Best Electronic Dry Cabinet Box For Camera
Cameras, lenses, and other photogenic gears are the most precious wealth to a photographer. Nothing is more heartbreaking than seeing your gears die. Some might think that protecting them from accidental dropping and keeping them away from water - will be enough to safeguard your camera gears. But still, they are some environmental factors like humidity, dust, and moisture might cause the hamper. So what should one do to protect their camera gears? The solution is to use a dry cabinet.
So in this article, we'll tell you why you need a dry cabinet and what are the best dehumidifying dry cabinets available in the market now. So without further ado, Let's jump in!
LIST OF THE 7 BEST ELECTRONIC DRY CABINETS
WHAT IS A DRY CABINET FOR CAMERA?
A camera dehumidifying dry cabinet is basically just a cabinet that protects your camera from humidity, dirt, dust, fungus and other hazards in your environment. During long periods of inactivity, you ought to keep your camera and lens inside this cabinet. It will shield it from those environmental hazards and simultaneously keep it clean.
As we said, environmental factors like dust, humidity, and moisture can cause severe damage to your cameras and other gadgets. If you put them in your room just by themselves, you might find the growth of fungus infecting the glass elements of your cameras and lenses. But what causes the growth of fungus there? Well, it's due to the humidity.
Once your optics catch on fungus, it is really very expensive to clean the glasses. Even if you manage to clean it, the chances are those glasses are going to have fungus growth again. Fungus thrives mostly on moist or humid places and which is why you need a dehumidifying cabinet that provides a dry environment for your camera gears.
Electronic Dry cabinet lets you control the internal humidity and keeps your precious gears from the growth of fungus. A good humidity level for the camera and accessories ranges from 40RH - 50RH. A high-end dry cabinet usually allows you to keep your humidity between 25RH - 60RH. So if you want to keep your gears safe, getting a high-quality Dry cabinet is a must!
SOME EXTRA FACTS REGARDING THESE BEST CAMERA DEHUMIDIFYING DRY CABINETS:
- Dry cabinets aren't just useful for cameras but are fairly capable of keeping other gadgets and gear safe as well. Hearing aids, musical instruments, antiques and many other things can be kept safely here, so they are fairly versatile.
- Camera gears are expensive, so they should be kept safe and clean; a dry cabinet provides you just that.
- The fun fact is that these dehumidifying cabinets for cameras are not only used to store cameras, but it can also preserve small items.
Now let's see the best Dehumidifying Dry cabinet available in the market.
BEST CAMERA DEHUMIDIFYING DRY CABINETS REVIEW
1. FORSPARK 100L - BEST DRY BOX FOR CAMERA, LENS AND DRONES
PRODUCT DETAILS:
- Capacity: 100Liters
- Estimated capacity: 3 DSLR & 7 Lenses
- 4 adjustable shelves.
- Material: Stainless Steel Box + Tempered Glass Door.
- Humidity range: 25%-60%（±5%).
This dry box for camera accessories is easily the best camera dehumidifying dry cabinets you can get for yourself. I say this because you get to enjoy the top design features of both FORSPARK 30L and Ruggard 30L in this single machine.
I noticed the TE cooling feature of Ruggard 30L included here. Yes, this FORSPARK 100L has added to this what they call Rapid Dehumidification technology that will help it to achieve the set humidity settings quickly.
This camera humidity cabinet's humidity sensor effectively lets you control the humidity level inside the camera lens storage in the range of 25% to 60% with ±5% (you can calibrate your hygrometer if needed). All these technical things aside, this cabinet is fairly easy to use.
It starts working right after it is plugged in and has an LED indicator letting you know whether it is turned on or off. Adding to it, the magnetic door made of toughened glass gives a cool look and reassures you that your gadgets are safe.
As I mentioned earlier, these camera equipment storage cabinet are very versatile as it offers a wide application like being able to keep your camera lenses, paintings, paper money, old books, antiques, musical instruments, jewelry, etc.
