Taking Care of Your Camera

When a new photographer is using a small throw away camera that cost less than $10 there is little need to be concerned about taking care of it. But, today the modern 35mm camera and digital cameras starts at around $250 and averages over $400 in price so care becomes more of an issue.

The most important tip on taking care of the modern camera simply brings to our attention mostly common sense things like: 

(1) Avoid water on the lens for it will damage the delicate coatings that are there to prevent lens flare and keep contrast high. This includes not breating on your camera lens to clean it.  If it is so dirty that it needs water to clean use a special lens cleaner. Water can also get on and IN your camera lens if it is taken from a hot bag into cold air. Dew or high humidity can leak into the inside of your camera lens and create mold which will lower contrast on your pictures.  When not in use keep your camera in a good camera bag with a silica gel bag to absorb moisture.

 (2) Always use a special lens cleaning tissue on your lens and never use your shirt or jacket to clean dirt off a lens.

(3) Many photo stores want to sell you a UV filter for your camera. If you buy one be sure it is a high quality lens made to high standards so that it will not detract from the high optical quality of your camera lens.  In our experience at SCHS we have 10 cameras in our lab and students use them 4 hours per day every day for a lot of use.  We have never damaged a lens from flying objects, stones, etc.  When we break a lens it is usally from carelessly dropping the camera on the ground which in most cases destroys the focusing gears more than the glass in the lens.   The trick is to NOT drop it!  The main advantage to a UV filter is in not touching the lens when it is dirty. In our lab we do not use the UV filters because they can cause lens flare (the same kind of blinding inability to see you get when you drive into the sun near sunset) resulting in the contrast being  lowered and the photo is lower in quality if any sun reflects off the  lens. Most camera lenses are recessed from the front of the camera which reduces the angle needed for the sun to hit the lens.  IF you have a zoom that has a flat front and IF you use a lens shade on your camera then there is little loss from a UV filter.

 (4) Watch heat for it is not only bad for your film but it can damage the electronics in your camera.  The trunk and glove box in your car are the hottest places from what we hear.  Keep your camera in an insulated camera bag  and preferably keep it with you.

  (5) Avoid vibration - yes vibration.  The lens in your camera is delicate.  If it is vibrated a great deal as in attaching it to a motorcycle while you ride or vibration from a motor it can be loosened and become less sharp. The same thing can happen if the camera is banged around a great deal.

(6) Turn the camera off when not in use to save battery power.  In my camera I take the very expensive battery and put it in the camera upside down when not in use so that there is no power loss from the camera control panel.  Check your battery before you go away on vacation or do an important assignment.