Battery Checkup
Rechargeable batteries for digital cameras eventually lose the ability to hold their charge. You will need to replace them every few years. Also, consider buying a second battery for your camera. If you are taking a long trip, don’t forget your charger.
Memory Cards
If you have plans for a summer vacation, family reunion, or other big events, stock up on memory cards ahead of time. Don’t wait to buy them at airports or expensive tourist stores. You’ll pay much more than you would from Photo Express.
The price of storage continues to drop; so if you’ve been eyeing a bigger card, perhaps it’s time to splurge and get that added capacity.
Keeping Your Camera Clean
We recommend only minimal cleaning. The most important thing is to try to avoid the need to clean in the first place. Try to keep your camera away from elements that cause the most harm: dirt, dust, sandy grit, and saltwater spray are the mortal enemies of most types of cameras. Keep your camera protected if you’re on a windy beach and the sand is flying. Don’t get too near those big waves; use your zoom lens instead.
If you want to take pictures in the surf, poolside, or even underwater, you may want to consider purchasing a waterproof point-and-shoot model. It’s best to keep your camera off the picnic table or other spots where it may be vulnerable to a spilled soda or a glob of jelly.
Cleaning Your Camera
The one part of the camera exterior you must keep clean is the lens. Dust and fingerprints will compromise the optical efficiency of your lens. We suggest using just two tools: a microfiber cleaning cloth, and a rubber squeeze bulb.
Microfiber cleaning cloths, like the Spudz cloths that we have at the counter at PE, make it possible to remove dust, grit, and even the oil left by fingerprints without the use of any solvent. These cloths are inexpensive, and can be washed and reused.
Another helpful solution is the Lenspen. Perfect for cleaning camera lenses, binocular lenses, small aperture spotting scopes and telescopes, eyepieces, and other optical items, this tool comes with a handy retractable dust removal brush and a special non-liquid cleaning element, designed to never dry out.
With DSLRs, be careful not to get dust on the sensor. Sensor dust (the dust is not on the sensor itself, but rather on a filter in front of the sensor) is a fact of life when using a DSLR. If you think you have a problem with dust on the sensor, we recommend that you bring it into PE and let us help you with it. There are tools to do this yourself; but you need to be careful not to damage anything, or you can void the warranty.
A Bag Helps
A camera bag is likely to provide much better protection for your camera and other equipment than if you keep your camera loose in your suitcase, handbag, or briefcase. There are plenty of attractive, soft, compact bags you can use to protect your camera.
If you're looking for a camera bag that doesn't look like a camera bag, Crumpler has the solution for you! They offer top notch construction with fabulous designs. We carry a variety of their bags and are happy to special order the perfect bag in the perfect colour just for you. Check out Crumpler's website here.
If you keep your camera in a bag, there’s one other very inexpensive accessory – a plastic bag big enough to hold your camera and accessories. If you encounter a sudden summer thunderstorm or find yourself on a speed boat that catches a wave, just pop your entire camera bag into it.
Follow these simple tips, and your camera will be ready for all the great photo opportunities summer has to offer.
Prepared by the New York Institute of Photography. For more tips, visit www.nyip.com.
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