Caring for your Digital Camera

[c2ironfist]

Hey guys...

I was wondering how to properly take care of your Digital Camera..

I have a SD300 Digital Elfph. spent a lot on it so I want to make sure its being taken care of properly.

I clean mine with a slightly wet cloth to get off dirt and other stuff.. was wondering if this is okay?

Also the LCD screen... I hate getting it dirty.. and I wipe it often..
People generaly get their finger prints all over it some even press on it..

I was wondering how durable the LCD screen is if you can touch it a lot and stuff..

Anyways please let me know thanks

[ProblemSolver]

LCD screens are quite durable and they don't break easily (If you handle them well). I have a S500 and I also use a wet cloth to clean it. In addition, I use a cotton bud to clean the optical viewfinder as a lot of dust gets on it as I carry it in my pocket frequently.

[MobstaJ]

I would be careful with the lcd screen. I have accidentally scratched the screen on almost every camera I've had. The scratches can be annoying, especially when they catch the glare on sunny days outside shooting. You can get lcd screen protectors which are basically little static cling plastic strips to put on it. I just always keep it in a tight soft lined case which fits well in my pocket. It does a good job of protecting the camera from any scratches.

[c2ironfist]

I would be careful with the lcd screen. I have accidentally scratched the screen on almost every camera I've had. The scratches can be annoying, especially when they catch the glare on sunny days outside shooting. You can get lcd screen protectors which are basically little static cling plastic strips to put on it. I just always keep it in a tight soft lined case which fits well in my pocket. It does a good job of protecting the camera from any scratches.

Where can you pick these little protectors up? I've always had problems with well I've always been extra carefull with my LCD screens for all my little toys

If you can let me know thanks how much they go for and where to get them.. would be appreciated :)

[MobstaJ]

I did a forum search and came up with these: http://www.hoodmanusa.com/hoodskins.asp Seems like they sell 12 for $9.99 which is steep for me. A better choice would probably be to search ebay for some, I'm sure they're all over the place there. I've also heard of people buying similar pda protectors from like compusa and cutting them to size. I've personally never used them.

[c2ironfist]

ouch thats sorta pricy for plastic :mad:

I'm sure you can get them cheaper elsewhere.. I know it

[Rhys]

I bought a set of video screen protectors for a very small sum and cut one up to put on my 995 screen. I've never bothered with my 3100 and my S1 has a screen that can be rotated to face the camera so it never gets near dirt. The 3100 is usually in my shirt pocket so no problems with scratches and dirt. I'd say that by the time an LCD gets scratched so badly that it's a major problem, it's probably time for a new camera anyway. I reckon the current crop will all be in junk shops in about 3 years.

[c2ironfist]

I bought a set of video screen protectors for a very small sum and cut one up to put on my 995 screen. I've never bothered with my 3100 and my S1 has a screen that can be rotated to face the camera so it never gets near dirt. The 3100 is usually in my shirt pocket so no problems with scratches and dirt. I'd say that by the time an LCD gets scratched so badly that it's a major problem, it's probably time for a new camera anyway. I reckon the current crop will all be in junk shops in about 3 years.

I'd have to agree with you there that in about 2-3 years these models will drop in price or they'll release some sorta new type of camera anyways technology keeps advancing and we'll continue to get newer cameras

Thats why I don't bother paying for the extended 3-4 year warranty that cost like 100-300$ for a 500$ Camera is the dumbestt thing ever.

[Rhys]

I'd have to agree with you there that in about 2-3 years these models will drop in price or they'll release some sorta new type of camera anyways technology keeps advancing and we'll continue to get newer cameras

Thats why I don't bother paying for the extended 3-4 year warranty that cost like 100-300$ for a 500$ Camera is the dumbestt thing ever.

I fail to see the point in extended warranties. The camera is covered for the first year by the manufacturer's warranty. At the end of the first year, typically, the camera will be on sale for half its purchase price. Generally, the cost of the warranty (purchased when the camera was new) will now cover an entire new replacement camera with some memory cards thrown in.

The worst warranty I ever saw was on Jessops website. It cost more than the camera did!

[c2ironfist]

I fail to see the point in extended warranties. The camera is covered for the first year by the manufacturer's warranty. At the end of the first year, typically, the camera will be on sale for half its purchase price. Generally, the cost of the warranty (purchased when the camera was new) will now cover an entire new replacement camera with some memory cards thrown in.

The worst warranty I ever saw was on Jessops website. It cost more than the camera did!

lol exactly why buy a warranty for 100$-300$ when you can use that money and buy a camera bettor then yours in two to three years for the same price? Its just a gimmic to milk you dry for what you've got and a lot of people get suckered into it..

I was told my by friend of mine who works at these places they get 50% off the retail price. Which means that if your buying a 500$ camera employees buy it for half that price 250$.. if you think about it the warranty cost more then what the company spends on it. Crazy

I'll tell you a story when I was shopping around well just looking around at cameras at Best Buy ( Bestbuy.ca )

Anyways a guy was looking to get a Digicam cost about 500$.. the stupid sales associate wanted to sell him the 200$ extended 3 years warranty. The guy was wondering why he needed one the sales associate was lying out of his ass.. saying oh well things could happen it can easily break there could be moisture that can damage the LCD screen. I was like man this guy such a F*ck Face for screwing this other idiot into buying the dumb warranty...

At the end the dude ended up buying the camera and the warranty and to make things worse the idiot sales associate to me seemed like he had no clue on Digital cameras at all.. I stood there listening laughing quitly while they were getting suckered into buying it. I keep thinking to this day if I should have opened my mouth and said something. Oh well :)

But yhaa.. in a few years that warranty will expire and your cameraless. Save that cash for something else or another camera.

[MobstaJ]

I've had friends who bought warranties and broke their stuff right before the warranty was up to get newer and better replacement things. I would never do something like that as it seems to me to be more trouble than it's worth but some people do these things.

[c2ironfist]

I've had friends who bought warranties and broke their stuff right before the warranty was up to get newer and better replacement things. I would never do something like that as it seems to me to be more trouble than it's worth but some people do these things.

That is true more trouble for what its worth... and chances of you getting a replacement I'm not sure how that works but I'm gonna assume there is a lot of red tape involved.

But the sales associates usualy imply that its okay to break it and bring it back to be replaced.

So if they suggest that thats what they can do then obviously people are going to do that.

Its just a waste of time.. breaking something that isn't broke to get one that works when the first one is perfectly fine lol

[Rhys]

That is true more trouble for what its worth... and chances of you getting a replacement I'm not sure how that works but I'm gonna assume there is a lot of red tape involved.

But the sales associates usualy imply that its okay to break it and bring it back to be replaced.

So if they suggest that thats what they can do then obviously people are going to do that.

Its just a waste of time.. breaking something that isn't broke to get one that works when the first one is perfectly fine lol

It's more than that. It's probably a criminal offence too - obtaining goods or money by deception. Further, if the insurance companies discover this si what's happening then insurance premiums for the individual concerned will rocket or they'll just be blacklisted.

[gary_hendricks]

When cleaning lenses, always use a lint-free wipe before touching it. It's even better to wear gloves or mitts or something as you don ever want fingerprints on your lenses.