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dgdg Offline • • • Upload & Sell: On p.1 #1 · Lens heater experience to reduce dew? Started my first astro shots recently. Running into some dew issues on the lens. Other than checking the lens and cleaning with lens wipe, I was trying to figure out lens heaters. I would be using kit zoom, 50mm 1.8, 16-35 2.8, maybe my 70-200 4. I may not have a car nearby to give the heater power, so a more portable solution would be nice. thanks for your tips. david Aug 14, 2012 at 04:38 PM

rchb Offline • Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #2 · Lens heater experience to reduce dew? You might have things confused. Heat differential will cause condensation. I would think you would want to keep everything at ambient temperature. R Aug 14, 2012 at 05:20 PM

Bearmann Offline • • • Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #3 · Lens heater experience to reduce dew? Maybe one of those chemical hand warmers that people put in their pockets? Aug 14, 2012 at 06:02 PM

dgdg Offline • • • Upload & Sell: On p.1 #4 · Lens heater experience to reduce dew? Yes I have read about hand warmers on the asto sites. Forgotten about that! Thanks R but as the lens cools overnight dew forms Aug 14, 2012 at 06:15 PM

parsons Offline • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #5 · Lens heater experience to reduce dew? meade make hair line wires that fit over the aperture of the scope to keep the lens clear. whilst not for cameras, and old technique is to use a hair dryer on low. simon Aug 14, 2012 at 07:48 PM

Naranek Offline • Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #6 · Lens heater experience to reduce dew? Here are some commercial units designed for telescopes, finder scopes and eyepieces, some of which may be on the pricey side depending upon your needs. http://www.vixenoptics.com/acc/indiv/37225.html http://www.telescopes.com/telescope-accessories/dew-prevention/dewheaters.cfm http://www.telescopes.com/telescope-accessories/dew-prevention/dewheaters.cfm If you are inclined towards DIY here is some background info which can be used to put something together. http://www.skyandtelescope.com/howto/diy/3304231.html http://www.dewbuster.com/heaters/heaters.html If you have a store nearby which specializes in telescopes they may be able to provide additional sources. Perhaps a call to one of the larger telescope stores would work if you don't have one locally. Aug 14, 2012 at 08:09 PM

Danpbphoto Offline • • • • • Upload & Sell: On p.1 #7 · Lens heater experience to reduce dew? http://www.kendrickastro.com/astro/index.html http://www.skiesunlimited.net/Telescope-Accessories/Dew-Solutions/ I was an amatuer astronomer and used Kendrick Dew heaters on all my telescopes for long extended periods outdoors.. When I left Astronomy, I saved the small dew heaters for my 600mm Canon when I did astrophotographty and it worked like a charm. Check the above links and do some research. A fellow FM'er, Patrick Dixon, is an astro imager/photographer here in the USA at Baltimore's Hubble Space Science lab and I know for a fact he uses dew bands on his 600-800 Canon lenses on his Canon 20DA's. He is back home in Ireland(went back for the Olympics) so PM him. He can help and guide you. Good luck! Dan Aug 14, 2012 at 09:14 PM

dgdg Offline • • • Upload & Sell: On p.1 #8 · Lens heater experience to reduce dew? thanks for all the great tips!!!! David Aug 14, 2012 at 11:54 PM

PatrickDixon10 Offline • Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #9 · Lens heater experience to reduce dew? Danpbphoto wrote: http://www.kendrickastro.com/astro/index.html http://www.skiesunlimited.net/Telescope-Accessories/Dew-Solutions/ I was an amatuer astronomer and used Kendrick Dew heaters on all my telescopes for long extended periods outdoors.. When I left Astronomy, I saved the small dew heaters for my 600mm Canon when I did astrophotographty and it worked like a charm. Check the above links and do some research. A fellow FM'er, Patrick Dixon, is an astro imager/photographer here in the USA at Baltimore's Hubble Space Science lab and I know for a fact he uses dew bands on his 600-800 Canon lenses on his Canon 20DA's. He is back home in Ireland(went back for the Olympics) so PM him. He can help and guide you. Good luck! Dan Hi David! Danny@danpbphoto forwarded to me your post and I thought I might reply. I just returned to my home here in Ireland after the Olympics. I will be returning to my job in Baltimore Sept 1. I use exclusively the Kenderick dew heaters that I also use on my small 4" and 5" SCT's and refractor telescopes and my large Takahshi Mewlon. That is for my 600&800mm Canon lenses. They work perfect for the hot and humid Maryland summers and the cold rainy season here in Ireland. The newer models have adjustable temp controls that really help once the major dew/fogging is gone. They keep the front glass dew free and leave no residual moisture residue BUT I do use a special mixture of a drop of dishwashing liquid and water and alchohol in a spray bottle to clean the front lens of the Canon lenses after each session. It works wonderfully! In fact I had my 800mm/20DA out Sunday and Monday for the Perseid Meteor shower and the lens was free and clear all night long. I do suggest if you plan to do some astrophoto that you place your lens out prior to dusk and let it cool to the ambient temp then attach the dew heater and use a low setting. If all works well, you will see no dew at all in my experience. Hope this helps! Good luck! Patrick Aug 15, 2012 at 02:28 PM

