Opinions and Facts on transporting and storing lenses (Lomo Anamorphics)

[Brandon Esten]

Greetings all!

I'm putting together a nice set of Lomo anamorphics and it's time to start thinking about storage and transportation.

A. I want to gather as many opinions as I can on how best to store lenses short and long term (are there any special techniques anyone uses)? I'm sure there are different things to worry about depending on the dominant climate of your storage location. For instance, I've heard it said that cities with a lot of pollution will make lenses go yellow over time; damp climates encourage the growth of fungus.

B. I've heard some pretty horrific stories RE: shipping lenses through the mail, Fedex or UPS etc. I've seen photos of really rare and expensive zooms shattered, rear elements spiderwebbed, and iris blades detached or bent. What do you do?

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What I've gathered over the years is that you should have a method of securing the focus ring mid range, perhaps with some gaffers tape. The same applies for a zoom ring if you're transporting a zoom. To protect the blades of the iris I've heard that some people like to set the ring wide open and secure it with tape as well. Simply relying on the snug fit of foam of a case is not enough; you need to use tape.

What does everyone think of these countermeasures?

Also, for long-term storage is it best to keep lenses out of their transport cases? Or will the glass benefit from staying in the dark? I'm sure it's best to have a pack of desiccant in your travel cases or storage cases. If you keep the lenses outside of a storage case, do you set them on their face or lay them down on their side? Is the preference different for heavy lenses or zooms?

Anyhow, this should get the discussion going. It'd be very instructional to get everyone's thoughts on the matter!
TYIA!

 

[Gabriel Przybysz 2]

Hello Brandon!

Interesting topic.
Most important during storage lenses during long period is dry air, second moderate temperature. "Moderate" is pretty wide - but better to be over 10 Celsius to avoid any condensation.
Taped lenses - yes, I alway use tape during transport zooms, especially all rings and even caps - always small problem with marks of glue, but it is small cost of additional security
Theoretically dark storage without exposition to light...but like with all experiments - need time, patience

 

[Tommaso Alvisi]

Brandon,
apparently for long term storage the best is to lay the lenses down on their side, without caps, inside transparent plastic boxes to gather light.
It prevent fungi and yellowing, in case Thorium elements are present. And a couple of desiccant bags of course!

 

[Brandon Esten]

Yeah, that's a good point! Obviously, fungus will thrive in the dark, but I forgot that UV can prevent yellowing. I've heard that yellow lenses set in a window with some aluminum foil over the aft lens can clear it up. Not sure if there are any thorium elements in Soviet lenses, but I find references to it in Canon and Leica lenses all over the internet.