Your camera gear is broken, or might be broken, or you're worried something might break it.
39
votes
6answers
20k 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 ...
33
votes
5answers
3k views
Will too much time-lapse photography reduce a DSLR's life, or cause any other damage?
I own a Canon 550D, and I'm planning to do some time-lapse experiments this weekend just for fun. Will it cause any damage or reduce my DSLR's lifetime if I do too much of it?
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
17
votes
7answers
3k views
How can I photograph welding?
My partner is creating a sculptural work using MIG welding and has asked me to document the process. I have a few questions regarding how to photograph it?
Looking at the arc can damage your ...
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 ...
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 ...
13
votes
3answers
677 views
Could my lens be damaged after being used as burning glass?
During a nice nature trip, sitting at a table with a bottle of wine, somehow we had the ridiculous idea to test a lens as burning glass (which performed quite well).
After we went home I started ...
12
votes
3answers
697 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
296 views
Can I damage an IS lens by moving it too quickly?
The other day, I was using my Canon 500D with the EF-S 55-250 IS lens. A couple of times after focusing I tried to recompose the picture, and noticed the image in the view finder suddenly shifted.
...
12
votes
5answers
728 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 ...
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 ...
10
votes
4answers
1k views
Is it risky or difficult to wet clean an image sensor?
I've discovered spots on the image sensor of my DSLR camera that cannot be cleaned using a blower bulb, so I would like to know the risk of problems, such as further image deterioration or damage to ...
10
votes
2answers
3k views
How do I dry water condensation off my camera?
OK, I did something very very stupid. I know it. I just wasn't thinking. :( In a nutshell, I didn't follow the advice here: How do I prevent condensation on a lens when outdoors?
So it's a very hot ...
9
votes
8answers
683 views
Is it safe to carry around a tripod with a DSLR attached to the head?
Let's assume I'm coordinated enough not to hit anyone or anything with the tripod.
I'm concerned about the DSLR/plate/head interface. Assuming everything is properly attached and tightened, can I ...
8
votes
3answers
275 views
Rescuing prints stuck to glass
I have a print which has stuck to the the glass in its frame. I tried to pull it off, resulting in some small tears before we stopped. How can I remove it without damaging it further?
Unfortunately, ...
8
votes
3answers
1k views
Will long exposure night shots damage my camera?
I've been looking into long exposure photography for star tracking. How does it negatively (if at all) affect your camera?
8
votes
1answer
912 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 ...
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 ...
8
votes
2answers
982 views
How strong is the tripod mount on the bottom of a DSLR?
I'm looking at getting a sling-style strap for my camera (Canon 60D) but the one thing I keep wondering is if the tripod mount is strong enough to "hang" the camera from. I've seen some discussions ...
8
votes
2answers
795 views
Are these images symptomatic of shutter failure?
This is a burst sequence taken with a Canon 1D Mark II N in high-speed mode (8fps). You can see the bright line down the center and the dark area in the upper-right. I have several other sequences ...
7
votes
3answers
479 views
How to tell if a polarizing filter is too damaged?
I dropped my CPL onto some rocks and it's a bit scratched up. There's no obvious effect in a (very cursory) look at the photos, but are there tests I can do to see if the damage has a visible effect?
7
votes
1answer
197 views
Are burn marks on a flash unit window normal?
My flash unit has been accumulating small burn marks on its window. Is this normal wear and tear or equipment damage?
6
votes
2answers
187 views
Can a hard impact foul up a lens' focus?
Recently, a camera with lens attached got knocked off a chair and hit the floor (not my gear, fortunately!). Following that, the lens would not focus properly, either with manual focus or auto. The ...
6
votes
3answers
799 views
Can a camera or lens get burn in?
I took a picture of the sun today, and I was thinking about how the sun can damage your eye, I was wondering if the camera or lens could get damaged by this, or get burn in like some screens do?
6
votes
3answers
355 views
Is it dangerous to do a lens change with power on?
I have just accidentally changed my lense over with the power on. In the manual it lists this as something you shouldn't do a a 'caution' . Can this cause damage? If so, what and how will I tell?
(I ...
5
votes
2answers
220 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 ...
5
votes
2answers
635 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 ...