Ruggard is a tough competitor to Forspark because both provide high-quality electronic storage machines. However, the customer service of Forspark was better when compared to Ruggard.
Lastly, this camera dehumidifying cabinet has a magnetic door, an in-built lock system that is an added bonus!
CAN HOLD:
This Forspark 100l electronic camera cabinet can hold a DSLR camera, 1 or 2 large-sized (big-aperture) telephoto lens and mid-range telescopes.
Overall, I give this best dry box for camera a big thumbs up!
Pros
Cons
2. FORSPARK 30L - BEST HIGH-QUALITY SMALL DRY CABINET FOR CAMERA
PRODUCT DETAILS:
- Capacity: 30L
- Humidity range: 25%-60%（±5%).
- Material: Stainless Steel Box +. Tempered Glass Door.
- 1 adjustable shelf
- Weight: 32lb
- Standard operation mode
- Can also be used for storing paintings, antiques and other belongings
The first spot on my list comes the FORSPARK 30L version. A lot like its elder sibling, the 100L version, the 30L version offers the much-needed protection your cameras and other photography belongings. Thankfully, the only difference between the 30L model and the 100L model is that their capacity and dimensions differ; other than that, they both share the same features.
Now I'll tell you what I liked the most while using this product. Firstly, I found this camera equipment very easy to use, you just need to plug it in, and you are good to go. There is an LED indicator, letting you know whether it is on or off. Travelers and people having space constraints can opt for this model.
The main purpose of purchasing a protective cabinet was to ensure that my photography belongings are safe from the effects of moisture, rust, oxidation, fungus etc. And, I was well satisfied with this photography equipment storage cabinet because, for humidity protection, there was a hygrometer installed.
This camera humidity cabinet has a humidity sensor offered accurate humidity control with ±5%difference. You can also change the relative humidity level inside this camera lens storage in the range of 25% to 60%.
I really liked the fact that this camera dry box had a power-saving mode. It only needs 8w to run, and delivered zero radiation. So you can very well keep it in your /bedroom without worrying about the negative effects of radiation, as well, there is none.
Who likes a piece of noisy equipment? I'm sure no one. As this model is designed with thermoelectric cooling technology, I didn't hear any noise coming from it.
Lastly, I noticed a direct current input, a magnetic door with tempered glass, So no fear of leakage risk or fire potential. Overall, I liked this dry camera cabinet by FORSPARK because it did the job of giving complete protection to my cameras and other belongings as advertised.
CAN HOLD:
This 30l Forspark small dry box can hold 1-2 DSLR cameras and a mid-sized telephoto lens. By removing the adjustable shelf, you will get space to store your large camera drones and night vision binoculars also.
Pros
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3. RUGGARD ELECTRONIC DRY CABINET(30L) - BEST PORTABLE CAMERA DRY CABINET
PRODUCT DETAILS:
- Material: Glass and Steel.
- Prevents fungus infestation and corrosion
- Closure method: Door lock with two keys with handle
- Humidity: 35 to 60% (+/-7%).
- 1 plastic adjustable shelf.
- Multi-voltage power supply
- Weight:14.3lb
Are you a brand person? If so, here's a camera and lens storage cabinet from the famous brand Ruggard. Statistics say that Ruggard is the leading brand of dry cabinets currently. Now, let's proceed with its design features.
This photography equipment storage cabinet gives 100% guarantee of protecting your camera, lens and other electronic equipment from their worst enemy: moisture.
I'll tell you how: This Ruggard dry cabinet has a fast-acting ThermoElectric Cooling Wafer to regulate the interior's relative humidity from 60 to 35% within 1 to 3 hours. Hence, providing complete humidity control.
Like the FORSPARK 30L, this dehumidifying dry camera cabinet does its work silently, so you can keep it anywhere and not be disturbed. The rubber seal and glass door further add a level of protection from dirt and dust.
