The memories we capture with cameras are very precious to us as they are here to stay for a long time. You might own an old camera or a brand new one. But if you’re into photography, chanced are you will have additional equipment to help you in your quest to capture the perfect shot. Now there are ways to store and care for your precious camera gear and since you have invested a lot of money into purchasing these items you should know how to store it all properly.
Read the points given below to ensure that your camera and the accompanying gear stays in a working condition for years to come.
Preparation
If you are a frequent user, it is okay to leave your memory card inside the camera. But, if you use your camera occasionally say once in a month, we recommend that you remove the memory card and battery, which will prevent it from getting fused in the slot.
If you are also planning to store flashes, remotes, light equipment and other accessories, you should also take out the batteries from these as well.
Lens and filters
After every shoot takes out the lens and lens filters and stores them separately. Clean the lens and filters carefully by removing any dirt, dust or fungal growth (if any). After you are done cleaning the lens and filters, put their respective caps on and set it upright. You must do this without fail because if the lubricant in the shutter gets dried up, you may find black flakes inside the lens.
Packaging
Clean the camera body with a can of compressed air to remove any dirt that has fixated on it. If there’s just a fine film of dust on the camera body, use a soft brush and gently wipe it away. Since a camera is a very fragile equipment, you should always store it in a proper camera bag. You can also look for other options such as a rugged protective case or a quality tote box filled with foam and packing peanuts. The foam and packing peanuts will absorb any shock from a fall or random topple and keep your camera and accompanying gear safe.
If you are putting your camera, lenses, flashes and all other equipment in a single tote box, place a foam divider in between these items. The foam divider will prevent any friction from happening to save the equipment from getting scratched. You can also use bubble wrap and tissue papers to protect the glass element if you can’t find where your lens cap is in case you lose it.
After you are done storing the camera and other equipment in a box, put in some sachets of silica gel. They are really good at absorbing moisture from the box which will, in turn, prevent fungal growth and keep any possible moisture damage to your equipment at bay.
Things to look out for
It is best for your camera if you don’t keep it near electronic devices that generate magnetic fields. This includes TV, radio and other electronics. Always store your camera and its batteries in a dry and cool place. Also, make sure that the place doesn’t suffer from any temperature fluctuations. If the camera is kept in a hot environment the camera’s sensor may get damaged. In a cold environment, the camera’s LCD screen might get cracked.
It doesn’t matter if you own a DSLR, a mirrorless or a film camera. Store them in an adequately ventilated area with humidity of 35% to 45%. You should also take note of the storing area. If the storage is too dry, the oil which lubricates the camera’s internal mechanism might dry up resulting in your camera’s wear and tear. If the storage space is too humid, moisture may find its way into the camera leading to internal fungal growth. Your camera’s internal parts may also become rusty if the moisture is trapped within for too long. If you own a film camera, the moisture can also crack your camera’s shutter curtain.
Storing the camera film
A fresh film will give you better results as compared to an old and expired film. Storing your camera film in a fridge at temperatures (at 13˚C/50˚F or lower) helps keep the film fresh and increases its lifespan. If you have already bought camera film in bulk or if you are planning to take a long break from photography, you can store all your film in the freezer (at -18˚C/0˚F or lower) for over six months. If you plan to use the film after removing it from the fridge, let it warm up at room temperature for about three to five hours and after that, you are good to click it away.
We hope the tips mentioned above help you store your precious camera, lenses and equipment in proper condition and you get your peace of mind knowing that your camera gear is stored in a safe and secure manner.
