Caring For Your Digital Camera
When problems arise with your digital camera when you’re out taking pictures, sometimes it’s not too easy to fix them.There’s ways to avoid problems however!Even if you’re not a sports fan, I’m sure you’ve heard the line, “The best defense is a good offense.” And the best offense here is to avoid problems with your digital camera in the first place.
That’s not to say things aren’t going to happen that are unexpected and unavoidable.Many of the common problems photographers have when out shooting pictures, however, could easily be remedied with just a little prior planning.
Dead Batteries
There’s nothing worse than missing that great picture because the camera battery died.The best policy is to always keep extra batteries in your camera case.Regular or rechargeable batteries, it doesn’t matter, you need to keep at least one spare handy..
Also, bear in mind that if you’re outside shooting in cold weather, your batteries will die a lot quicker.The cold weather kills digital camera batteries pretty quickly. They just don’t last as long as usual, so it might be better to have a couple of spares instead of just one.
Yes, batteries are expensive, but it’s worth the spending a little extra money to keep from beating your head against the wall because a dead battery made you miss that once in a lifetime shot.
When Cards Go Bad
A while back I went on vacation and took all my pictures on one card.I was sure I’d got some fantastic pictures.I was confident that card was filled with some fantastic pictures.
The scenery was indeed breathtaking, but what really took my breath away was when I tried to load the pictures onto my computer and got one of those dreaded “ERROR” messages.The files were ruined because the memory card was corrupted.With no way to retrieve the files, all those great pictures went up in a puff of electronic smoke.
While it doesn’t happen often, cards can and do go bad.Avoiding this problem is a good reason to have two or more smaller memory cards instead of one huge GB card.For example, if you’re thinking of buying a 2-GB card, get a couple of 1-GB cards instead.
Yes, it’s cheaper to buy a huge bunch of gigabytes on one card.But what are your pictures worth? If you lose that one card, you’ve lost ALL your pictures.Keep from making that mistake.Be sure you’ll have at least some of your pictures instead of losing them all.
Remember, two cards are better than one.
It’s Raining, It’s Pouring
The weather isn’t cooperating, or maybe you just like pictures of rain.Maybe you’re somewhere else with a lot of moisture in the air, like on the seashore or in a boat.Messing up your camera is to be avoided, but you want to get some pictures.What does a photographer do to keep a camera dry?
Well, you can buy protective gear to keep in your camera case for such times. Places like B & H Photo or Calumet Photographic stores carry waterproof cases.You want not want to spend that much money for only an occasional run in with wet environments however.
For a make-do solution, carry a clear plastic bag in your camera case to keep water off your camera.Forgot to put a plastic bag in your camera case? If you’re traveling, try looking in your motel room for a clear disposable shower cap to use.
Planning Ahead Saves Your Sanity
If planning ahead doesn’t save your sanity, it will at least improve your chances for good pictures with your digital camera.You at least have a shot for some great pictures if you keep the camera batteries change, extra memory cards on hand, and your camera nice and dry.
And that’s why you bought a digital camera in the first place, right?
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