EXTREME FACTS: HUMIDITY
Hotter air can hold more water vapour than cold, so as the air
temperature falls the relative humidity rises. When it reaches 100%
it is known as the Dew Point and condensation will occur
Even desert environments can have high atmospheric humidity,
which can soon reach 100% when equipment is brought out from
air-conditioning
Condensation causes tape to stick to the rotary drum, which can be
catastrophic
Most machines will employ a condensation sensor that can prevent
operation for as long as an hour
Non-condensing high humidity can still cause much faster head
wear
High humidity can promote corrosion and fungal growth
In practice, always ensure that the camera is warmer than the
environment and there will be no problem.
If you HAVE to take a relatively
cold camera into moist air
, first seal it in a plastic bag (using tape) until
it has reached ambient temperature. You can accelerate this by turning
on the camera while it is still in the bag. If long exposure to humidity is
expected (as in the Tropics) then store the camera (and especially
lenses) in an airtight box with generous sized bags of silica gel.
