Digital camera Maintenance Part 3

Digital camera storage and care

Last week we looked at how to clean the Camera Body in Part 1 and Cleaning the Lenses in Part 2. This week I’ll cover some guidelines and suggestions for caring for photography gear and how to store it safely, especially as we head into the cold and damp season. Correct storage of your digital camera equipment is important; electronic gadgets are very fragile in many aspects. There are an abundance of articles on the internet regarding this topic and many are very good, although they can be very long. I’ve outlined the most important topics with links to the original articles for further reading and study if you wish to know more.

Digital Camera Storage Tips:

Nikon put together a very informative and long article regarding digital camera storage. You can find the full article HERE. I narrowed it down to the most common areas of concern.

 Part I – Proper Care and Storage of Equipment Storage

• When the camera will not be used for an extended period, replace the monitor cover, remove the battery and replace the battery terminal cover to prevent leakage and accidental short circuiting of the terminals.
• To prevent mould or mildew, store the camera in a dry, well-ventilated area.
• If you will not be using for long periods, store the camera in a camera case containing a desiccant. (Silica Gel is widely available) It’s recommended to take the camera out of storage once a month, turn the camera on and release the shutter a few times before putting the camera away again.
• Do not store the camera case in a plastic bag, as this may cause the material to deteriorate. Note that desiccant gradually loses its capacity to absorb moisture and should be replaced (or restored) at regular intervals.
• Do not store the camera with naphtha or camphor mothballs, or close to equipment that produces strong magnetic fields (such as televisions or computers), in areas subject to extremes of temperature, for example near a space heater or in a closed vehicle on a hot day, or in locations that are poorly ventilated or subject to humidity over 60%. This can result in damage to the sensor or CPU’s internally in the camera or lens.
• Extreme temperature changes can also cause condensation inside the camera body.  When taking the camera from a very hot place to a very cold place (or cold to hot) place it inside an airtight container such as a plastic bag for awhile to expose the camera gradually to the temperature change.
• Rechargeable batteries may be stored and recharged later, but all batteries will eventually weaken and no longer hold a charge.  At that time replacement batteries should be used. It’s recommended to always turn off the camera before removing the power source.

Memory cards Maintenance 

• Format memory cards in the camera before first time use.
• Turn the power off before inserting or removing memory cards.
• Do not remove memory cards from the camera, turn the camera off, or remove or disconnect the power source during formatting or while data is being recorded, deleted, or copied to a computer. Failure to observe these precautions could result in loss of data or in damage to the camera or card.
• Do not touch the card terminals with your fingers or metal objects.
• Do not apply force to the card casing, or use the memory card for anything other it’s intended purpose. Failure to observe this precaution could damage the card.
• Do not bend, drop, or subject to strong physical shocks.
• Do not expose to heat, water, high levels of humidity, or direct sunlight

If you wish to read the full document CLICK HERE.

That’s all for now.  Stay tuned for our next part about additional precautions you should take to keep your digital camera happy. As the saying goes: “Happy camera, happy photographer”!

Ted and the Omnilargess Team