Lens anti fog solution

We got off the plane from our southern sojourn to -40C. Merely going outside is enough to fog up glasses and viewfinders should up breath get on them. It doesn't clear at such temperatures, they stay frost bound.

In chatting with the local optometrist, I was informed he knew of no preparation for anti-fogging that works at these temperatures. Has anybody a recommendation of something they may have come across in their travels.

Dave

I wouldn't want to put stuff on my lens, even if there was something. What if it ate the coatings? You just have to be careful to not breathe on stuff. Keep the lens caps on when not actually taking a photo. The lens hood sometimes helps too. Another thing I do is keep a cheap chemical handwarmer going in my pocket. If any frost gets on the lens you can generally stick it in the pocket with the handwarmer and generally it gets rid of it.


Kent in SD

Kent,

It isn't the front of the lens that is the problem. When I hold the camera to my face, even when I remember not to breath the humidity of my face will frost my eyeglasses and the viewfinder. There are work arounds, a spare pair of glasses etc. The difficulty is that with all the winter gear on it can be difficult to use the work arounds.

If there were some anti-fogging solution that work at extremely low temperatures that I could apply to my glasses and viewfinder, it would make my life a lot simpler.

Dave

I don't know of any spray that will work at low temps. One thing you might try is wiping your face with a dry cloth just before using the camera. If you are already wearing a face mask, that won't help of course. How about putting some plastic wrap (from your kitchen) over the viewfinder and just keep moving it as it fogs over? Is there a way to hold your glasses further down your nose so more air can get behind it?


Kent in SD

Hi ya' Dave,

What few opportunities I have to shoot in cold weather I wear a balaclava and make sure it covers my nose. Even if I breathe out the balaclava catches the moisture and keeps me from fogging the viewfinder.

If you use Canon digital cameras, Canaon makes the Ec Anti-Fog Eyepiece for EOS 1 Series Cameras, http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=164681&is=REG&addedTroughType=search. This works very well. If you do not have a 1D, 1D MkII (N), 1Ds, or 1Ds MkII camera you can still make this fit on a 20D and probably 30D, too. There is a raised triangle on the plastic frame that needs to be carefully cut off and it will fit the 20D and 30D.

REI sells some anti-fog products for ski goggles that should work on glasses. There's EK Ekcessories Cat Crap Anti-Fog Lens Cleaner, http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&productId=197843&parent_category_rn=40003588&vcat=REI_SEARCH. There's also the FogTech Advanced Anti-Fog Solution - Bottle, http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&productId=47853536&parent_category_rn=40003588&vcat=REI_SEARCH, and the FogTech Advanced Anti-Fog Solution Wipes- 5-Pack, http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&productId=47853538&parent_category_rn=40003588&vcat=REI_SEARCH which are rated to -20°F. I'm going to try these products first because I have a problem with my glasses steaming up on very hot days here in Phoenix, AZ.

Hope this helps you out,

Tom,

Thanks for the links they look promising.

My wife was putting on her fleece hood yesterday and popped a lens out of her glasses when it snagged. We looked, but finding a couple of square inches of glass in two feet of snow proved fruitless.

The remaining lens was so frosted up she walked about fifty feet before she had realized one lens was gone! Life in the North.

Dave