dgdg Offline • • • Upload & Sell: On p.1 #10 · Lens heater experience to reduce dew? Thank you everyone! I became quickly confused while googling the various sites on my own. Thank you Dan for contacting Patrick! I was at Shenandoah Park last weekend and after a few hours noticed mild dew which had not affected my photos - yet.... I am leaning toward the Vixen optics model that takes D batteries as I need to travel light and expect maybe only 2 hours of use before heading in for the night. I may not always have outlet or automobile power available so the D battery option seems reasonable. I considered toting around a car battery, but would like to travel lighter. Aug 16, 2012 at 02:54 AM

johnip Offline • • • Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #11 · Lens heater experience to reduce dew? You could use something like a UPS battery. 4/6/12v and much smaller than a car battery. A couple pounds instead of 30. Something like these. http://www.batteriesplus.com/products/100085-1/102629-SLA-Sealed-Lead-Acid-Batteries/102645-Werker/12V/1.aspx Aug 16, 2012 at 04:30 AM

Danpbphoto Offline • • • • • Upload & Sell: On p.1 #12 · Lens heater experience to reduce dew? dgdg wrote: Thank you everyone! I became quickly confused while googling the various sites on my own. Thank you Dan for contacting Patrick! I was at Shenandoah Park last weekend and after a few hours noticed mild dew which had not affected my photos - yet.... I am leaning toward the Vixen optics model that takes D batteries as I need to travel light and expect maybe only 2 hours of use before heading in for the night. I may not always have outlet or automobile power available so the D battery option seems reasonable. I considered toting around a car battery, but would like to travel lighter. http://www.learn.usa.canon.com/resources/articles/2012/astrophotography_techniques.shtml http://www.kendrickastro.com/astro/dew_howtochoose.html 30lbs? Aug 16, 2012 at 03:07 PM

somewhereinusa Offline • • Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #13 · Lens heater experience to reduce dew? While I haven't specifically used it for this, I find the car jump starter packs to be an excellent source of power. They are small, relatively cheap, and most now have cigarette lighter type of power sockets. I use them with a modified camera battery to power my cameras all night, in looking at the DIY heaters I'm sure it would run both. Aug 17, 2012 at 04:31 PM

dgdg Offline • • • Upload & Sell: On p.1 #14 · Lens heater experience to reduce dew? Thanks! I cannot find any reviews on the vixen optics dew heater that takes D batteries. I just need something portable for camera lenses, maybe a few hours use. I can't see in the pics if there any controls. Emailed vixen withou reply yet. Aug 17, 2012 at 08:47 PM

Danpbphoto Offline • • • • • Upload & Sell: On p.1 #15 · Lens heater experience to reduce dew? B&H http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/576499-USA/Vixen_Optics_37225_Dew_Heater.html Aug 17, 2012 at 11:30 PM

dgdg Offline • • • Upload & Sell: On p.1 #16 · Lens heater experience to reduce dew? Yes they just give cord size and 3lb weight. Thats all i can find Curious to know how long it runs and if has any controls. Ill have to call a vendor. Thanks. David Aug 18, 2012 at 12:47 AM

Monito Offline • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #17 · Lens heater experience to reduce dew? Keep the heat at the lens front and away from the sensor since heat at the sensor increases noise so astrophotographers cool their sensors. Surely you have a power source for your tracking drive. Is it not usable for heating too? Aug 19, 2012 at 01:46 PM

dgdg Offline • • • Upload & Sell: On p.1 #18 · Lens heater experience to reduce dew? right now I am using the vixen polarie which uses AA batteries. I am limited to a few hours a night for photos based on family commitments during trips, therefore, I have not needed an external power source yet for the vixen or my camera. Heat takes more energy though. Aug 20, 2012 at 02:10 AM

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