I have a lot to speak about the capacity and look of this product. However, It would become too long, so I'm just putting it in a nutshell. First, this camera storage cabinet can hold a couple of lenses and a camera body with its 30L capacity. You will notice a single adjustable shelf that is padded alongside the base to prevent floor scratches. Added, to it the unit is also dripless. So, you don't have to use a water tray.
For ensuring the utmost safety of your belongings, there is a lock with two keys. So if you lose one, you always have a spare.
CAN HOLD:
This 30l Ruggard dry box can hold a DSLR camera pair and a mid-sized telephoto lens or a mirrorless cam with 2 standard sized lenses. By removing the adjustable shelf, you will get space to store your large camera drones and night vision binoculars also.
A wrap to this product's review:
I expected a lot from this lens storage cabinet, and I surely am not disappointed and would undoubtedly recommend this Ruggard electronic dry cabinet.
" If you wish to get more capacity try using the Ruggard electronic dry cabinet 80L"
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4. FORSPARK 50L - BEST ELECTRONIC DRY CABINET
PRODUCT DETAILS:
- Material: Stainless Steel Box + Tempered Glass Door.
And we have yet another product by the FORSPARK company. Guess I am covering a good chunk of their range. There isn't much that has been left unsaid in this article about the FORSPARK dry box range.
This 50L version includes all the features I have mentioned in the above entries of its siblings, the 30L and 100L. The only difference is the size and, naturally, the storage capacity.
This camera dehumidifying cabinet benefits from the same built-in hygrometer, which is basically a humidity sensor that offers accurate humidity control with ±5% difference and enables you to change the relative humidity level inside this camera lens storage in the range of 25% to 60%.
Like the previously discussed FORSPARK models, the 50L ensures safety from leakage risks and fire danger.
There is an LED indicator, letting you know whether it is on or off and houses the thermoelectric cooling technology you also find in their 100L model. What this technology does is it keeps your equipment safe from humidity, moisture and dust.
Thus, keeping fungus infestation, oxidation or dust particles from messing with your gadgets, all the while being silent, heatless and quick at its job. As mentioned above, a fantastic electronic dry cabinet in a smaller package.
CAN HOLD:
This 50L Forspark dry cabinet for camera can hold up to 2-3 mirrorless cameras and 2-3 mid-sized telephoto lenses. You can get more space by removing the unwanted shelves to place your scopes and drones.
Worth being listed in the best camera dehumidifying dry cabinets list!
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5. EIRMAI 75 L - BEST DRY CABINET FOR CAMERA WITH TOUCHSCREEN
PRODUCT DETAILS:
- Eirmai's LeerLight* LED emits low blue light
Goodness comes in all shapes and sizes. Yes, you guessed it right. I'm speaking about the Eirmai Digitally controlled dehumidifying dry cabinet that is compact, with a 70-liter capacity.
However, that is more than sufficient for a lot of people. If you happen to be one of those people, you will be quite impressed with what this dry cabinet has to offer.
When compared to the cabinets mentioned above, this is unique and takes a step high. Because the Eirmai dehumidifier drybox comes equipped with the company's unique Smart Thermoelectric AI Controller or STAC for short.
What this STAC does is that it detects temperature and humidity in real-time. It also allows you to set your desired thresholds. You're asking me what if my equipments don't suit the set temperature /humidity level? Don't worry, that will not happen as the EIRMAI STAC will keep them within 3% of the desired level.
Alongside STAC, the company equips this camera storage cabinet with precise point humidity control sensors. This gives you the ability to accurately measure and control the humidity level inside the range of 25%RH(Relative-humidity) to 60%RH.
One of the unique features about this camera cabinet I found worthy of sharing with you is that this Eirmai 75L dry cabinet has a foam covering/foam insert inside that will prevent your lenses from getting scratched, thereby giving you double protection.
Lastly, I would say that the cabinet itself is very sturdy, as it is built from military-grade cold-rolled steel and a NASA-inspired magnetic seal. To top it all off, the cabinet does not require a lot of energy to run, so it is energy-efficient with no noise and heat radiation.