5
votes
3answers
368 views
What are the options for a damaged zoom lens?
I have had a Nikkor 18-55mm lens for about 3 years. I just realized that my lens only zooms upto 45mm and then gets stuck.
This was my first SLR lens, and I did not pay attention to the zoom range ...
5
votes
1answer
181 views
For the same number of shots, does continuous shooting wear out a shutter or other mechanical parts faster than single shots?
Does continuous shooting subject a shutter or other mechanical parts to more wear and tear than single shooting, assuming the same number of shots are taken? In other words, does firing x shots at 4 ...
5
votes
3answers
92 views
What could cause a totally broken focus mechanism?
When looking for lens bargains on eBay, I often come across lenses that have something like this in their description:
Lens will not focus automatically or manually. For parts or repair only.
...
5
votes
1answer
86 views
How can I check for damage to my lens from impact with a window?
I was taking a photo at an airport when I accidentally zoomed my Canon SX40HS into a window. The impact wasn't super hard, but there was a thump. I cannot see any visible damage, but how can I check ...
4
votes
2answers
166 views
Is it safe to use a telephoto lens when the camera is on a tripod?
The camera is mounted on the tripod. The telephoto lens is mounted on the camera, with no additional support. Is this safe or stupid?
It seems like this would put a lot of stress on the tripod mount ...
4
votes
2answers
760 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 ...
4
votes
2answers
880 views
What can damage a lens?
I just bought a Canon dSLR camera with an 18-135mm IS lens. I really want to take care of it, as I paid extra for this "better" lens, so can the lens get, in some way, damaged if you drop it, say 5 ...
4
votes
2answers
221 views
What would cause a Pentax SDM lens to stop autofocusing, and what can I do?
I've read many reports that the SDM autofocus motor in some Pentax lenses may stop working after several months or years of use. Why does this happen, and is there anything I can do to prevent ...
4
votes
1answer
123 views
Can lens stacking cause sensor damage?
Can damage be caused to a camera's imaging sensor (any size) simply by reversing, or stacking, lenses? Would stacking lenses cause a concentration of light to strike the sensor and perhaps damage ...
4
votes
1answer
103 views
What type of camera, camera equipment or techniques should I use for prolonged high humidity shooting?
I work for a greenhouse. We are working on getting a website up and I need to take photos of ALL of our plants in 3 different sizes. We have 244 different types of herbs and scented geraniums. ...
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 ...
3
votes
3answers
475 views
Can taking photo of the moon and/or stars at night cause damage to the camera sensor?
We know that taking photo of the sun can cause some degree of damage to the camera and our eyes. So, are there any damage to the camera (point and shoot / DSLR) when taking photo of the moon and/or ...
3
votes
1answer
313 views
Could taking pictures of a [candle] flame damage my camera?
I'm slightly inspired by the picture in this question involving candle flames.
I'm interested in taking similar pictures of candle flames and fire more generally, but I worry that it might cause ...
3
votes
3answers
229 views
How to tell if an impact to the camera caused any damage?
Today I dropped something on my camera's body, on the back of camera on image magnifier buttons. there is no signs of damage on the LCD or body and the buttons are working. I actually dropped the ...
3
votes
2answers
266 views
Are these ghost light spots and vertical grain indication that my scratched polarizer is ruined?
Earlier, I unfortunately dropped my polarizer. There doesn't seem to be any damage save for a light scratch which I've uncovered only after a very thorough inspection. Nonetheless, I'm worried that ...
3
votes
2answers
344 views
Can video shooting have a negative effect on a DSLR sensor?
When compared to shooting still photographs, does shooting video have any negative effect on DSLR sensors? For example, I wonder if shooting video may produce more heat, which might be harmful for ...
3
votes
3answers
362 views
Is there any damage that a lens can have that is unrepairable?
Just wondering after I dropped my lens and had it repaired is there any specific kind of damage that would ruin a lens to the point where you'd be better just buying another used one.
I'm ...
3
votes
2answers
123 views
Will vintage camera equipment be damaged by x-ray scanners?
Will my vintage photoelectric lightmeters (the ones using photocells, no batteries) be affected or permanently damaged by x-ray scanners at the airport?
