When you’re out taking pictures, and a problem crops up, it isn’t always easy to solve it.There’s a good way to prevent them however!As the saying goes, “The best defense is a good offense.” And the best offense here is to avoid problems with your digital camera in the first place.
That’s not to say things aren’t going to happen that are unexpected and unavoidable.Many of the common problems photographers have when out shooting pictures, however, could easily be remedied with just a little prior planning.
Dead Batteries
There’s nothing worse than missing that great picture because the camera battery died.The answer is to absolutely always have extra batteries in your camera case.Regular or rechargeable batteries, it doesn’t matter, you need to keep at least one spare handy..
Also, bear in mind that if you’re outside shooting in cold weather, your batteries will die a lot quicker.Since digital camera batteries don’t do well in cold weather and die pretty quickly, it might be wise to have more than one spare.
Yes, batteries are expensive, but it’s worth the spending a little extra money to keep from beating your head against the wall because a dead battery made you miss that once in a lifetime shot.
When Cards Go Bad
A while back I went on vacation and took all my pictures on one card.I was sure I’d got some fantastic pictures. I was sure I’d filled that card with memorable photos.
The scenery was indeed breathtaking, but what really took my breath away was when I tried to load the pictures onto my computer and got one of those dreaded “ERROR” messages.The files were corrupted and useless. The card was bad. There was no way to access them, so all those wonderful pictures were gone, gone, gone.
While it doesn’t happen often, cards can and do go bad.This is the very reason it makes sense to buy two or more smaller cards instead of just one big card.Get a couple of 1-GB cards, for example, instead of buying a 2-GB card.
Yes, it’s cheaper to buy a huge bunch of gigabytes on one card.All your pictures are gone if you lose that one card however.Avoid the temptation.Losing any pictures is a bummer, but it’s better to save at least part of them than to lose them all.
Remember, two cards are better than one.
It’s Raining, It’s Pouring
The weather isn’t cooperating, or maybe you just like pictures of rain.Maybe you’re on a boat. Maybe you’re walking on the seashore. But you’re somewhere with a lot of moisture in the air.You want pictures, but you want to keep your camera in good condition.Is there any way to keep your camera dry?
Well, you can buy protective gear to keep in your camera case for such times. Places like B & H Photo or Calumet Photographic stores carry waterproof cases. However, if it’s just an occasional thing, you might not want to spend money for such equipment.
For a make-do solution, carry a clear plastic bag in your camera case to keep water off your camera. If you’re traveling and don’t have a plastic bag in your camera case, grab one of those clear disposable shower caps and use it.
Planning Ahead Saves Your Sanity
If planning ahead doesn’t save your sanity, it will at least improve your chances for good pictures with your digital camera.At least with a dry, usable camera, charged batteries and extra memory cards you can take a bunch of pictures.
And that’s why you bought a digital camera in the first place, right?