[Leica] Long term storage of Leica gear?

[h_arche at yahoo.com (H. Ball Arche)]

Well, if you want to protect your glass surfaces from molding then you need 
to have them regularly exposed to UV light. Wrapping them tight and shutting 
them away is not a good thing. 

I'd go to Walmart and buy a bunch of cheap tumblers and highball glasses to 
use as dust dome for the lenses, and put them on a bookshelf or cabinet 
where they regularly catch some sunlight - unlenscapped, of course. For the 
bodies I use small casseroles.

Mine sit on an upturned mirror in my spare bedroom, with the curtains and 
blinds open, under glasses and with front and rear caps gathered around 
them. Same with my binoculars. Also, since I'm forced to see them regularly, 
I'm much more diligent about keeping the mechanisms operable, and work them 
more frequently than if they were 'out of sight-out of mind".


----- Original Message ----
From: ernst leica <faneuil at gmail.com>
To: LUG <lug at leica-users.org>
Sent: Saturday, September 19, 2009 7:47:35 AM
Subject: [Leica] Long term storage of Leica gear?

Dear LUG,

Sadly I have moved away from shooting Leica for the moment.
Canon and Mamiya MF digital is occupying every creative moment right
now. (and having a blast!)
It may be many years until I way drift back in Leica shooting.

My M6 and stable of Leica glass is all individually stored in soft cloth 
bags.
All the gear is in closed plastic storage container. (beneath my bed)
I also threw in a few humidity control silica bag things.

I was wondering how I should take out the gear and 'run it through it paces'
IE, turn all the lens mechanisms, fire the shutter etc.

Any long term storage recommendations? The plastic container is a
cheapy from the mall.
I also wonder about plastic 'de-gassing' affecting lenses. Real or rumor?

thanks for years of great advice and fun,
Eric

pics: www.korenman.com

_______________________________________________
Leica Users Group.
See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information