Who cares about a knock or scratch on camera???

no text

I must admit i love watching the pro's at race circuits with their battered camer's snapping away, I am going to continue to carry on as i have been but not be concerned about minor cosmetics now, like just said its more important that the camera works!

When you spend a lot of money its there to be used!! And I'm determined to stop worrying about cosmetics and more about getting the shot I want ;-)

After all it is a tool, but an expensive one!

FletchUK.
--
He Who Dares Wins....Rodder's

Yup,

I have the same problem. I call it a problem, because ....... You know what, it kind of is.

It can drive you crazy, and it really doesn't mean anything.

I have a Fuji S3 that has some very textured rubber grips. I wiped the rubber gripped fairly hard once to try and get a shiny spec out of it.
Long story short, it left a rub mark on the rubber. Drove me nuts!

How many people do you know that wash and wax their lawn mowers ???

However, as you get older some of this diminishes and you start to actually enjoy life and forget about the material things, that mean nothing.

When I get crazy like this I look at my family and say, you know we are healthy and happy (what else could you want).

You'll probably never get over it, but you can learn to throttle it back.

Take a Disney Vacation and be a kid again (the whole family will have a great time). Works for me. I have to do it once a year just to stay sain.

Enough said, now lets go out and shoot some memories.

Regards
Brian
http://www.digitalevents.org

Yes I'm fanatical about caring for my cameras and lenses too, and always treat them "with kid gloves". It's purely for me too since I'm one of these people who never normally sells or trades gear. I just love to keep things in pristine condition. I guess it was just instilled into me as a kid by my parents that I should look after my toys, and it's just followed me into adulthood.

On a practical note, if you do get a scratch on the black paintwork of your camera, someone (I think it was in this forum) recommended a while back using a touch up paint pen designed for refurbishing guns. I tracked one down at TheGunShop.co.uk. It's made by Birchwood Casey and is described as a Super Black Instant Touch-Up Pen. It comes in various "colours" and I was recommended to get the Flat Black version.

Fortunately, so far I've not had the need to use it so I can't comment on it's effectiveness, but it's comforting to know it's there for when the inevitable little accident does happen.

--
Dave (Sgt. Pepper), Epsom, England.
http://www.pbase.com/davecq

You got the guys who are collectors of fine camera equipment.

You got the guys who just love taking pictures.

Not saying there is anything wrong with either group as long as you're having fun. Thats really what it this is all about!

I think of this stuff as just a tool but also realize if you respect it just a little it will serve you well. That's why the old Master Painters cleaned their brushes after each session. They are just tools but deserve our respect. About the only thing I"m a little hyper on is the lens being capped to keep it clean. I don't like over cleaning the lens as more optics are ruined from overcleaning than anything else. I also don't think there is any filter you can hang on my optics to make them preform better. Anything infront of the front element can only serve to lesson the image. IMHO...

--

'When trying to make art, don't make the camera do all the work.' from CBS Videographer Darryl Barton at NPPA boot camp.

One of the reasons I chose Nikon is their reputation of being able to take abuse. The camera is made for use. Don't worry about scratches and dents as long as the camera works. The camera is intended for making photos, not being babied.

My first camera (a fixed lens 35mm viewfinder) went with me through the most trying conditions even rough military exercises. It was hit and dropped numerous times. The front of the lens barrel was warped so I could not screw on a filter. I used the camera until the manual focusing mechanism stopped working. Enjoyed the photos to the end.

Enjoy your photography!
--
Kind regards
Kaj
http://www.pbase.com/kaj_e
WSSA member

Good words Kaj, I agree. I am now!!

Kaj E said:

One of the reasons I chose Nikon is their reputation of being able
to take abuse. The camera is made for use. Don't worry about
scratches and dents as long as the camera works. The camera is
intended for making photos, not being babied.

My first camera (a fixed lens 35mm viewfinder) went with me through
the most trying conditions even rough military exercises. It was
hit and dropped numerous times. The front of the lens barrel was
warped so I could not screw on a filter. I used the camera until
the manual focusing mechanism stopped working. Enjoyed the photos
to the end.

Enjoy your photography!
--
Kind regards
Kaj
http://www.pbase.com/kaj_e
WSSA member

Click to expand...

