Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2011/10/30

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Subject: [Leica] Owning a Leica camera & Leica lenses in the tropics
From: jayanand at gmail.com (Jayanand Govindaraj)
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2011 08:31:25 +0530
References: <mailman.1567.1320012360.1187.lug@leica-users.org> <3662EDAE-9758-4D77-B145-E4455E9E600A@netvigator.com>

Bruce,
I have been using Leica/Nikon/Rollei equipment in the hot, super humid
and dusty climate of Chennai in South India for 20+ years, and prior
to that in the equally fungus friendly atmosphere of Mumbai. As Howard
says, get a dehumidifier cabinet ( a dry box) for storing your kit,
and you should not have any problems. The cabinets are available in
various sizes, so you can get the most appropriate one for you. The
other way is to store the kit in a glass fronted or lit cabinet -
never in darkness, fungus thrives in dark places - with a liberal
quantity of Silica Gel around it.
Cheers
Jayanand

Sent from my iPad

On 31-Oct-2011, at 6:52 AM, H&ECummer <cummer at netvigator.com> wrote:

>
>> Date: Sun, 30 Oct 2011 17:39:33 +0000 (UTC)
>> From: bruceslomovitz at comcast.net
>> Subject: [Leica] Owning a Leica camera & Leica lenses in the tropics
>> To: lug at leica-users.org
>>
>> I'm wondering if any of you have any experience owing/using Leica 
>> camera(s) and lenses in the tropcs.? I'm concerned with long term 
>> ownership and use.? I'm concerned about the toll of constant humidity, 
>> dust, dirt, etc.? I was once told by Peter Grisafi of CRR Luton that 
>> Leicas sent to him from this part of the world had pronounced problems 
>> caused by the peculiar conditions which I have mentioned.? I am wondering 
>> if any of you have had personal experience with Leica gear in the tropics.
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> Bruce S.
>
> Hi Bruce,
> I have been using Leicas in the tropics since 1970 - first in Malaysia, 
> then Singapore and later Hong Kong (which is more temperate but still has 
> bouts of high humidity).
> Get a dry box and store your equipment in it when you are not using it and 
> you should have no problems. The only time I had a problem was one summer 
> when we went away for 6 weeks from Singapore and to save electricity the 
> local help turned off the power to the closet where the dry box was 
> plugged in. When I came back a 90mm skinny elmarit had developed fungus 
> bloom inside one of the lens groups - there was no way to clean it. The 
> lens still worked and produced glowing images when shooting contra jour 
> lighting.
> The cameras were okay. So, my advice is get a dry box - and keep it 
> plugged in. You will be fine.
> BTW Peter Grisafi reconditioned a Leica M4 from Singapore for me, via 
> Joseph Yao, to tip top condition. Great work.
> Howard
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information


In reply to: Message from cummer at netvigator.com (H&ECummer) ([Leica] Owning a Leica camera & Leica lenses in the tropics)