In the winter time there are many obstacles that you can encounter with your game trail camera. One of the more common issues is fogging on your camera. This article will explain how to keep fogging from ruining your game photos, as well as complete device.
Fogging is a common issue with trail cameras and there are ways that you can prevent this from happening. This article will show you why it happens and how to prevent it.
When it’s very cold outside, condensation starts to form on every surface due to temperature changes and humidity levels in the air. This moisture will then freeze up when temperatures drop, leading to a thick layer of ice on the device in question (including any lenses used).
One of the best methods to prevent this is to have the device inside of a plastic container such as a plastic bag or large plastic bottle. The idea here is to keep your camera and lenses as cold as possible. This will force the condensation out of its environment and not on your camera.
Sometimes this is all that you will need. If that is the case, there are a few additional measures that are suggested if you want to try to get rid of it entirely.
If that is not the problem, then there are a few additional methods on how to prevent fogging:
- Preventing condensation inside of your camera in general (do not bring it inside)
- Using a de-humidifier
- Using silica gel or rice
Since you want to prevent the condensation in the air, you want to wash your camera as little as possible. You do not want any water to enter the case and get in contact with your camera. This is where the bag or bottle comes into play. It is important that you take care of your camera (and lens) and make sure that it does not get wet from condensation or rain.
The de-humidifier is convenient if you have a very humid environment. Game camera in question will suck the moisture out of the air and seal the case, thereby preventing condensation from entering. This can be used even inside a house. You can find one that is designed for cameras in stores like Best Buy and where you purchase your camera from. Sometimes these are cheaper than other units, but if you do not care about price then any small humidifier will work fine as well.
The silica gel and rice are two very, very cheap ways to keep the camera from fogging. These items both exist in almost every household, so that is a plus as well. These both work on the same concept. They absorb moisture from the air and therefore will prevent your camera from fogging up.
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You want to change out the silica crystals or rice every week or so because they will absorb all of their moisture before they need to be replaced.
When using a de-humidifier or silica gel, you want to make sure that the device is located in a spot that the air will not be able to flow all the way through. For example, you do not want it placed on a windowsill. It needs a clear path for air movement. You also do not want any strong air currents or openings for air flow in your camera case.
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One other thing you should know about is the temperature of your camera unit. The camera and all of the lenses (lenses are usually sealed units, but some may have temperature controlled elements) needs to be kept cool. You can keep it in a box with ice or inside of a fridge. Both methods are very effective in keeping the cold from damaging your camera.
If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment.
