How to remove condensation from the lens barrel?

Discussion of optical systems and their characteristics.
Post Reply
User avatar
Rosssiiii Italy
Earth Ambassador
Articles: 0
Posts: 33
Joined: Thu Nov 21, 2024 9:21 am
Location: roma
Status:
Offline

How to remove condensation from the lens barrel?

#1

Post by Rosssiiii »

Hi everyone,
I would like to know if you know a way to prevent all this condensation from forming on the body of the photographic lens:

I was using an anti-condensation band as you can see in the photo, I put it on the lens hood, but unlike last time, yesterday a very high amount of condensation formed on the body of the lens which I then dried before putting it in the bag and before closing the lens barrel so that it did not remain trapped inside it.

but is there a way to prevent it from forming on the barrel body too? Do you put something on it?
Online
User avatar
AstroBee United States of America
Moderator
Moderator
Articles: 0
Posts: 3129
Joined: Thu Nov 14, 2019 11:03 pm
5
Location: Henderson, NV
Status:
Online

TSS Photo of the Day

Messier Photo Awards

Re: How to remove condensation from the lens barrel?

#2

Post by AstroBee »

A small cloth wrapped over it would prevent condensation from forming directly on the lens body. But of course, I'm a desert rat where the humidity rarely gets above 20-25%...
Greg M.~ "Ad Astra per Aspera"
Scopes: Celestron EdgeHD14", Explore Scientific ED152CF & ED127 APO's, StellarVue SV70T, Classic Orange-Tube C-8, Lunt 80mm Ha double-stack solar scope.
Mounts: Astro-Physics Mach One, iOptron CEM70EC Mount, iOptron ZEQ25 Mount.
Cameras: ZWO ASI2600mm Pro, ZWO 2600MC Pro, ZWO ASI1600mm
Filters: 36mm Chroma LRGB & 3nm Ha, OIII, SII, L-Pro, L-eXtreme
Eyepieces: 27mm TeleVue Panoptic, 4mm TeleVue Radian, Explore Scientific 82° 30mm, 6.7mm , Baader 13mm Hyperion, Explore Scientific 70° 10mm, 15mm, 20mm, Meade 8.8mm UWA
Software: N.I.N.A., SharpCapPro, PixInsight, PhotoShop CC, Phd2, Stellarium
https://www.nevadadesertskies.com
Online
User avatar
Mike Q United States of America
Milky Way Ambassador
Articles: 0
Posts: 1610
Joined: Mon Jul 03, 2023 3:23 pm
1
Location: Monnett, Ohio USA
Status:
Online

VROD awards

Messier Visual Awards

Re: How to remove condensation from the lens barrel?

#3

Post by Mike Q »

You could turn the heat up on your band a little and that might do it, but will it effect your images becomes the question. As mentioned above a cloth as a physical barrier is a easy option. Another thing i have heard of people doing is a small battery powered hair dryer. Warms it up just enough to keep stuff clear. Personally i dont worry about stuff getting wet, i just wipe them off at the end of the night.
Last edited by Mike Q on Sun Jan 26, 2025 12:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Orion Skyline 10 Inch
Orion XX16G
Stellina
AT102EDL
Meade 10" LX200
Online
User avatar
Graeme1858 Great Britain
Co-Administrator
Co-Administrator
Articles: 1
Posts: 9594
Joined: Mon Jun 24, 2019 7:16 pm
5
Location: North Kent, UK
Status:
Online

I Broke The Forum.

VROD awards

TSS Photo of the Day

Messier Photo Awards

Messier Visual Awards

Re: How to remove condensation from the lens barrel?

#4

Post by Graeme1858 »

Unlike our desert dwelling friends, here in the UK the humidity rarely drops below 80% so condensation is very often a problem. There's not much you can do about it. A draped cloth would help stop the dew forming but if you prevent it from forming on the optics with a heated dew band, as you do and wipe it off the lens barrel or allow it to evaporate before closing the lens hood then there will be no damage.
Graeme

──────────────────────────────────────────────
Celestron 9.25" F10 SCT, CGX Mount.
StellaMira 110mm ED APO F6 Refractor, AVX Mount
ASI1600MM Pro, ASI294MC Pro, ASI224MC.
ZWO EFW, ZWO OAG, ASI220MM Mini.
APM 11x70 ED APO Binoculars.
──────────────────────────────────────────────
https://www.averywayobservatory.co.uk/
User avatar
Rosssiiii Italy
Earth Ambassador
Articles: 0
Posts: 33
Joined: Thu Nov 21, 2024 9:21 am
Location: roma
Status:
Offline

Re: How to remove condensation from the lens barrel?

#5

Post by Rosssiiii »

Graeme1858 wrote: Sun Jan 26, 2025 6:00 am Unlike our desert dwelling friends, here in the UK the humidity rarely drops below 80% so condensation is very often a problem. There's not much you can do about it. A draped cloth would help stop the dew forming but if you prevent it from forming on the optics with a heated dew band, as you do and wipe it off the lens barrel or allow it to evaporate before closing the lens hood then there will be no damage.
yes on the lens was fine because i was using the anti-fog band on the lens hood.
but i would like to avoid it to prevent that will be able to go inside the lens as well !