CAN HOLD:
This EIRMAI 75 L dry cabinet can hold a DSLR camera pair and up to 3 mid-sized telephoto lenses.
Now that you've got to know about the unit's features, I'm sure you will purchase a photography equipment storage cabinet right now.
Pros
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6. STATERIVER ELECTRONIC DRY BOX
PRODUCT DETAILS:
- Two removable foam-padded shelves.
- Dimensions: 29.9 x 18.7 x 18.2 inches.
- Thermo-electric cooling technology.
The StateRiver electronically controlled cabinet dehumidifier is a big boy with its 55-liter storage capacity. This dry cabinet was built to keep your equipment safe from humidity and it does so using its thermo-electric cooling technology.
This best camera dehumidifying dry cabinets creates a sort of a dry chamber for your equipment and other things like paintings, old books, money, tobacco, musical instruments and jewelry to be put inside where they are shielded from dust and humidity which prolongs life and helps maintain performance. This camera dry box can be kept in any of the 2 removable foam-padded shelves.
The door can be locked with a key, is made of see-through glass and is rubber sealed for extra protection. The StateRiver dry cabinet has a humidity sensor that offers accurate humidity control with ±5% differs. Humidity ranges from 25% to 60%. This dehumidifier cabinet works fast, creates no noise nor heat.
One of the issues I had with this camera equipment storage cabinet was that it wasn't able to maintain temperature. It could possibly be the only demerit I found with this box cabinet. Nonetheless, the 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee and 5 Years Product Replacement Warranty came in handy and was reassuring.
Pros
Cons
7. T.A.P DRY CABINET BOX - BEST DRY CABINET FOR QUIET OPERATION
PRODUCT DETAILS:
- Material: high-quality steel plate, aluminium alloy frame and Stylish wood-grains surfaces
- Humidity Range: 30%-80%RH (±5%).
- Touch Key: 2-digital password access.
- Gate control: controlled gate opening/closing by electromagnetic valve.
Last but not least comes the T.A.P Dehumidifying Dry Cabinet Box which is a very unique and special kind of cabinet box. It does its main job as intended. Using a microprocessor, which can detect temperature and humidity in real-time. When the humidity levels exceed that level which has been set, it starts the process of dehumidification.
The process stops when it reaches the desired temperature. You can keep your cameras, lenses, musical instruments and other things here. This drying cabinet for camera works just like other dry cabinets, you get the point. What makes it unique is that it is, first of all, extremely durable and stylish. It is made of high-quality steel plate with an aluminium alloy frame. The door is magnetic and is sealed tightly and has a toughened durable glass on it.
That in itself is not that unique I suppose. However, what is unique is the fact that instead of a traditional lock and key, this lens dry box comes with a touchscreen upon which you must insert a 2-key password in order for the door to open.
Another factor is that it has 2 USB charging connectors with dynamic charging indication in the screen. One is an external USB charging port which is located on the top of the cabinet. The other is internal USB charging which is located in the top center of the cabinet door (inside).
Pros
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WHY DO YOU NEED A CAMERA DRY CABINET?
Get a more detailed answer: Why do you need a humidifying cabinet for your camera?
BUYING GUIDE FOR PURCHASING THE BEST CAMERA DRY CABINET
I have made this list by including the best camera dehumidifying dry cabinets out there. There is an objective way of comparing them, of course. That being said, which one is the best depends a lot upon your needs and budget. I advise you to go through this buying guide if you're planning to purchase one.
1. Shape and Size:
In this list, you must have seen dry cabinets for a camera with a storage capacity between 30L to 100L. Only you know how many camera gears you want to store in your dry cabinet. So, keeping in mind the size of your gear and how much space you would require, buy a suitable one.
If you do not have a lot of equipment and do not intend to expand your collection, a small cabinet of about 20L/30L capacity should be enough. This is a wise option for travelers as you cannot always travel with jumbo cabinets.
On the other hand, If you do a lot of photography, it's obvious you'll have so much to store, so while making a purchase, also see if the dry cabinet will be spacious enough to hold your future lens/camera purchase.
