Turning on and off Camera?

10 years 5 months ago #312307 by Dana Leeson
Does it matter if the camera is turned on or off for any of these:

1. Changing lens
2. Changing battery
3. Changing memory card
4. Adding or removing off camera flash

I have always shut my camera down for all of these, but was told yesterday by another photographer that you didn't need too. I'm just getting more opinions on this as I don't want to damage my camera.


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10 years 5 months ago #312311 by garyrhook
1) Read the manual
2) Read the manual
3) Read the manual
4) Read the manual

Honestly, there's no single answer for any of these, as it depends upon what the manufacturer has allowed for. For most of them the answer is no, it's not a problem (especially the flash unit), but you never want to remove the memory card while it's being written to.

Frankly, the other photographer shouldn't express unfounded opinions. Because it depends.


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10 years 5 months ago #312317 by Shadowfixer1
I always turn mine off prior to doing any of these things. Why take an unnecessary chance? The only one I don't do it for is removing the flash. I do make sure the flash is off before removing. Does it matter? I don't know but I do know that I read you should do that in some manufacturer's material way back when.
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10 years 5 months ago #312397 by Fiesta!
I always turn my camera off when I go changing anything.


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10 years 5 months ago #312439 by Joves
Well the theory on the the shutting it off is because of possible shorting. Changing the battery is pretty much like turning it on or off. The cards the circuit is always charged when there is a battery inside, you know this because at least on Nikons the rear greed diode light flashes telling you that the card has been put in. As far, as lenses go the sensor is charged when it is on, but since the shutter is closed, it should not matter in changing the lens either. But I out of habit have it turned off anyhow, and in reality how much longer does it take to turn it on and off. I had one guy tell me that he could miss a shot if something came up and he forget to turn it on. To which I replied then you should have figured out which lens you needed in the first place. So if you turn it off out of habit keep on doing so. I am with Gary people just randomly interjecting their opinion on how you do things such as changing out lenses, and such is just something they do to sound like an all knowing guru.


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10 years 5 months ago #312457 by Dana Leeson

garyrhook wrote: 1) Read the manual
2) Read the manual
3) Read the manual
4) Read the manual

Honestly, there's no single answer for any of these, as it depends upon what the manufacturer has allowed for. For most of them the answer is no, it's not a problem (especially the flash unit), but you never want to remove the memory card while it's being written to.

Frankly, the other photographer shouldn't express unfounded opinions. Because it depends.



I have read my manual, that's why I have done it the way I have. However I find it odd that I have come across a few photographers who say it doesn't matter. Because of this, I ask. :P


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10 years 5 months ago #312467 by StephanieW
If someone tells you you can do something that you've been told could potentially harm your camera before, ignore that person. Sure they COULD be right, but turning off a camera and turning it back on doesn't take that long. I've been told the same thing about ejecting flashdrives from computers. I was told it doesn't matter if you hit eject as long as there's no data being transfered. Yeah, sure, that could be right, but it doesn't take more than a second or two to hit eject so why not just do it?


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10 years 5 months ago #312477 by effron
The big issue could be dust attraction, as your sensor is energized when the camera is on. I try to shut my camera down prior the changing a lens, but when I forget I don't lose sleep...... ;)

Why so serious?
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10 years 5 months ago #312479 by Don Fischer
ya know what? If they way your doing it works for you, go for it. Your not gonna save much time turning it off and on again.


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10 years 5 months ago #312557 by Jim Photo
I'm with Effron, I try to shut my camera down, but if I slip, it happens.


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10 years 5 months ago #312577 by Stealthy Ninja
Never really turned off the camera for any of those things. Never had any trouble either.

IF you want to turn it off, turn it off. The risk is yours.
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10 years 5 months ago #312579 by Stealthy Ninja

effron wrote: The big issue could be dust attraction, as your sensor is energized when the camera is on. I try to shut my camera down prior the changing a lens, but when I forget I don't lose sleep...... ;)


I looked it up once and basically the "sensor attracting dust" thing is a myth or really doesn't make any difference.
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10 years 5 months ago #313015 by Dana Leeson
Well, this thread proved to be helpful. I'll keep shutting my camera down and it's good to know if I accidentally keep it on, it won't be the end of the world.


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10 years 5 months ago #313105 by tCampbell
As a general rule of thumb I do, but I have accidentally missed a couple times and nothing to worry about.


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10 years 5 months ago #313203 by Allen D

tCampbell wrote: As a general rule of thumb I do, but I have accidentally missed a couple times and nothing to worry about.


Same with me. Just try not doing this while at the beach :pinch:


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