Optics
Astromania 40cm DC Dew Heater Strip for Camera & Telescope Lenses
Product description
What you get: a 40cm heated strip designed to wrap around small camera lenses, finder scopes, or short telescope tubes, a stepless (slide/rotary) temperature controller, and an extension cable terminating in a DC female jack. The controller lets you increase or decrease heat output continuously rather than in stepped increments.
Connector details: the unit uses a standard DC barrel connector so it can be powered from portable power banks, 12V batteries, or other DC supplies. The DC female port measures 5.5mm outer diameter and 2.1mm inner diameter.
Construction and sizing: the heating band has a soft inner lining to avoid scratching lens barrels, an outer heating element, and an elastic plus Velcro fastening to hold it securely in place. The 40cm length can be trimmed or adjusted and will suit lenses and telescope tubes with an outer diameter under 125mm (4.95 inches).
How to use it: wrap the heater around the lens or finder, secure with the Velcro, plug into a compatible DC source, and set the desired warmth with the stepless controller. It thaws or prevents dew and condensation, letting optics stay clear during cold or humid nights. The strip heats quickly and is simple to remove when not needed. Note: it will draw power while running and can become very warm, so monitor battery life and nearby temperature-sensitive components.
Pros
- Continuous (stepless) temperature adjustment
- Standard DC connector (5.5 × 2.1 mm) for many power sources
- Soft inner lining and Velcro for quick, secure fitting
Cons
- Can generate high surface temperatures
- Controller and knobs feel inexpensive to some users
- Requires a compatible DC power source (not included)
VerdictA practical solution for preventing dew on small scopes, finder scopes and camera lenses under 125mm diameter. It includes a 40cm heated band, a slidertype stepless temperature controller and an extension cable with a 5.5 x 2.1mm DC connector so you can run it from a 12V battery or compatible power bank. The soft interior and Velcro/elastic fastening protect optics and make it easy to fit and remo
Reviews
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Kaleb Gathings 3/5
Useful idea, mixed execution
This basic lens warmer performs its primary job of reducing fog and dew in cold or humid conditions. For casual astro sessions, wildlife watching or morning shoots it provides enough warmth to stop moisture build-up and can save a session.
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Tom H. 5/5
Solid dew heater with onboard controller
Good for smaller scopes and oversized eyepieces. Includes its own controller but can be used with other controllers too. Well insulated connections and a soft inner lining prevent scratches; elastic and Velcro keep it in place. It does get very warm, which can reduce battery runtime and, if excessive, affect the image. If your optics fog from temperature shifts, this will help.
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M. L. 5/5
Ideal fit for my small scope
I was getting dew on my scope around 50°F and this fixed it. Paired with my Askar FRA300 Pro, the size is perfect and the Velcro holds well. I run it from a 12V source using the on/off button and haven’t had haze or overheating; cord is long enough to avoid mount interference. Two months in with no issues.
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Potato NKCP 4/5
Works fine; would prefer a DC adapter included
Build quality is acceptable—cords, connections, dial and switch all plug together easily. No DC adapter was supplied, but the 5.5×2.1mm jack is common so I found a power supply. You can use switches independently or bypass them. I’ve used it wrapped around aerosol cans in sub-zero conditions as well as lenses; it warms quickly and Velcro makes fitting simple.
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Stadberler 3/5
Works, but build feels cheap
Comes with the band, a cable with a rotary power wheel, and an extension. The rotary feels very low quality. It did heat up—almost worryingly hot—and emitted a strong plastic smell from the package and when warmed. That aside, it kept fog off my Lumix G9 with a Sigma 18–35mm when running from a battery grip and D-TAP adapter; setup was straightforward.
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WRF 1/5
Blew a 10A fuse
The small controller seemed faulty. The heating strip overheated and blew a 10 amp fuse I had between my 12V battery and other astrophotography gear.
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Sunbear 1/5
Overheats despite lowest setting
This is my second unit from the maker and it overheats like the first. The heater works but the temperature regulator appears faulty and won’t hold the output down, getting hot enough to risk damaging plastic or rubber lens parts. One star.
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