Now that you have a brand new camera, it's not only time to learn how to use it properly, but also how to take care of it. Typically there are two types of people--those that constantly clean and maintain their cameras and those that don't pay any attention to maintaining their cameras at all. There is no need to be obsessive, but it is important to do some basic things to keep our DSLR cameras working as well as the day we receive them, especially if we want them to keep performing for us. Here are some tips on how you can keep your camera in good working order for many years to come.
Cleaning your camera should be something you do on a regular basis, especially if you like to take your camera with you to places where it can get dirty. Dirt and dust can get into your camera body and the lens and cause damage. Use a soft micro fiber cloth to gently wipe the body of your camera. Take extra care when cleaning the lens of your camera. You can use the same soft micro fiber cloth for the lens as long as you are sure there are no bits of dirt on it that will scratch the lens. Alternatively, you can use lens cleaning cloths that can be purchased at your local camera store. These are perfect for wiping off your lens and lens filters. Remember to always use your lens cap to protect your lens. Putting a lens filter on the lens is a great idea as it is an extra layer that protects the surface of the lens, but the lens cap is always the best way to ensure the lens doesn't get damaged.
Always store your camera in an appropriate, dedicated camera bag when it is not in use. Camera bags are padded and specially designed to protect all your valuable camera equipment. Leaving your camera lying around outside of its' bag is just asking for trouble. If you own extra lenses, purchase a bag at a good camera store that will hold them also so you can keep all the equipment in one place.
Protect your camera from the weather whenever possible. Rain, snow and humidity are not good for cameras and can cause damage to their sensitive inner workings. It is always a good idea to purchase a protective sleeve for your camera if you must use it in bad weather. Bringing your camera inside after using it outside in very cold conditions can damage your camera as condensation can form inside the camera's sensor. Be careful when using your camera outside in extreme cold and keep it in a thermal bag whenever possible. Leave it in the bag for at least thirty minutes after coming inside to let it come back to room temperature slowly.
Remember that memory sticks must be maintained to keep them in working order also. Memory sticks should be formatted on a regular basis. If you use your camera a lot downloading pictures and deleting frequently will age your stick and you may find that one day you can no longer use it. If you have had your memory stick for a long time it may be worth investing in a new one to avoid losing photos. Whenever you shoot photos transfer them to your computer as soon as possible to avoid being disappointed, especially if they are particularly important ones.
Cleaning your camera should be something you do on a regular basis, especially if you like to take your camera with you to places where it can get dirty. Dirt and dust can get into your camera body and the lens and cause damage. Use a soft micro fiber cloth to gently wipe the body of your camera. Take extra care when cleaning the lens of your camera. You can use the same soft micro fiber cloth for the lens as long as you are sure there are no bits of dirt on it that will scratch the lens. Alternatively, you can use lens cleaning cloths that can be purchased at your local camera store. These are perfect for wiping off your lens and lens filters. Remember to always use your lens cap to protect your lens. Putting a lens filter on the lens is a great idea as it is an extra layer that protects the surface of the lens, but the lens cap is always the best way to ensure the lens doesn't get damaged.
Always store your camera in an appropriate, dedicated camera bag when it is not in use. Camera bags are padded and specially designed to protect all your valuable camera equipment. Leaving your camera lying around outside of its' bag is just asking for trouble. If you own extra lenses, purchase a bag at a good camera store that will hold them also so you can keep all the equipment in one place.
Protect your camera from the weather whenever possible. Rain, snow and humidity are not good for cameras and can cause damage to their sensitive inner workings. It is always a good idea to purchase a protective sleeve for your camera if you must use it in bad weather. Bringing your camera inside after using it outside in very cold conditions can damage your camera as condensation can form inside the camera's sensor. Be careful when using your camera outside in extreme cold and keep it in a thermal bag whenever possible. Leave it in the bag for at least thirty minutes after coming inside to let it come back to room temperature slowly.
Remember that memory sticks must be maintained to keep them in working order also. Memory sticks should be formatted on a regular basis. If you use your camera a lot downloading pictures and deleting frequently will age your stick and you may find that one day you can no longer use it. If you have had your memory stick for a long time it may be worth investing in a new one to avoid losing photos. Whenever you shoot photos transfer them to your computer as soon as possible to avoid being disappointed, especially if they are particularly important ones.
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