HEELP!!

Ok so yesterday I was in Duomo Plaza (Milan) taking a few pics in a nice sunny day and all of the sudden I start seeing what appeared to be a HUGE bug in my viewfinder.

Thinking it was a spider, I looked outside the camera's body, and saw a white tiny little bug the size of a nail's thin part, which looked like a piece of dust at first. So I keep taking pictures, the bug didn't affect them, but then I start seeing another one, and another one. Now I have a few bugs in my 2 of my lenses!!! And I'm talking LIVE ones.

They may have already infested a few of my other bodies, as I constantly change lenses and bodies.

Does anyone have any idea of how to get rid of them? Has it ever happened to you?

First time for me here, and I'm freaking out! All my gear is brand new and came from places like B&H, Amazon, eBay.

Any ideas? I was thinking of putting the infected lenses and cameras in a closed raid-max sprayed plastic bag or simply turn the gas valve in my oven or use a gas pill that kills bugs and put everything in a sealed bag. I'm trying to reduce the smell, save my lenses, and not have to deal with any risks of losing their paint, etc.

HELP highly appreciated.

P.S. I'm posting this in 2 forums - wedding photography and general gear talk. I currently do wedding photography, so I thought maybe some of you wed photogs may have experience with this.

Ok guys! i got some pictures uploaded. Tried to do my best with a non-macro lens. This is what the tiny bastards look like! If anyone of you has a friend who does termites, bugs insects etc, identifying these little suckers would definitely be helpful for any future references. Lets get to work people!

1.

I'd shoot a quick email to Canon repair center to see what solutions they offer .. some of the bug sprays like Raid may be harmful to your equipment.

I know some mosquito repellents like "Muskoil" will actually eat through plastic. So be careful.

Thanks Mike,

Someone mentioned about vacuuming the gear in a bag and putting it on the freezer. Won't that damage the electronic part?

The electronics will not be harmed by freezing, but may be affected by the moisture as the temperatures change .. your vacuum bag should eliminate that.

But many small bugs come back to life after being frozen when the temperature rises again.

Best bet is to ask Canon.

Put everything in the freezer. Use separate poly bags for each item if you like but a good freezing will clear the problem.

Depending on the type of bug and whether they have laid eggs or not freezing may or may not finish them off. They might decide that winter is coming (again) and simply hibernate until you take your gear out of the freezer. If you are going to use freezing put the gear in for a few days. Take it out for a couple of days letting them think spring has arrived then freeze a second time. The second freeze will probably do the trick.

spray some insect repellant into a plastic bag. Put the equipment in the bag & seal. Bugs will die.

Probably with flea collar for dogs in yor equipment and close in a bag.
sorry for my english.

Thanks Mike, I'll definitely contact CAnon.

RedWhiteandRed, I'm going to try the freezer definitely!

GLhphotos, that sounds like a GREAT idea. Doing it twice should have more chances of killing them.

I know Mike said I'll be fine, I just hope the electronics dont get damaged, so I'm going to try it on the cheapest lens and camera first and will let you guys know how it works out.

Thanks!!

I'd be afraid the insect repellant would leave a film over my glass/sensor, etc. I'd google and see if anyone else has had such a problem. Wow, this is really gross.

Cindy

Freezing a lens....who'd a thought. Kinda like the peanut butter and gum in hair thing.

Do other people see these bugs?

Freezing shouldn't hurt the electronics. I've left my camera bag in my car overnight here in the snowy north and no issues at all (except the battery ran out).

All you have to do is put your gear in a tightly sealed zip lock bags. With your lips take out any excess air by inhailing. Keep your gear in the bags for at least three days in a dark cool room. Without any air or sunlight nothing will survive! Good luck Charlie Brown.

Do you know what part of the lens they're in? You mention your lens but then your body as well. If they're in the viewfinder or very back part of the lens, it might be easier. If they're embedded way inside between elements, good luck. I'd like to see that B&S ad. "Very clean, no dust. Some bugs rattling inside, though. No effect on IQ as long as you shake them to the bottom before recomposing."

NO insect spray - they have solvents that would hurt plastic.

Freezing for a few days sounds good but the normal hosehold freezer just doesnt get that cold. Things do live in the artic. Heating to 180F would kill them for sure. There is no place on earth thats dry and 180 degrees. I doubt it would be hot enough to hurt the lenses, but i cant say for sure.

The air and sunlight thing wont kill them. They will not use all the O2 in the bag in a year and they dont need sunlight.

Uncle Bob wrote:
Do other people see these bugs?


That's some funny stuff!!!

Hi there, if you can get to 0 Farhenheit, repeat freezing is going to work. Just leave the equipment in for at least 24 hours each time. I would also check your camera bags for dust mites and freeze those as well if you suspect anything. I doubt there's anything inside your lens that they can eat.

Like elader said, bug spray will eat your plastic and it will also leave residues on your lens elements. Really bad idea. But, heat could also warp the plastic elements.

Go cold.

Good luck!

Dan

Ozone?

Umm, I've heard of this happening inside people's LCD monitors before... not quite the same I know, but the important advice was:

Don't try to kill them!

If you do, you just just now have *dead* bugs in your lens (or monitor) which isn't really much better.

The suggestion I'd heard was to put the item in a light-sealed box or room (nice and dark) with a light-source like a torch (flashlight for americans) or lamp to attract the bugs...

good luck