How often do you swap lenses?

[LiquidMantis]

I know, I know, "how long is a piece of string?" Anyway, I'm new to SLRs and have a few lenses with a wide angle to come in a few weeks when I make up my mind. I find that I'm changing lenses a couple of times every time I get the camera out. From reading around it seems that some people are phobic about dust in their body (camera body). I've read the popular sensor cleaning pages and it doesn't seem like a big deal to periodically swab it out. The way I look at it, I bought an SLR for it's versatility (among other things of course) and good glass to have the optimal lens for different shots. What's the point if it's not going to be used to its fullest?

Am I being too cavalier about this? Should I try to limit lens changing? To cover the obvious, I am sensible about changing lenses. I try to do it as quickly and methodically as possible and avoid doing it in adverse conditions but I also don't come any where near clean room and bunny suit conditions either...

[Cadwell]

OK... the obvious reply is "as often as I need to change them in order to get the shot I want".

As I see it, there is no point in buying an exchangable lens camera if you are then going to be terrified to change lenses because of dust. If the sensor gets dusty, clean it.

[defordphoto]

What Cadwell said. Use diligence when changing your lenses, but don't fear it. If you are losing sleep over it then get rid of the camera and get the new 8mp Canon and be done with the fear-of-dust.

And to repeat: If your sensor gets dirty, clean it. Also, as long as your camera is under warranty, they will clean you sensor for free, sans shipping charges to Canon. And it's not guaranteed you will get it back dust free even from Canon.

And further, if you get dust on the sensor, the Photoshop heal tool works wonders with dust boogers.

[Jim_T]

I have five lenses ranging from 15mm to 400mm I change them frequently.

Dust can usually be blown off. Sometimes you have to swab.

I have a box of Photosol pre-formed sensor swabs and a bottle of Eclipse fluid.. I've had to wet swab only twice since I got my 10D almost a year ago. I've found that the process is easy to do and works perfectly.

[IanD]

Interesting question. In my case, my winter shooting is mostly for deer, slowly driving and observing on a local mountain. Due to the amount of snow, most of my shots are "shots of oppertunity" so the lens that is on my camera most of the winter is the 100-400.
In spring, summer and fall it is the lens that will give me the result I want.
I will set up in a "deerie" looking spot and wait, usually in a makeshift ground blind. I have a lens mounted and wait till the picture comes together. (providing I do not fall asleep waiting :lol: )

[CyberDyneSystems]

Even when I am working with a big telephoto,. I allways have the 17-40mm with me for sceneic work if it comes up. I won't hesitate to swap lenses unless I am waiting for something that will require the big lens...

[GPR1]

I can only add one thing to what has been said: If you're really worried about dust, turn off the camera when you switch lenses. This removes any static charge on this sensor, so it won't attract as much dust. If you're shooting in a hurry, it's not necessary.

Greg

[kraterz]

Very often. Whenever I need a different lens to get the right shot. Since I shoot primes, this happens very often. And since I use a film SLR, there is absolutely no problem with dust on a "sensor". It's nice...

[diyjoe]

The sensor is behind the shutter, which (apart from cleaning) is only going to be open when there's a lense on the camera. By changing lenses, you're not exposing the sensor to the outside world – you might get a bit of dust in around the mirror that could eventually work its way onto the mirror, but that's it.

The chosen lense will have a big impact on the style of the shot you're taking, so try and think about what you're trying to acheice and make a lense choice based on that. Sometimes, if I'm shooting a particular 'scene' I'll tend to exhaust all possibilities with a particular lense, then try out a different lense.

Don't worry about changing lenses too often –Â*there are plenty of other things to worry about and besides, life's too short!

[gvansmith]

I change lanes whenever necessary. However, in environments that are invested with hoards of tiny flying insects or excessive amounts of airborne particulate matter, I take a second camera with lens.

[chris.bailey]

Am I the only one to do this; I change lenses with the hole (very technical term) in the camera pointing down and effectively screw the camer to the lense rather than the other way around. That way yo at least cheat the dust and grime falling under gravity. Other than a couple of blow outs, I have never had to have my 10D sensor cleaned as such.

[ron chappel]

like most of the others i say-do exactly as you first mentioned....
Be carefull but don't worry about it.
I'm rather lax about lens changing-sometimes i'll leave the camera without a lens for half a minute while i do something else.After 3 months and about a hundred lens changes i haven't got the slightest spec in there. :)

[Belmondo]

Compared to most, I'm a frequent lens changer. I would guess I change several times a day, and almost never have a problem with dust. Perhaps one of the reason is that every time I change lenses (time permitting) I point the camera body down and give it a perfunctory puff of air from my blower brush. I then do the same on the rear of the lens being installed. One thing I learned early on is that it doesn't hurt to have an extra rear lens cap and body cap to carry around in my pocket. So many times I'll leave one or the other in the camera bag or in the car. Then, when I need one in the field, I don't have it. Instead, I've gotten into the habit of carrying a couple extras on my person so I never have to leave anything uncorked for any period of time.

Tom

[LiquidMantis]

Compared to most, I'm a frequent lens changer. I would guess I change several times a day

That's what I wanted to hear! I'm the same way, especially right now while I'm trying to determine if I need more tele or wide mm's. (Of course it's both :roll: ). Nice to know that I'm not being foolhardy and going to be shocked with a hairball in my camera... :shock: