Digital Camera Maintenance Part 4
Basic camera precautions
I know this topic can be a little scary, but in any discussion about camera care it is important to look at basic precautions; we can extend the years on our digital cameras by adopting these simple steps. So stay with me as I am going to make it as short as possible!
I reviewed many different sites to find a source of good information and finally found the most useful information on Nikon USA website. The original article is very detailed and long; I have selected items which are usually ignored or forgotten. You can find the full article HERE.
Camera Precautions:
Below is a list of basic precautions that should always be taken with your equipment. Adopting these simple steps will prolong the life of your expensive camera. This shortened list is from Nikon’s website, however it is good advice for all makes of cameras.
- Do not leave the lens pointed at the sun or other light source for an extended period. Intense light may cause the image sensor to deteriorate or produce a white blur effect in photographs.
- Do not use electronic equipment in the presence of flammable gas, as this could result in explosion or fire.
- Turn off immediately in the event of malfunction.
- Observe proper precautions when handling batteries.
- Rarely, static electricity may cause the control panel to brighten or darken. This does not indicate a malfunction; the display will shortly return to normal.
- Vertical white streaks may appear in photographs of the sun or other strong light sources. This phenomenon, known as “blooming”, can be prevented by reducing the amount of light that falls on the image sensor, either by choosing a slow shutter speed and small aperture or by using an ND filter.
- Do not touch the shutter curtain; the shutter curtain is extremely thin and easily damaged. Under no circumstances should you exert pressure on the curtain, poke it with cleaning tools, or subject it to powerful air currents from a blower. These actions could scratch, deform, or tear the curtain.
Batteries – General care
Batteries may leak or explode if improperly handled. Observe the following precautions when handling batteries:
- Be sure the product is off before replacing the battery. If you are using an AC adapter, be sure it is unplugged.
- Use only batteries approved for use in this equipment.
- Do not mix old and new batteries or batteries of different types.
- Replace the terminal cover when transporting the battery. Do not transport or store with metal objects such as necklaces or hair pins.
- Turn the product off before removing or disconnecting the power source.
- Do not unplug the product or remove the battery while the product is on, or while images are being recorded or deleted. Forcibly cutting power to the product in these circumstances could result in loss of data or in damage to product memory or internal circuitry. To prevent an accidental interruption of power, avoid carrying the product from one location to another while the AC adapter is connected.
- Do not attempt to recharge a fully-charged battery. Failure to observe this precaution will result in reduced battery performance.
- In cold conditions, the battery may require frequent recharging even when fully charged. It is recommended that you keep a fully-charged spare battery in a warm place and exchange as necessary when taking pictures in cold weather.
- Always remove the battery from the camera or battery charger when it is not being used. Left installed in the camera, minute amounts of current flow will discharge a battery over time.
- Should the battery terminals become dirty, wipe them off with a clean, dry cloth before use.
So there you have it, a shortened version of Precautions. If you regularly clean your gear, store it correctly and follow these simple precautions you will have a healthy digital camera for many, many years. Please feel free to contact us if you have a specific or general topic you’d like to know more about.
Happy shooting with your well maintained digital camera. To learn more about your digital camera, register for Digital Camera Bootcamp workshop. It is an eight week program which covers many popular topics.
Ted and the Omnilargess Team