Caring for Your Photo Equipment

By Neil Rosenfeld

Caring for your photo equipment will not only assure you of years of trouble free use, it will also help your equipment retain more of its value.

General
Although they are designed to be tough and durable, cameras and lenses are precision optical instruments which could be damaged by careless or rough handling. Always handle them carefully and store them in proper cases. Also, regular use, as well as regular cleaning and maintenance by an authorized service provider, is the best way to keep your equipment functioning properly.

Cameras

• Always store cameras with either a lens or a cap on the body.
• Avoid touching all internal parts, especially the reflex mirror, shutter curtain, and film pressure plate.
• Be very careful whenever the body is open (mounting lenses, loading film) to prevent the entry of dust, and so on.
• Clean the interior surfaces with a blower brush, and clean glass surfaces with a cloth designed for photo equipment.
• If you expect to not use a camera for an extended period of time, remove the batteries to prevent corrosion and make sure the shutter is not cocked.

• Clean lens surfaces with a blower brush and a cloth designed for photo equipment.
• Avoid rough cleaning of the lens.
• Use a Skylight or ultraviolet (UV) Haze filter to protect the lens from dirt and damage. A lens hood also helps to protect the lens.
• Keep the lens cap in place whenever the lens is not in use.
• Attach both the front and rear caps when the lens is stored separately.

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The preceding material was written by Neil Rosenfeld. These are the opinions of the author, not the opinions of eBay, and therefore eBay does not validate the accuracy of or endorse these opinions.