photography how-to

How to get your digital camera ready for spring

Although hopefully your digital camera saw a lot of use over the winter, and not just for the holidays, most people take the bulk of their photos over the warmer months. So now that spring has begun, it's time to get your camera gear in order and clean the gum wrappers and ticket stubs out of your camera bag from last summer. As the weather warms up, here are some things you can do to get your digital camera ready for a summer of fabulous photos.

Clean it. Whether you have a dSLR, an ILC, or even an advanced compact, cleaning your camera regularly will help ensure better photos. It will also help keep it working its best. Have you ever seen someone wearing really dirty eyeglasses and wondered how they could see out of them? Your camera's lens, like a pair of eyeglasses, needs to be kept clean so it, too, can see clearly, something that often goes overlooked. You can remove the smudges and fingerprints from the lens surface using a lens-cleaning cloth. Owners of dSLRs and ILCs, which have removable lenses, will also want to make sure to clean the rear lens element, as dust and fingerprints can get find their way there when changing lenses. DSLR owners will also want to make sure they clean the optical viewfinder of their camera; using a cotton swab can be helpful for this.

Check batteries. No matter what kind of camera and accessories you have, spring is a good time to make sure all your batteries are in order. Standard AAs should be replaced for a fresh set, and rechargeable batteries should be checked to make sure they are holding a good charge. Lithium ion batteries, including the ones that charge in-camera, should be removed and given a quick visual inspection to make sure there is no damage and that the small gold contacts appear clean.… Read more