Your camera gear is broken, or might be broken, or you're worried something might break it.
39
votes
6answers
21k views
Can the sun damage the camera sensor? Under what conditions?
I want to experiment taking photos where the sun appears. I'm afraid of what might happen if I take one with a narrower angle (where sun would be bigger). Can the lens act as a magnifying glass and ...
21
votes
4answers
11k views
Why does fungus form in lenses, and how to get rid of it?
Recently I was using an old Pentax 50mm f/2 that had a quite big green spot, and later I was informed that it was a fungus.
A couple of questions raised from this:
Why does fungus form inside the ...
11
votes
2answers
1k views
Should I be concerned about sensor heat and the development of hot pixels?
Since I shoot a lot of pictures in Live View mode and from time to time I do some short movies, I've developed a paranoid sensation that I'm going to burn the sensor.
I'm aware that live view mode ...
13
votes
3answers
4k views
Can a laser pointer damage the sensor in a digital camera?
I once experimented with standing in a dark room and directing a laser pointer towards my digital camera with a long shutter speed while moving the two about. I made a few images that way; one was ...
8
votes
1answer
917 views
Can using an old flash damage a new DSLR?
I have been using my dad's old Metz mecablitz 18 B1 flash for a while with my Canon 7D and had no trouble with it, but just received some advice from a friend that using old flashes can fry the ...
4
votes
2answers
761 views
Is it sensor damage? Or dust?
I have been trying to shoot partial solar eclipse today with my Nikon D3100, and later noticed this spot on images:
http://pix.academ.org/img/2011/01/04/70baea815d1557594f096a82ab05704f.png
I do not ...
24
votes
5answers
6k views
What is the effect of a scratched lens?
I have a lens with a small but significant looking scratch near the center. But I don't see any difference in the photos. Where does the imperfection show up? How important is it to get the piece of ...
24
votes
6answers
3k views
Can I damage the focus system by turning the focus ring when the lens isn't mounted?
I have a couple lenses that don't have an internal focusing system, and whenever I want to put them back in my bag, I turn the focus ring to make the lens shorter.
I noticed that when the lens is set ...
19
votes
8answers
9k views
Are airport x-ray scanners safe for DSLRs / lenses / storage media?
While traveling by air here in India, one is instructed to remove all electronics like cell phones / media players / laptops and pass them thru the X-ray scanners separate from the rest of one's hand ...
15
votes
7answers
1k views
How to use a tripod on the beach without damaging it?
The site already has a good example of what to consider in regards to camera and lenses around sand, but I specifically am wondering what considerations to make when using a tripod near sand. Many ...
12
votes
3answers
703 views
Using carbon-fiber tripods in cold weather: safe temperatures, precautions, and effects of failure
I'm considering buying Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 carbon-fiber tripod legs with a Manfrotto 498RC2 ball head, but I've read that carbon fiber can break at low temperatures. (Note that the 055CXPRO3 uses ...
12
votes
5answers
730 views
How safe is CHDK?
I've played with time-lapse photography using my father in law's Canon Rebel, using a USB cable, gphoto2 and an Ubuntu laptop. I want to create similar videos using my own A590 IS, but it cannot be ...
11
votes
3answers
3k views
How should a DSLR camera, lens, and battery be stored?
How should a dslr camera, lens, and batteries be stored if they aren't going to be used for weeks-- if not months? Is it dependent on manufacturer (Nikon, Canon, etc)?
Is there any risk of damage if ...
8
votes
2answers
567 views
Is it normal for there to be tiny dust particles in a new lens?
I'm the owner of a new Canon 550D with a Canon 18-135mm IS lens.
While looking into the lens, I noticed what I think are two tiny dust particles (I would say smaller than 1mm) behind the first glass ...
5
votes
2answers
642 views
Can't auto-focus at full zoom
I have a Canon 1000d, and the standard lens EF-S 18-55mm. Recently I was out taking photos and I've noticed that if I zoom in fully, the lens can't auto focus. I can still take shots using manual ...
26
votes
6answers
1k views
Do sensors wear out?
We all know that shutters wear out and they have a limited number of actuation's.
The question I have is, do sensors wear out too? Do they suffer any kind of damage after each shot?
Should I be ...
5
votes
2answers
223 views
Can using an old flash damage a new DSLR if it never fired?
my daughter found my old flash (20+ years old) and tried it on her canon T3i. It didn't recognize it and it never fired, but she tried the shutter button. Could this have damaged her camera even if it ...
3
votes
4answers
267 views
Does a digital camera lose its abilities in taking photos if it is left without use or used too often?
One of my friends mention to me that a digital camera (especially of the Superzoom type) will lose its abilities in taking photos (as compared when it was first brought) if it is left without use for ...
2
votes
1answer
142 views
How to Prevent Static Buildup
A question was asked on what would happen to a camera if stored in a low humidity environment. mattdm's answer was:
In a word, static.
Digital cameras are electronic devices, and they also ...
0
votes
0answers
35 views
Can hot days damage your camera? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What will happen to a camera if it is taken to an environment beyond its operating temperature?
I have a canon t3i and I am curious to know just how much heat they can ...
0
votes
2answers
689 views
What will happen to a camera if the relative humidity drops to less than 35%?
What will happen to a camera that is stored in an environment with a very low relative humidity?
Will the camera crack, or what will happen?
Will it be the same for DSLRs, non-weatherproof point ...
