components and because air, in itself, is not a very good thermal conductor.



              Moreover, pro-lens manufacturers use materials that have a very low coefficients of expansion. If I were you I would not worry about sudden contractions or expansion, because they don’t happen and since they don’t happen and the very low coefficient of expansion of the different materials won’t lead to misalignment in pro-lenses. But if you wish you can let the low temperature settle to all components of the lens, which means waiting for a long while as they reduce their temperature to 0F, if you think you need critical accuracy.



              But on the other hand, condensation inside the lenses could be a problem due to the electronic that most modern lenses have and fungus proliferation.



              If the lens isn’t airtight, when you move it form a place where it has stayed for a long while that has warm temperature and a high absolute humidity to a place with a much lower temperature and lower absolute humidity, this will be the physic phenomena that'll occur:




              1. The air within the lens will still be the one it got before with
                the same humidity.

              2. Its temperature will fall relatively fast (due to the low thermal
                inertia of the air).

              3. The air trapped will get below its dew point and its humidity will
                start to condensate (became liquid).

              4. You will end up with dew inside your lens.


              But on the other hand your climate must already be very dry (relative and absolute humidity) during the cold season and I don’t think you are increasing the absolute humidity of your “house” by much. If you were increasing the absolute humidity by a lot, you should get a dehumidifier for your equipment closet to avoid the physical phenomena explained before.



              A similar thing will happen when you go back inside from the freezing cold, if you have been outside for a while, the dew will occur on the outside of your equipment (notice the fogging of the glass in its outside). This is due to the fact that the low temperature of your equipment is lowering the temperature of the air surrounding it below its dew point. Inside the lens the outside air will raise its temperature but won’t generate any dew because it won’t become saturated.






              share|improve this answer

























                up vote
                1
                down vote













                Your lens and camera do not go from 75F to 0F immediately due to the thermal inertia of the lens components and because air, in itself, is not a very good thermal conductor.



                Moreover, pro-lens manufacturers use materials that have a very low coefficients of expansion. If I were you I would not worry about sudden contractions or expansion, because they don’t happen and since they don’t happen and the very low coefficient of expansion of the different materials won’t lead to misalignment in pro-lenses. But if you wish you can let the low temperature settle to all components of the lens, which means waiting for a long while as they reduce their temperature to 0F, if you think you need critical accuracy.



                But on the other hand, condensation inside the lenses could be a problem due to the electronic that most modern lenses have and fungus proliferation.



                If the lens isn’t airtight, when you move it form a place where it has stayed for a long while that has warm temperature and a high absolute humidity to a place with a much lower temperature and lower absolute humidity, this will be the physic phenomena that'll occur:




                1. The air within the lens will still be the one it got before with
                  the same humidity.

                2. Its temperature will fall relatively fast (due to the low thermal
                  inertia of the air).

                3. The air trapped will get below its dew point and its humidity will
                  start to condensate (became liquid).

                4. You will end up with dew inside your lens.


                But on the other hand your climate must already be very dry (relative and absolute humidity) during the cold season and I don’t think you are increasing the absolute humidity of your “house” by much. If you were increasing the absolute humidity by a lot, you should get a dehumidifier for your equipment closet to avoid the physical phenomena explained before.



                A similar thing will happen when you go back inside from the freezing cold, if you have been outside for a while, the dew will occur on the outside of your equipment (notice the fogging of the glass in its outside). This is due to the fact that the low temperature of your equipment is lowering the temperature of the air surrounding it below its dew point. Inside the lens the outside air will raise its temperature but won’t generate any dew because it won’t become saturated.






                share|improve this answer























                  up vote
                  1
                  down vote










                  up vote
                  1
                  down vote









                  Your lens and camera do not go from 75F to 0F immediately due to the thermal inertia of the lens components and because air, in itself, is not a very good thermal conductor.



                  Moreover, pro-lens manufacturers use materials that have a very low coefficients of expansion. If I were you I would not worry about sudden contractions or expansion, because they don’t happen and since they don’t happen and the very low coefficient of expansion of the different materials won’t lead to misalignment in pro-lenses. But if you wish you can let the low temperature settle to all components of the lens, which means waiting for a long while as they reduce their temperature to 0F, if you think you need critical accuracy.



                  But on the other hand, condensation inside the lenses could be a problem due to the electronic that most modern lenses have and fungus proliferation.



                  If the lens isn’t airtight, when you move it form a place where it has stayed for a long while that has warm temperature and a high absolute humidity to a place with a much lower temperature and lower absolute humidity, this will be the physic phenomena that'll occur:




                  1. The air within the lens will still be the one it got before with
                    the same humidity.

                  2. Its temperature will fall relatively fast (due to the low thermal
                    inertia of the air).

                  3. The air trapped will get below its dew point and its humidity will
                    start to condensate (became liquid).

                  4. You will end up with dew inside your lens.


                  But on the other hand your climate must already be very dry (relative and absolute humidity) during the cold season and I don’t think you are increasing the absolute humidity of your “house” by much. If you were increasing the absolute humidity by a lot, you should get a dehumidifier for your equipment closet to avoid the physical phenomena explained before.



                  A similar thing will happen when you go back inside from the freezing cold, if you have been outside for a while, the dew will occur on the outside of your equipment (notice the fogging of the glass in its outside). This is due to the fact that the low temperature of your equipment is lowering the temperature of the air surrounding it below its dew point. Inside the lens the outside air will raise its temperature but won’t generate any dew because it won’t become saturated.






                  share|improve this answer












                  Your lens and camera do not go from 75F to 0F immediately due to the thermal inertia of the lens components and because air, in itself, is not a very good thermal conductor.



                  Moreover, pro-lens manufacturers use materials that have a very low coefficients of expansion. If I were you I would not worry about sudden contractions or expansion, because they don’t happen and since they don’t happen and the very low coefficient of expansion of the different materials won’t lead to misalignment in pro-lenses. But if you wish you can let the low temperature settle to all components of the lens, which means waiting for a long while as they reduce their temperature to 0F, if you think you need critical accuracy.



                  But on the other hand, condensation inside the lenses could be a problem due to the electronic that most modern lenses have and fungus proliferation.



                  If the lens isn’t airtight, when you move it form a place where it has stayed for a long while that has warm temperature and a high absolute humidity to a place with a much lower temperature and lower absolute humidity, this will be the physic phenomena that'll occur:




                  1. The air within the lens will still be the one it got before with
                    the same humidity.

                  2. Its temperature will fall relatively fast (due to the low thermal
                    inertia of the air).

                  3. The air trapped will get below its dew point and its humidity will
                    start to condensate (became liquid).

                  4. You will end up with dew inside your lens.


                  But on the other hand your climate must already be very dry (relative and absolute humidity) during the cold season and I don’t think you are increasing the absolute humidity of your “house” by much. If you were increasing the absolute humidity by a lot, you should get a dehumidifier for your equipment closet to avoid the physical phenomena explained before.



                  A similar thing will happen when you go back inside from the freezing cold, if you have been outside for a while, the dew will occur on the outside of your equipment (notice the fogging of the glass in its outside). This is due to the fact that the low temperature of your equipment is lowering the temperature of the air surrounding it below its dew point. Inside the lens the outside air will raise its temperature but won’t generate any dew because it won’t become saturated.







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                  answered Nov 27 at 22:47









                  abetancort

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