Since the turn towards the industrial age, photography has been a crucial part of documenting almost every significant piece of history. Whether it’s a significant conflict, a new scientific discovery, or simple celebrations of a prominent figure’s victories, cameras have always had a leading role in portraying history.
That said, photography is not a hobby for everyone. You’ll need tons of equipment, several other types of lighting, and, most importantly, lenses that coincide with your camera’s body. That said, having a professional camera can be expensive.
What’s the Camera’s Lifespan?
While there are cameras that can last years, several factors will affect your camera’s lifespan. On average, a camera will last around three to five years with beginner-tier cameras having at least 100,000 shots for each shutter. Higher tier cameras will usually last approximately 150,000 to 300,000 shots. But users should not base the lifespan of their cameras on how many shots are taken since external factors can affect image quality. Manufacturers will, most of the time, place the shutter ratings of the camera so that users are aware of their lifespan.
Most of the time, the most significant factor when taking care of your camera is knowing how to maintain different parts. While most professional cameras can withstand most of the elements, they are still quite vulnerable to moisture and water damage.
No worries, if you think your camera is already passed its lifespan, there are still several ways of extending the life expectancy. Even for a piece of equipment that will usually cost thousands of dollars, extending a professional camera’s lifespan is relatively inexpensive.
Extending the Lifespan
Cleaning
First and foremost, the lens of the camera should always be kept in a dry place. There are instances that moisture can get inside the camera’s body and lens, which can cause molds to form.
Cleaning can be as simple as removing dust from your lens and your camera with a disposable cleaning cloth. Even though too much water can become a problem for most gadgets, placing a little water on the cleaning cloth won’t hurt. That is especially important when you’re camping, hiking and dirt, dust, and sometimes mildew gets in your camera’s body and lens.
You won’t have to be anxious about your camera getting wet as most digital and DSLR cameras are designed to last against drizzles and rain.
Camera Sensors and Internal Parts
Some newer models of cameras won’t need internal cleaning for a couple of months, especially when most will have a supersonic dust reduction system.
Cleaning internal parts of your camera might be a challenge. Using a damp cloth to clean the inner parts of your camera is discouraged. Instead, it’s highly recommended that photographers get a “wet” kit, which can help with cleaning and usually cost around $20 to $40 on average.
There are two ways of cleaning the internal structure of your camera; First is with a wet kit, and the second would be through canned air blasters, which is a proven way of removing dust without damaging any essential parts. If you prefer using a dry microfiber cloth or a lens cloth, it’s best to get a cheap one and dispose of it after use.
Professional Help
If you’re not sure about the standard operations required to dismantle and clean the internal parts of your camera, it’s advised to have it serviced by the manufacturer or ask someone well-versed with cleaning internal components of the camera. Compared to other gadgets, a camera has a considerable amount of moving parts, and each of these moving parts will need to be placed in the right position lest it will cause even more problems.
While these are just some of the simple ways of extending your DSLR lifespan, it’s essential to know that the shutter count of your camera depends on the will and determine how your professional DSLR with last, but this isn’t just the only factor to weigh in.
It’s important to note that cameras will need to be used continuously. Storing your camera can lead to moisture build-up, which can lead to some fungal growths, and dust can be collected on your lens and internal parts.
The most likely situation that could happen is water and moisture seeping inside your camera. Having an internal cleaning specialist can help repair and replace particular parts of the camera. Overall, there is no need to worry about your camera’s internal parts getting damaged since most will last three to five if continuously used. As long as you are keen on your camera’s condition and keeping it clean with relatively simple measures, your camera’s lifespan will not be an issue.
