Condensation on Binoculars

[Kainushi]

May I ask for advice?  What's a fella to do when there is condensation on his binoculars?  I detected moisture on the tubes when I came in this evening, and wiped it off with a towel.  What steps can I take to make sure it doesn't become a problem?  I certainly don't want it to get on the lenses!

 

Thanks in advance!

[Charic]

26 minutes ago, Kainushi said:

May I ask for advice?  What's a fella to do when there is condensation on his binoculars?  I detected moisture on the tubes when I came in this evening, and wiped it off with a towel.  What steps can I take to make sure it doesn't become a problem?  I certainly don't want it to get on the lenses!

Thanks in advance!

Absolutely normal.
The binoculars have cooled during your time outside, and upon entering the warmer indoors ( like a bottle from the fridge to the table) condensation will form. If you leave it a while, it will disappear just  as quick as it formed.
Binocular lenses can be gently wiped with optical, tissue or micro fibre cloths to remove any dew or condensation. I would not be too alarmed by this feature. 

There are binoculars that are by design, more water proofed, and even  have there  internal spaces filled with an inert dry gas to prevent the optics from fogging internally,  also preventing the formation of  mildew, but external condensation  will still occur given the example above.

There are branded solutions that you can apply to your cleaning cloth, then gently wipe the glass elements, if you feel they need cleaning. For all my optics, I normally use Zeiss optical wipes, bought from my local supermarket, otherwise, if not at hand the binocular eyepiece may get a quick wipe using my fleece or similar ?  You should not destroy the coatings by using optical cleaning solutions  or  propriety cleaning cloths.

Edited October 19, 2016 by Charic

[Knighty2112]

You could place some desiccant in your case (or in a box overnight) with your binoculars too that will help take up any excess moisture. You can buy some from Amazon and a few other places, or save anythat you get with any products that you buy.

[scarp15]

Just take the caps off when you come indoors and leave them resting horizontally on a table or shelve preferably in a not too warm environment. Once dry, I then tend to briefly use an air blower before re-capping and placing back in the case.

Edited October 19, 2016 by scarp15

[BinocularSky]

I'd advise against wiping dew off optical surfaces; it is unnecessary and is more likely to cause damage thanany other common method of dew removal. Even if my kit isn't showing signs of dew, I leave it open in a warm-ish dry-ish room for several hours  before capping it and putting it away. Like Knighty2112, I have dessicant in all my binocular bags (and, on my big Dob, I have made a padded secondary protector that has an internal mesh pocket for a dessicant bag). For rapid dew removal, I use a 12V camping hair-dryer (identical to what is sold as an astronomical "dew gun", but a fraction of the price) - I point it away from the optics for the first 10 seconds or so, just in case it has "absorbed" any dust since it was last used - that may not be a necessary precaution.

You can regenerate dessicant in an oven - details at numerous places on t'internet. You can even get coloured dessicant (contains cobalt chloride, I think) that goes pink when it's wet; you heat it till it goes blue again.

[Charic]

1 hour ago, BinocularSky said:

I'd advise against wiping dew off optical surfaces; it is unnecessary and is more likely to cause damage thanany other common method of dew removal.

...........yes, as above, just leave them alone once you have finished for the night. My kit gets packed the following morning.

My suggestion to wipe them was meant if you were to continue using them, and usually the act of  wiping them is  just a reaction to the situation?
My  scope eyepieces  for example can mist over from exhaling or from  the heat from close proximity to the eye, when used under a blanket?  If/when they do mist, it happens so quick, I just wipe them without too much worry about my action. 

[Kainushi]

Thank you all for your input; this has been helpful!

Wishing you all clear skies.