Digital Camera Care

Knowing about digital camera care will help you keep your camera working well. No matter what type of camera you own camera maintenance and care are of the utmost importance if you want your camera to last.

Protecting Your Camera from Water

Water can get into your camera damaging its electronic parts. You can avoid this hazard by using a rain hood on your camera when you are taking pictures in the rain. A rain hood is like a little rain jacket for your camera. You can buy them online or at camera supply stores. If you don't want to buy one you can make one out of a plastic bag. You can find out more about camera rain protection here.

If you do manage to get your camera really wet turn it off. Remove the battery and memory card. There are several options you can use to dry your camera out. You can leave all of the doors on your camera open and leave it to dry out for about a week. You can pack the camera in a box of rice or silica gel crystals and leave it to dry for a few days. You can use a hair dryer set on low to dry it out.

If you've dropped your camera in salt water, you can try these digital camera care techniques, but your camera is probably not going to recover. You can always try taking it to a repair shop to see what they say.

Rain or dropping your camera in a body of water aren't the only way your camera might get damaged by water. Thick fog and the condensation that happens when your camera moves from a very cold environment to a warm environment can also cause problems. Warm your camera up gradually by putting it in its bag for awhile before bringing it back inside on a cold day. When I'm taking pictures on a cold day, I zip my camera into my coat to warm it up.

Protecting Your Camera from Dirt

Whether at the beach or a bike race, dirt and dust are everywhere and they can negatively affect your camera. Keep your camera dust free by being very careful when changing lenses. Alway hold your camera so the lens side is facing down when you change the lens. This will minimize the amount of dust that gets into the camera. When you change your lens try to do it in a relatively dust free environment.

If you have to take pictures in a really dusty, dirty situation use a rain hood on you camera to give it some protection from the dust.

Keep It In a Bag

Simply using a camera bag is a good digital camera care technique. Buy a good quality camera bag and keep your camera in it when you're not using it. Find out more about camera bags.

Avoid Shock

Be careful with your camera. It is a delicate piece of electronics. Don't expose it to vibrations or pressure and whatever you do don't drop it. Even falling from a short height can damage your camera.

To avoid experiencing your camera crashing to the ground do the following:

• Make sure your camera bag is securely closed before picking it up.
• Don't set your camera on any unsteady surfaces.
• Use your camera strap.
• Check your camera strap regularly to make sure it isn't weakening or breaking.

Turn It Off

Turn your camera off before removing the memory card or battery. Before you connect to or disconnect it from a computer turn it off. Turn it off when your change lenses.

Long Term Storage

If you're going to store your camera without using it for a long period of time remove the battery and pack your camera in a box. Put silica gel packs in the box with your camera to keep it from getting damp. Store your camera in an area where it will be in a constant temperature.

Temperature

Leaving your camera someplace extremely hot or cold will damage its electronics. Never leave your camera in a hot car.

Following these simple digital camera care techniques will insure that you get the most from your camera. I hoped these digital camera care tips have helped you. Find out more about digital photography basics.