Maintaining Your Digital Video Camera

Learn a few tips for care and maintenance of your digital video camera.

You Get What You Give

Digital video cameras are expensive no matter what type you end up getting. They are composed of a variety of different components, each working on its own to bring perfect synergy to the entire device. You have color sensitive internal chips, a variety of glass optics, sensitive iris and aperture features, and a casing that really can only withstand minor trauma. If you are going to inspire your camera to last more than a measly few months you are going to have to follow some simple methods for upkeep and maintenance.

Case Cleaning

Cleaning the case is an important part of camera care. Dust is your main enemy here so you need to make sure to dust it often with a micro fiber brush, only using water on very small sections of the case that are no where near buttons or seams. Make sure you dry it out as fast as possible, and never use cleaning chemicals. The most important thing is to clean it off whenever you need it, or every couple uses. This does not need to be an excessive amount of cleaning, but enough to prevent build up.

Lens Cap

Always keep your lens cap on when you are not using your camera. Excessive light and exposure can damage the chips and leave the lens open to scratches or other types of interferences. If you can afford it you should purchase a better lens cap then what comes standard.

Lens Care

Cleaning your lens is one of the most important parts of camera care. This is one place where you actually will want to use a cleaning agent, but it needs to be specified for camera lenses. Using canned air can also be beneficial, and it is also great for use on the body of the camera.

Storage Locations

Keep it in proper storage locations where it will not end up sitting on hard edges or be exposed to damage. If you have a good case you must keep it in there, but in a closet wrapped in something durable and soft will also help. Never keep a camera in a car because condensation can occur inside the camera.

Battery and Tape Deck

Make sure to always keep the battery in top shape. Never keep a battery in a cold area because it will have less life than normal, will wear out faster, and can damage the camera. Make sure to clean out the tape deck by running a cleaning tape in their every so often.

Be Smart

Most rules are relatively common sense and require you to keep an eye on your camera. The better you watch after it the longer it will last and the better quality video you will end up getting.

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Maintaining Your Digital Video Camera

Camcorder Maintenance Tips: Keeping the Video Camera Clean

It is always a good practice to know when your camcorder needs maintenance and what type of maintenance should be done. In this article, we will learn helpful cleaning tips that will guide us in making sure our equipment stays in good shape for years to come.

There are some maintenance duties that have to be left for the professional. To ensure the longevity of your equipment, always consult with a trained repair service to do any type of major maintenance work. Failure to do so can result in invalidating the video camera’s warranty. However, there are some basic cleaning tips that you can follow on your own that will keep your camera, and warranty, intact.

Tip #1: Clean the camcorder every three months with a MiniDV cleaning cassette. You can find these cleaning cassettes at any electronics store or the electronics department of a discount store. After purchasing the cleaning cassette, pop it into the camera and press play. Allow the tape to run for at least 10 seconds, but no longer than 15 seconds. Not letting it run long enough will not result in the removal of all the built-up gook from the heads. If you let it run too long, the abrasive material of the cleaning cassette may overwork, and damage the heads.

Tip #2: Use a monitor cleaning cloth to clean the touch-screen viewfinder. Not all video cameras have this feature, but if yours does, it is a good idea to clean this regularly. Greasy fingerprints can accumulate on the screen. After a while, the protective coating will start to wear off. Carry around the cleaning cloths and clean the viewfinder immediately after every use before packing the camcorder back up.

Tip #3: Clean the lens frequently. Use a can of compressed air, a non-abrasive brush or non-abrasive cloths to remove any dust or substances from the lens to keep it in good working order. This is a fairly easy and quick step that should be done regularly.

Tip #4: This next tip is more of a preventive step than anything. You may not know this but Sony is the only manufacturer that uses a wet lubricant for their tapes; everyone else uses a dry lubricant. To avoid having a messy build-up on the head from mixing the two lubricants, stick to one type. If you like Sony tapes then use them and none of the others. The same can be said for other manufacturers’ tapes. Don’t switch between wet and dry lubricated tapes. This will help keep your heads clean from residue and reduces any future maintenance problems. If you must switch, be sure to clean your heads before doing so.

Tip #5: Always properly store the video camera after use. The camera should be stored in a dust-free environment that has low humidity. Always place the camera in a bag to ensure dust-prevention.

Follow these simple tips to extend the life of your camcorder. Just a few moments out of your day will save the huge maintenance headache down the road.

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Camcorder Maintenance Tips: Keeping the Video Camera Clean

Camcorder Maintenance Tips: Top Ten Tips for Handling a Camcorder

Proper handling of your video camera is always a technique you will want to adopt with every use. It is up to you and how well you maintain it to ensure this. In this article, we will learn additional maintenance tips to promote a long and productive life out of your camcorder.

There are ten tips that I live by when handling my video camera. I know that if I fail to practice proper maintenance and handling procedures then I can almost ensure the death of my equipement. To avoid any costly repairs down the road, I try to take good care of my video camera now. You, too, can use these tips on handling your camcorder in order to ensure longevity from your device.

Tip #1: Keep the camcorder in a tightly sealed plastic bag when bringing it from a cold temperature to a warm temperature. This cuts down on condensation that can occur on the inside of the camera and cause damage to the heads or the tape. The camera needs to adjust to the change in temperature gradually, so keep it in the bag until it adapts to the warmer climate.

Tip #2: Ensure the proper handling of any tapes before using them in the camcorder. Do not stick any type of material in the small holes located on the cassettes. The cover should never be removed and the tape inside should never be touched. Any dust on the terminals should be cleaned off with a soft cloth. If the terminals are dirty or damaged, it can damage your camcorder or make your heads dirty.

Tip #3: If you know that a long length of time will pass before using the camcorder again, remove the battery and tape from the device before storing it. Every now and then, you will want to turn the camera on and play the tape for a few seconds. This is a preventive step to keep the camera running so that when you are ready to use it again, you will not be faced with any surprises.

Tip #4: If going to the beach, protect the video camera from sand. Sand can severely damage the camera where it can not be repaired. Store the camcorder in a plastic bag when not in use and have some type of protective covering while filming.

Tip # 5: To avoid a short circuit, keep all metal contacts clean. Do not let anything metallic get in close contact of the metal part of the connecting plate.

Tip #6: Stick to the manual about the operation of the camcorder when it comes to power supplies.

Tip #7: Unplug the camcorder immediately if anything gets inside the casing. Get it checked by a dealer before trying to operate it again.

Tip #8: The POWER switch should always be set to OFF when camera is not in use.

Tip #9: Do not operate the camcorder around any magnetic files or mechanical vibrations.

Tip #10: Never use old batteries with new ones in the video camera. Make sure that batteries are of the same type and are void of leakage.

There you have it. Those are my top 10 tips for handling your camcorder. With these tips, you can save yourself a great deal of trouble and money that comes with repairing, or replacing, the device. If you handle your camcorder properly, it will reward you will a long life span. Mishandle it and you will be sorry

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Camcorder Maintenance Tips: Top Ten Tips for Handling a Camcorder