Storing Lenses: Horizontally or Vertically?

[Michael Erlewine]

Which is best and why. I imagine storing vertically is best, but with lens up or down, and why? If the grease moves, where do we want it to migrate?

[Erik Lund]

Doesn't matter at all
Just don't strore them too hot or humid

[Dr Klaus Schmitt]

Which is best and why. I imagine storing vertically is best, but with lens up or down, and why? If the grease moves, where do we want it to migrate?

ZEISS (you may heard that name :grin: ) has lots of know how and has mentioned that when talking about avoiding fungus here:
http://www.zeiss.com/camera-lenses/en_de/website/service/fungus_on_lenses.html
One of their service techs also mentioned to me once to have the aperture set half way open

[elsa hoffmann]

Lots of fungus to be found in lenses around our coastal towns/cities.

I use a big container filled with drying agent - which I sometimes but in my bag, zip it up and leave to soak up moisture. Scary how quickly that container fills up with water. I just hope I am doing enough.

[PedroS]

All my gear rest inside two big safes, where temp and humidity are controlled (~28C; ~45%)

Always clean and dry the gear when returning from exterior. Never left any inside bags.
Worked well until now, more than 10 years doing so and no fungus or any issue with lubricants.
All gear rest vertically.

[pluton]

If I could rig it in my limited space, I'd store them horizontally, without lens caps and in bright light with moderate to low humidity.
I actually have them face down in a ventilated black metal drawer.

[Marco Lanciani]

I was once at a Nikon Desk to try my lens on other cameras. While replacing it I put it on the desk face down - front element down. The man behind the desk, without a word, took it and reversed it - bayonet down.
I didn't ask but I can imagine why now: some lenses have the front that moves, zoom or focus or both. Putting the lens face down may force some mechanism, which on the long way may result in a non uniform movement.

I guess this can be even worse during transport.

[Erik Lund]

No reason to worry about it seriously!
All the big lenses has a rubber front bumper to deal with any hard impact. Many of them have them also on the lens hood.

Keep the rear lens cap on when not in use

[PedroS]

No reason to worry about it seriously!
All the big lenses has a rubber front bumper to deal with any hard impact. Many of them have them also on the lens hood.

Keep the rear lens cap on when not in use

+1

[Bjørn Rørslett]

All the *big* Nikkors are designed to stand front down. That the proper way of storing them as well. Don't forget rear lens caps.

Using the lens in daylight is the easiest way to prevent fungus, at least in moderately humid climates.