The Importance of Using a Dry Box for your Camera

If you are a professional photographer or even a hobbyist, you have to be very particular about your equipment. Poorly stored, handled, or cleaned equipment could get damaged easily and cause a major loss to any photographer or artist. For people staying in humid regions, it becomes even tougher to store their equipment. Today, we will find out how to ensure the safety of your equipment in storage.

DSLR can be used for years if stored effectively. It is about being smart and practical. That’s why you need a dry box or cabinet. A good quality dry box or cabinet is basically a storage container for your DSLR. Other equipment such as lenses, wires, and drives can also be stored in the dry box or cabinet. Mould, condensation, dust, and dirt can form on your DSLR or equipment if stored in the open. Weather plays a very strong role in affecting the quality of your camera. A dry box is a boon for people staying in hot, humid, or tropical regions. For those staying in other temperatures too, it is easily the safest choice of storage.

A dry cabinet or box is like an enclosure that protects your contents from excessive moisture in the external environment.Dry boxes or cabinets are used when there is a need to store the appliances, equipment, cameras with low atmospheric humidity. Digital cameras, lenses, and equipment are highly sensitive to moisture. It can literally cut the life of your DSLR in half. Moisture can lead to malfunctions or affect electronic components inside the camera. This is why a dry box is a must for professional photographers or anyone with expensive digital cameras and equipment.

A dry box looks exactly like what it sounds. It is a box-like a refrigerator that controls the humidity of the contents inside the box. Tools such as your camera and lenses can be stored in the dry box to maintain their quality and humidity. The temperature does not go up or down in the dry cabinet or box. The ideal humidity or relative humidity (RH) should be 35% to 45% in your dry cabinet or box. This is the optimum humidity to protect your tools and a camera. Dry Boxes are sold in various styles, sizes, and designs. Some prefer the smaller ones because they can be cleaned and moved easily. Dry Boxes have shelves to stack your cameras, lenses, and other equipment with ease.

Your camera is very susceptible to fungus. Fungus is your camera’s worst enemy. Imagine you spend thousands of dollars on your camera and store it improperly or in the open. Fungus and humidity will damage the lens, the electronic components, and the camera. That is a loss that nobody wants or needs. Fungus gets in between the lens, under the lens, on the lens’ glass. Once fungus grows, it will spread very quickly. You won’t even know that all your equipment is infected. Cameras are stored for days or weeks by photographers when they are not being used. Even if you clean lenses regularly, you may end up storing the clean lens with the infected lens. Thus infecting all your lenses and equipment without your knowledge. Fungus can also damage the special coating of your lens. That’s why it’s very important to purchase a dry box or cabinet.

Photographers who use their cameras every day or store it in a cupboard or drawers think they are being very cautious. Cleaning them every day is not going to prevent damage. In fact, you may be adding to the damage if your equipment is poorly stored and force cleaned. Cupboards and drawers are dark and humid spaces. Dry boxes are ideal as they have light, controlled humidity and clean air.

There are two types of Dry Boxes.

• Electronic Dry Box– This is perfect for photographers who want to adjust the humidity level on their dry box. There is a control dial and setting for that specific purpose. Some variants have a digital hygrometer that you can set at a precise level.
• Dessicant Dry Box- This is the cheaper, simpler version of the Electronic Dry Box. Dessicant Dry Box is a basic, sealed, airtight box that contains silica gel or any other dessicant. You can even make one by yourself. Amateur or new photographers prefer this as it requires little to no financial investment. It has a disadvantage though, that as and when you keep opening it, you saturate the dessicant with moisture.

Deciding which dry box you need or wants comes down to your budget, needs, and requirement. Ideally speaking the electronic dry box is best for professionals or people who make their living out of photography. It may seem like a huge investment but one that is totally worth it. If you are struggling with finances, then the Dessicant dry box is good to start with. Even with a dry box, it is recommended that you take out your camera for cleaning and checking regularly.