FACT: Where you live is a major factor as to how important and necessary the purchase of a dry cabinet is. If you're living in places like Alaska, where humidity is high, you need the best dry cabinet for camera for sure.
2. Adjustable Shelves:
Dry cabinets are available as horizontal and vertical configurations, and the number of adjustable shelves in their design varies for each model. Depending on the number and size of your camera gadgets and lenses, you can decide on the number of shelves you will need.
All you want is to safely secure your cameras, lenses, and related stuff in the compartments. That's it.
Note: If you will be placing your large telephoto zoom lenses or even Mavic Drones, select a cabinet with more shelf height.
3. Material:
The material of the cabinet you are considering purchasing should be of concern. It is the product's material that informs you about how durable it is and how long it will last.
The ones made of aluminum and steel are the ones I would suggest personally. Also, make sure the device has airtight seals like the door seals you find in a fridge to ensure proper machine operation.
And dry cabinets have these power cables running inside the compartments, so make sure they are properly sealed and don't come in contact with your camera stuffs you wish to store in.
Lastly, if the dry cabinet is lockable, it's another bonus. Suppose you have your cats or even your little ones at home. There could not be better security than a dry cabinet with a lock system.
4. Humidity control:
Make sure the device is equipped with a proper Humidity sensor. Because if this fails, the device loses its meaning. Electronic cabinets will indicate the humidity values in terms of RH (Relative Humidity). Remember, not all camera gears must be stored with the same humidity settings. Depending on the type of camera gadgets you keep inside, you need to adjust this RH setting.
But it's practically impossible for you to remember the humidity settings for each. So let me give you a range:
- All your cameras, lenses, camcorders, monoculars, and binoculars require an RH range between 45% to 55%.
- Whereas your additional battery packs and camera batteries can be stored at RH of 35% to 45%.
5. Outer display screen:
Also, look for a dry cabinet that allows you to read the sensor readings on the screen, so you needn't have to open the box now and then to see if the machine is working.
Most people tend to break their expensive camera gadgets in anxiety to see if the equipment is safe are not and if the readings are proper. So, to avoid that, it's always better to have a dry cabinet with a display screen outside.
6. Security:
Recent models have upgraded their security system by using password lock using a touchscreen. Though your device is not a recent model with these touchscreens, it's Ok. But make sure if the cabinet is equipped with at least a traditional lock and key system.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. How do you use a dry cabinet camera?
When storing a camera in a dry cabinet, you must remove the battery from the camera body. If you are using a simple dry box, it is recommended to keep a desiccant inside. On the other hand, if you use a dry box that doesn't have a hygrometer, then place a hygrometer inside it so that you can measure and control the humidity.
2. What Types Of Photography Gear Can I Store Inside An Electronic Dry Cabinet?
You can store whatever types of photography gear inside your electronic dry cabinet. You only have to make sure that the cabinet has many adjustable shelves and a humidity control level of 35% to 55%.
3. What humidity should cameras be stored at?
When you are storing your cameras in a dry cabinet, it is optimal to store them in a humidity level of 40 to 50% and also, whenever required, fill in the drying agent. This agent will help in keeping your camera and lenses free from fungus and moisture.
4. How does an electronic dry cabinet work?
The electronic dry cabinet consists of a small Peltier cooler that helps remove moisture from the air that comes along with it. The moisture and humidity control technology present here is renewable without the use of having to replace desiccants.
CONCLUSION
That is the end of our "best electronic dry cabinets for camera" list. Which cabinet is the best is a question that is both subjective and objective, as I mentioned in the intro. Hopefully, with the help of my list, you could find the best dry cabinet for yourself.
I have included cabinets for almost all sorts of people: affordable ones, portable ones, ones with a decent amount of capacity. So, pick out your favorites, do some further comparing for your sake and then enjoy your new purchase. I hope this list was of use to you and you found the perfect home for your camera and lens.