--
He Who Dares Wins....Rodder's

Like so many others, I too have this obessive (for the lack of a better word) characteristic to keep it clean and in mint condition. Doesn't mean that i won't take it out of the bag to use...but just as someone above mentioned, I respect the gear and take care of it. For some...it might be because of the price of the equipment but for me, it's just been the same way since I was kid with my toys or others belongings. It's just a personality thing...if someone lent me their gear and they had no problem with dings and such...i would still take care of it as my own.

Which leads me to a point...not to steal the focus of this thread...but lately i've been thinking about other people asking me if they can see my camera or use it. I have a huge problem with this...even to the point of saying no to my wife (which i found out was better not to...another story to itself...haha). I feel bad and feel a bit of hate or resentment from them when I say no. Maybe I'm being too protective? I understand how this feels so i rarely ask to borrow or see someone's gear (camera, car, cellphone, etc.)

Anyone else have this problem?

--
PeaceOut

I just aske them to put the strap around their necks before they start to fiddle around. Most people I know are too intimidated by the camera to do much aside from looking through the viewfinder and pressing the shutter for too long hehehe...

--
-Michael
Just take the picture =)
Equipment in profile
Growing Gallery at:
http://www.ballentphoto.com

mballent said:

I just aske them to put the strap around their necks before they
start to fiddle around. Most people I know are too intimidated by
the camera to do much aside from looking through the viewfinder and
pressing the shutter for too long hehehe...

--
-Michael
Just take the picture =)
Equipment in profile
Growing Gallery at:
http://www.ballentphoto.com

Click to expand...

Maybe i'll give that a try. I should be as nice as you are...but your totally comfortable with that?

--
PeaceOut

I'm VERY Anal as to what condition my item is when I purchase it at the store. Even stuff like scratches on the box is enough to make me pick another box

I pay for an item new, I want it 100% new (I just returned a D200 that obviously had been tried by someone else then returned, I told the store to send me back another one or I'd cancel it ...they did).

However, once it's been opened and used for a bit, I tend to stop caring because I realize it takes away from my "fun" if I'm too carefull of my gear up to a point where I don't take it out when I normally should.

I always laught when I see all the pros with their duct taped lenses, etc

P.S. I still freak out when my friend wants to play with my camera gear after eating nachos & he has grease & salt all over his fingers!!!!!!!!!

PeaceOut said:

Like so many others, I too have this obessive (for the lack of a
better word) characteristic to keep it clean and in mint condition.
Doesn't mean that i won't take it out of the bag to use...but just
as someone above mentioned, I respect the gear and take care of it.
For some...it might be because of the price of the equipment but
for me, it's just been the same way since I was kid with my toys or
others belongings. It's just a personality thing...if someone lent
me their gear and they had no problem with dings and such...i would
still take care of it as my own.

Which leads me to a point...not to steal the focus of this
thread...but lately i've been thinking about other people asking me
if they can see my camera or use it. I have a huge problem with
this...even to the point of saying no to my wife (which i found out
was better not to...another story to itself...haha). I feel bad
and feel a bit of hate or resentment from them when I say no.
Maybe I'm being too protective? I understand how this feels so i
rarely ask to borrow or see someone's gear (camera, car, cellphone,
etc.)

Anyone else have this problem?

--
PeaceOut

Click to expand...

Yes I do Peaceout!!

I know others may not respect the gear and you just know it would come back with some sort of mark or scratch!!

FletchUK.

--
He Who Dares Wins....Rodder's

PeaceOut said:

mballent said:

I just aske them to put the strap around their necks before they
start to fiddle around. Most people I know are too intimidated by
the camera to do much aside from looking through the viewfinder and
pressing the shutter for too long hehehe...

--
-Michael
Just take the picture =)
Equipment in profile
Growing Gallery at:
http://www.ballentphoto.com

Click to expand...

Maybe i'll give that a try. I should be as nice as you are...but
your totally comfortable with that?

--
PeaceOut

Click to expand...

Still a little nervous during the hand off phase hehehe. I do not hand it to people that I do not know, just friends or family. Honestly most people really do not like it just because of the weight. I have come home and seen the camera out and I know that my wife has been taking pictures of our son... That is where she stops, she does not download the pics. My thinking is to let my wife use it so she can get the bug too... then when it's time to say "Honey I need a " perhaps she will not give me grief hehehe.

