Storing under bed??

[pixelpuffin]

Ok
I think I’m done with buying stuff
I reached saturation probably 2yrs ago
But then discovered canon M and just had to buy all the lenses plus multiple bodies.

But, alas it’s all too much.
I don’t want to part with any of it yet. But nor do I want it constantly in my face.
I did the exact same with canon EF and EFS. Bought almost every version of the EF-s including all the stm variants. They are all stored in large plastic boxes with 2 dozen giant sachets of silica gel.
I keep them in the base of my wardrobe and periodically I browse through, select, use and return. All seems good
I want to do the same with my M stuff
I’ll keep out the M50 & M6ii the other 7 bodies and 8 lenses I’d like to store under our ottoman double bed, again in large clear plastic boxes, batteries removed and a dozen or so of XL sachets of silica gel.

Will this be a problem.
As I say, I’m not yet ready to let go, taken far too many hours searching not to mention buying. EBay has been by far my biggest temptation, scared of missing a bargain regardless whether I really wanted it or not. But I signed out and deleted the app at the start of the year. So far so good.

I know for a fact I will not be moving over to another brand, nor will I be going down the R route - that’s a fact

Any advice or suggestions??

[zou]

If temperature and humidity are fairly stable it should be ok I think.

[stevewmh]

I can see stashing away film cameras should not present any problems as they're mostly mechanical and if something gums up its repairable. Digital, on the other hand might not fair so well with long periods unused.just not sure what the life expectancy is for many of the chips and electrical components is?
Saying that I do have a couple of digital cams that are over 10 yo and still work like new but still appreciate that when they eventually die, they are never going to be worth fixing

Hence, I've tended to only keep what gets used. But hey' we are all different. It's just thoughts not advice

[geoffr]

When I switched from Olympus to Nikon in 1990 I spent several years building a system of prime lenses. Then a 28-70 f2.8 became available and I pretty much stopped using primes. Since then I have only bought fast zoom lenses and traded in primes. I only have lenses I use in my camera bag and I will probably trade in the remaining primes and unused bodies later in the year against another D5 and a 200-500 zoom. I see little point in having lenses to use only on “special” occasions.

If your storage method works, stick with it but I would simply reduce to what gets used.

[gray1720]

As long as the boxes are dust-tight, and you already say you've taken the batteries out, I really can't see an issue - unless you like to jump acrobatically into bed and it collapses onto them, of course!

[stevewmh]

There's another thing to consider when stashing away digital cameras for long periods. Most have an internal battery to power the memory that store info such as settings, file sequence and time and date among other things. This battery is recharged from the cameras main battery while in place.
A camera in regular use will never see the internal fully discharge unlike a camera left stored. I've had a instance of an old camera loose all its setting, time and file numbers within a week if the main battery wasn't charged

Just a thought in case anyone is unaware cameras are like laptops, they have a memory battery

[squeamishossifrage]

Jan 28, 2023 15:34:39 GMT stevewmh said:

There's another thing to consider when stashing away digital cameras for long periods. Most have an internal battery to power the memory that store info such as settings, file sequence and time and date among other things. This battery is recharged from the cameras main battery while in place.

An excellent point! I have two Sony 850s, but one has seen much more service than the other, despite my efforts to keep them balanced. During Covid I would just grab the one I kept with the 24-70mm on, and then when I went to use the other one with a bunch of primes, all settings had disappeared, including, annoyingly, the filename sequence count. I had to charge up the main battery, and then reset all my preferences.

[nimbus]

It may be better to keep batteries in them, take the cameras out and work them, then recharge the batteries when they become low, otherwise internal batteries may fail. You seem to have the moisture angle considered, the worst enemy of electronics. Bedrooms are bad for dust but you are sealing in boxes so that should be okay. The kit I use little I keep an eye on from time to time to try to ensure it's wellbeing.

[pixelpuffin]

Thanks for the replies everyone
So shot off to Homebase and picked up 3 more ‘Really Useful Box ‘. 9L & 2 x 18L
I decided to only put the oldest stuff under the bed
40D, 50D & 5Dc along with their chargers and batteries.
I’ve managed to store the rest again in those brilliant boxes inside my fitted wardrobe
Silica Gel packs are also placed inside
I now have “just”!!! 6 cameras to hand
M50
M6ii
80D
6D
5Diii
1Div

Oh’ also left the SL2 downstairs as a family grab cam.
I’ve also left 10 lenses out too

All this is on the internal shelves of the wardrobe.

It now looks clean and sparten

Should be back shooting football next weekend.
First match for almost 3mths due to the poor weather.

[geoffr]

Jan 28, 2023 15:34:39 GMT stevewmh said:

There's another thing to consider when stashing away digital cameras for long periods. Most have an internal battery to power the memory that store info such as settings, file sequence and time and date among other things. This battery is recharged from the cameras main battery while in place.
A camera in regular use will never see the internal fully discharge unlike a camera left stored. I've had a instance of an old camera loose all its setting, time and file numbers within a week if the main battery wasn't charged

Just a thought in case anyone is unaware cameras are like laptops, they have a memory battery

Sort of, some cameras use a capacitor to keep the clock running when the battery is removed for charging. Others, all the single digit Nikons after the D1 for example, have a replaceable clock battery. Most, as far as I know, use the main battery when it is fitted, the clock supply is a backup.