Digital Camera Care Tips

Whether you have a relatively inexpensive point-and-shoot digital camera or a top-of-the-line model for professional photos, you can extend the life of your device with these care tips.

Protection
Dirt, water and shock are all harmful to your camera, so you need to protect it from these things with the following suggestions.

• When you have your camera with you on an outing, store it in a camera bag when you aren’t using it. Be sure to close the case to keep dust out.
• Invest in a waterproof housing, a rain hood or a camera sleeve.
• Don’t place the camera on unstable or uneven surfaces.
• If possible, change lenses in a dust-free or low-dust location.

Storage
Follow these tips for storing your camera at home.

• Keep the camera and the batteries in a cool, dry, airtight place.
• Remove the batteries from the camera if you will be storing it for an extended period.
• When the camera is stored, recharge the batteries so they’re fresh and ready when you are; don’t let them overcharge though.
• Cover lenses at all times. If you have changeable lenses, remove them from the camera and cover them individually.
• Keep the camera away from magnetic sources as these can damage the LCD screen, the memory card or the battery.

Cleaning
Keeping your camera clean will maintain the device and help you take the best possible photos. These cleaning tips should help.

• Use a clean, dry cloth to clean the outside of the camera.
• For the lenses, use a brush, soft lint-free cloth or lens-cleaning paper.
• Never use harsh cleaning products on any part of the camera.
• If you don’t know how to clean the lenses and/or inside mechanisms, consider a professional camera cleaning service.

Insurance
If you have an expensive camera and/or high-end changeable lens, you may want to consider insuring these against loss, theft and damage.

For more information on digital camera care, check out this Digital Trends website.