Protecting your camera gear...

When I get new things - cell phone, laptop, dress shoes, etc... - I like them to remain flawless and shiny. I'll put the appropriate protective applications on them for fear of marring their perfect and pristine beauty. Same with camera gear. I like to take care of my cameras and my lenses.

However, when something unfathomable happens and a nick or scratch or other imperfection appears... I feel somewhat liberated. Aside from taking regular care and maintenance, I no longer feel constrained by babying the object of my affection. It's a sort of freedom realized when you accept that something can be imperfect and still loved.

I have a mark on my 70-200. My 7D looks fine to me... but I haven't looked for signs of use. My 5D's screen protector was scratched up this weekend and I haven't peeled it off to see if the LCD is scratched, too. My other lenses have some rub marks on their plastic parts and my flashes get tossed around. Filters - pssh... my brand new Big Stopper's corner is chipped. What's important though: all my gear works.

I don't consider myself negligent by any means. I take care of my equipment, but I must be reasonable and practical about it. Considering we go hiking, take photos on the beach, ride bikes and otherwise spend lots of time outdoors doing outdoorsy things... my camera gear and my wife's point and shoot are bound to become adorned with some battle wear.

I've come to terms with that. What about you?

Nathan wrote in post #16102168
I've come to terms with that. What about you?

A long time ago.

Buying used gear helps a lot, it comes broken in.

Nathan wrote in post #16102168
I've come to terms with that. What about you?

Yup. Been going naked on everything for a while and loving it. I snicker when I see clear filters on lenses.

-alex

I keep my gear pristine at all times, wouldn't use a lens filter though as I don't see the point in buying expensive glass just to put a cheap UV filter on it

mbellot wrote in post #16103570
A long time ago.

Buying used gear helps a lot, it comes broken in.

I try to buy used as much as possible. Definitely have gone through my fair share of lenses. I didn't even buy my 5Diii new - got it 2nd hand a couple of months after it came out.

I guess before, I was contemplating buying and then trading/selling up. However, I like where my lenses are right now so it's time to settle and let them get well used.

i put gaff tape on high risk areas like corners and edges. if it still gets a nick or scratch anyway, then oh well.

Nathan wrote in post #16104278
I try to buy used as much as possible. Definitely have gone through my fair share of lenses.

The only lens I have that was purchased new is my 24-70/2.8. The 16-35/2.8, 70-200/2.8 IS, 100/2.8 Macro and 120-300 (Sigma) were all used lenses, and IMHO the wear and tear was worth the cost savings versus buying them all new.

Nathan wrote in post #16104278
However, I like where my lenses are right now so it's time to settle and let them get well used.

I stopped buying camera gear after I got the 100. I have all but the really long focal lengths covered, and I don't need more than the 70-200 except in a few instances.

Up until now, I've gotten pretty much flawless used items. Not a scratch. Now, I'd rather buy imperfect items if I can get a decent discount.

I look at gear like I do cars: they're meant to be used. if they sit in a padded pelican case (or an air conditioned garage) all day/week/year and never get taken out except for sunny days, then you don't get to have nearly as much fun as you could with them. While I am careful and protective of the important bits, I am constantly setting my camera up on a pile of rocks if I don't have a tripod handy or what have you. I am not a curator of the gear - keeping it preserved so I can get the most out of it when i go to re-sell - I consider it a sunk cost and get the most use out of my gear as I can.

I let the backs/sides/buttons etc. get faded/scratched whatever but on things like my phone screen I put one of those clear protectors - basically only protection I use.

To be honest, it is not something I would really worry about.

If I use it and it stay pristine, great . And yes, that first scratch is annoying (in the wrong spot) but in the end, does it matter?
Recently in Poland I noticed my 5D MK II has some of its paint scratched off around the shutter release so you see the magnesium allow... I have no idea where and how that happened.

In the end, everything will get some signs of wear - just use it the way it was designed to be used.

My gear is supplied by work, it's used nearly every day, so it's going to get worn from just picking it up.
I'm not too worried about the body and lenses being scratched, but there is filters to protect the glass (along with hoods)

My IPhone used to live in an Otterbox Defender, and now lives in a Lifeproof case.
That's because I occassionally drop my phone, and I need it to be working all the time, I can't afford for it to be unusable.

I'm not too worried about small dings and scratches, it's wear and tear that occurs naturally, but I do take care to protect my gear from big drops and impacts (they do still happen though, have had my mk4 come unlocked from a 300 on two occasions, and drop 3ft too the ground - both times it needed a trip back to canon)

Anyway - here's what one of my 1dmk4 looks like after 2 years of daily use

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Byte size: ZERO | PHOTOBUCKET ERROR IMAGE

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Byte size: ZERO | PHOTOBUCKET ERROR IMAGE

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Byte size: ZERO | PHOTOBUCKET ERROR IMAGE

Nathan wrote in post #16102168
When I get new things - cell phone, laptop, dress shoes, etc... - I like them to remain flawless and shiny. I'll put the appropriate protective applications on them for fear of marring their perfect and pristine beauty. Same with camera gear. I like to take care of my cameras and my lenses.

Is your TV remote covered in plastic wrap?

joeblack2022 wrote in post #16134685
Is your TV remote covered in plastic wrap?

Lol... that's what asians do... at least while I was growing up. But no... I don't.

Honestly, even as a little kid, I purposely stepped on and scratched up new tennis shoes because I didn't want them looking new. Somethings different about technology, though... When I first got my macbook, I didn't want it scratched. Now, I'm proud of the scratches, dents and loose battery cover.

I'd like to buy a 1Dmk4 that looks like the one above. I'm afraid, however, to put my bodies through the same cycle to get that look. I'm weird.

Many years ago I decided that putting a $100 piece of glass on a $2,500 piece of glass was.....crazy.

I consider my gear as tools and use them accordingly.