--
-Michael
Just take the picture =)
Equipment in profile
Growing Gallery at:
http://www.ballentphoto.com

...it adds character.
--
Bob P.

I do baby my equipment. This is the way I managed to own 25 y/o lenses that do look like new even after having made their way several times around the earth. Never scratched a lens, even whithout using any "protection" filter. The one thing to avoid is letting items scratch each other in a camera bag, due to hasty packing. Try to separate items the best you can.
--
Jean Bernier

All photographs are only more or less credible illusions

jean bernier said:

I do baby my equipment. This is the way I managed to own 25 y/o
lenses that do look like new even after having made their way
several times around the earth. Never scratched a lens, even
whithout using any "protection" filter. The one thing to avoid is
letting items scratch each other in a camera bag, due to hasty
packing. Try to separate items the best you can.
--
Jean Bernier

All photographs are only more or less credible illusions

Click to expand...

Good advice Jean. That is where a lot of the knocks happen!!

FletchUK.
--
He Who Dares Wins....Rodder's

Kallel00 said:

I always laught when I see all the pros with their duct taped
lenses, etc

Click to expand...

Don't laugh! It's one of the best protections against theft. You can damn near spray paint a D2X blaze orange on three sides of it and set it down on the sidewalk and it will likely be there for some time. If it's tainted, it ain't nearly as likely to be stolen. New and shiney gets stolen pretty quickly. I know this from expieriance.

--

'When trying to make art, don't make the camera do all the work.' from CBS Videographer Darryl Barton at NPPA boot camp.

PeaceOut said:

Which leads me to a point...not to steal the focus of this
thread...but lately i've been thinking about other people asking me
if they can see my camera or use it. I have a huge problem with
this...even to the point of saying no to my wife (which i found out
was better not to...another story to itself...haha). I feel bad
and feel a bit of hate or resentment from them when I say no.
Maybe I'm being too protective? I understand how this feels so i
rarely ask to borrow or see someone's gear (camera, car, cellphone,
etc.)

Anyone else have this problem?

Click to expand...

Yep - I would be uncomfortable loaning my D2x. Don't think I would. But like you, because of my feeling about gear (photographic and otherwise), I also don't ask to borrow anything. I just don't think anyone is ever nearly as careful with others' stuff as if it were their own. Said another way, people are only truly careful with something if they bought it with their own money. Otherwise they are generally more sloppy, and...my camera is just too important to me to risk, and too expensive for most people to replace, so if they break it...I have to buy it. Therefore, no loan.

--
Dana Paul Franz
[email protected]
http://dfranz.smugmug.com
'That's what Jagulars always do,' said Pooh,
much interested. 'They call 'Help! Help!'
and then when you look up, they drop on you.'

I often work on movie/tv sets, and I can testify to the sloppy attitude people have regarding the company's equipment. They don't realize or don't care for things they did not have to pay with their own money. I recently picked up a light stand that was put in the garbage can by one of the crew: I even asked first, and was told it was scrapped, and was given the strange look when I retrieved it: it only had a stripped thightening screw...took me just a few minutes at the studio to dig a replacement knob in the parts bin...great stand now back in use. Same attitude regarding the use of consumables: gels are often cut four times the required surface, rolls are trown out when nearing the end, etc...

Cameramen are much more careful with the camera equipment: they are personally responsible for taking care of the gear. They handle hundreds of thousands of $ in a few cases, that's why.

Newspaper photographers most of the time do not use their own equipment, that's why they feel free to bang them around and have a very "cool", casual attitude toward cameras. "The paper will get me a new one if it breaks. Why should I even bother ?"

A camera's look determines what's it's worth when resaling. Tells you a lot about the previous owner too. Same with cars: a pampered car tells me the mechanics are probably well maintained as well. I won't touch a used two year old car with scratches and dings on every panel. Actually, the appearance is your only indication on what it's worth: the rest is mostly uncontrollable.
--
Jean Bernier

All photographs are only more or less credible illusions

I DID care a lot at the beginning... But I learned not to, as it would have driven me insane - my excursions tend to make cameras look like this:



That's my "workhorse"... the DCS420 it replaced looks just a little bit better.

Don't get me wrong - I love my cameras anyway - so much I want to be burried with them