I was looking for something to put on it, a suitable cotton band but I can't find anything on AliExpress that could be good for that work...also because that area, is delicate considering that there is the focus ring. :(

some say to put an anti-condensation band also on the body of the lens, but this can create variations in the focus I think, at least on telescopes it can be like this
Online
User avatar
Mike Q United States of America
Milky Way Ambassador
Articles: 0
Posts: 1610
Joined: Mon Jul 03, 2023 3:23 pm
1
Location: Monnett, Ohio USA
Status:
Online

VROD awards

Messier Visual Awards

Re: How to remove condensation from the lens barrel?

#6

Post by Mike Q »

You might try a small battery powered fan and just blow some air around it. I have done this in the past to try and keep stuff dry. Then i went to just covering stuff up with a microfiber rag.
Orion Skyline 10 Inch
Orion XX16G
Stellina
AT102EDL
Meade 10" LX200
User avatar
Rosssiiii Italy
Earth Ambassador
Articles: 0
Posts: 33
Joined: Thu Nov 21, 2024 9:21 am
Location: roma
Status:
Offline

Re: How to remove condensation from the lens barrel?

#7

Post by Rosssiiii »

Mike Q wrote: Sun Jan 26, 2025 12:07 pm You might try a small battery powered fan and just blow some air around it. I have done this in the past to try and keep stuff dry. Then i went to just covering stuff up with a microfiber rag.
have you used the microfiber rag because the fan was not enough ?
can you advice me a microfiber rag that could be good for my lens from aliexpress so that i can have an idea ?
Online
User avatar
Mike Q United States of America
Milky Way Ambassador
Articles: 0
Posts: 1610
Joined: Mon Jul 03, 2023 3:23 pm
1
Location: Monnett, Ohio USA
Status:
Online

VROD awards

Messier Visual Awards

Re: How to remove condensation from the lens barrel?

#8

Post by Mike Q »

Rosssiiii wrote: Mon Jan 27, 2025 6:05 pm
Mike Q wrote: Sun Jan 26, 2025 12:07 pm You might try a small battery powered fan and just blow some air around it. I have done this in the past to try and keep stuff dry. Then i went to just covering stuff up with a microfiber rag.
have you used the microfiber rag because the fan was not enough ?
can you advice me a microfiber rag that could be good for my lens from aliexpress so that i can have an idea ?
I use a mircrofiber rag because there is always one in my eyepiece case and it was more convenient. It doesn't have to be microfiber, i just have a bunch of them laying around. Just any old piece of cloth to make a physical barrier between the eyepiece body and the air will do nicely. Now if you are going to be wiping the lens itself then microfiber is the way to go

Below is the link you requested.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/32568070 ... 69d2dc495b
Orion Skyline 10 Inch
Orion XX16G
Stellina
AT102EDL
Meade 10" LX200
User avatar
Rosssiiii Italy
Earth Ambassador
Articles: 0
Posts: 33
Joined: Thu Nov 21, 2024 9:21 am
Location: roma
Status:
Offline

Re: How to remove condensation from the lens barrel?

#9

Post by Rosssiiii »

Mike Q wrote: Mon Jan 27, 2025 6:33 pm
Rosssiiii wrote: Mon Jan 27, 2025 6:05 pm
Mike Q wrote: Sun Jan 26, 2025 12:07 pm You might try a small battery powered fan and just blow some air around it. I have done this in the past to try and keep stuff dry. Then i went to just covering stuff up with a microfiber rag.
have you used the microfiber rag because the fan was not enough ?
can you advice me a microfiber rag that could be good for my lens from aliexpress so that i can have an idea ?
I use a mircrofiber rag because there is always one in my eyepiece case and it was more convenient. It doesn't have to be microfiber, i just have a bunch of them laying around. Just any old piece of cloth to make a physical barrier between the eyepiece body and the air will do nicely. Now if you are going to be wiping the lens itself then microfiber is the way to go

Below is the link you requested.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/32568070 ... 69d2dc495b
Hello :)
thanks :)
so you place this microfiber cloth on the lens/telescope...but it is not possible to wrap it all up covering the entire diameter, but it only covers the upper part ?
Online
User avatar
Mike Q United States of America
Milky Way Ambassador
Articles: 0
Posts: 1610
Joined: Mon Jul 03, 2023 3:23 pm
1
Location: Monnett, Ohio USA
Status:
Online

VROD awards

Messier Visual Awards

Re: How to remove condensation from the lens barrel?

#10

Post by Mike Q »

Rosssiiii wrote: Fri Jan 31, 2025 5:52 pm
Mike Q wrote: Mon Jan 27, 2025 6:33 pm
Rosssiiii wrote: Mon Jan 27, 2025 6:05 pm
have you used the microfiber rag because the fan was not enough ?
can you advice me a microfiber rag that could be good for my lens from aliexpress so that i can have an idea ?
I use a mircrofiber rag because there is always one in my eyepiece case and it was more convenient. It doesn't have to be microfiber, i just have a bunch of them laying around. Just any old piece of cloth to make a physical barrier between the eyepiece body and the air will do nicely. Now if you are going to be wiping the lens itself then microfiber is the way to go

Below is the link you requested.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/32568070 ... 69d2dc495b
Hello :)
thanks :)
so you place this microfiber cloth on the lens/telescope...but it is not possible to wrap it all up covering the entire diameter, but it only covers the upper part ?
I just lay it over the eyepiece and make sure to cover the lens
Orion Skyline 10 Inch
Orion XX16G
Stellina
AT102EDL
Meade 10" LX200
Post Reply

Return to “General Optics”