Changing lenses

C

chameleon

Suspended / Banned
Messages
603
Name
John
Edit My Images
Yes
Do you turn off your camera before changing the lens? I always do these days after my 350 crashed when I forgot to turn it off and changed lenses. Had to pop the battery out to reset it. Was a scary moment.
 
I never have thought about it really... Reminds me of a scary moment I had though.

Brand new D80 on tripod doing a long exposure at night... tripped over the pod and WHAM, D80 on the ground locked up with the shutter open. Other than a good scuff on the body and a pantsleg full of ****, everything was ok. Still using the camera to the day. :D
 
The usual advice is that you SHOULD turn it off to reduce static and the chances of such static attracting dust onto the sensor

I can't be arsed to remember such trivia, and must be doing something right as in 2 years I've still not needed a sensor clean

DD
 
Sensors do not "charge" with static when running.

Its one of those internet "facts" that gets repeated, until it becomes "truth".

I'd agree you should turn it off, but not for the "static" myth.
 
puddleduck said:
Sensors do not "charge" with static when running.

Its one of those internet "facts" that gets repeated, until it becomes "truth".

I'd agree you should turn it off, but not for the "static" myth.
Click to expand...


Another urban 'fact' exposed eh

So why turn it off then?

DD
 
DiddyDave said:
Another urban 'fact' exposed eh

So why turn it off then?

DD
Click to expand...

1, the manual tells me to.
2, the lens and body contacts are live. Disconnecting and reconnecting live contacts could cause a power surge / arcing and could potentially damage delicate components.
3, A career in electronics has taught me that this method is best practice.
4, Everybody else seems to leave their cameras switched on when replacing lenses, so, by the law of averages, the first time I do this, I will blow my camera up.
5, I cant afford a new D300.

Allan
 
I turn mine off as well.
 
i turn my camera off, point it toward the floor and out of the wind, i also give the lens im putting on a blow around the mount with a rocket blower and also give the camera mount a blow too.
 
I turn my mine off - when i remember to, mind you i also forget to switch it off quite a lot when changing memory cards.
 
allanm said:
2, the lens and body contacts are live. Disconnecting and reconnecting live contacts could cause a power surge / arcing and could potentially damage delicate components.
Click to expand...


^True
As you rotate the lens into the mount all the lens contacts connect to the body contacts in the wrong order until it is seated correctly.
Doesn't take much thought to realise this is potentially a bad idea when the body is live.
 
dcash29 said:
I thought it was the 'norm' to turn the camera off
Click to expand...

I think it is generally, but it is easy to forget. I prefer to use primes whenever possible, which means I tend to have to change lenses more often, which increases the opportunity to forget to switch the camera off on accasion. :bonk:
 
An easy option is to have a backup camera that will reduce how many times you have to swap and change lens if going from a zoom to prime also I always shut the camera off before swapping lens it only takes a second better to be safe than sorry :)
 
chameleon said:
Do you turn off your camera before changing the lens? I always do these days after my 350 crashed when I forgot to turn it off and changed lenses. Had to pop the battery out to reset it. Was a scary moment.
Click to expand...

So thats the reason I had a bum tightening moment at a wedding the other week when this exact problem happened,I removed and replaced the batteries as a matter of course and that solved the problem,never had the same with the old D60 though
 
I occasionally forget to turn of my 30D when changing lenses, I've noticed that the days that I forget I tend to get a couple of corrupt images on my card(s).

Coincidence ? possibly :shrug:
 
joxby said:
^True
As you rotate the lens into the mount all the lens contacts connect to the body contacts in the wrong order until it is seated correctly.
Doesn't take much thought to realise this is potentially a bad idea when the body is live.
Click to expand...

I think you'll find that that scenario is safely catered for by having the power contact being the end one and is not in contact until the final part of the rotation.

Bob
 
Canon Bob said:
I think you'll find that that scenario is safely catered for by having the power contact being the end one and is not in contact until the final part of the rotation.

Bob
Click to expand...

Really, I didn't know that..

Still that final connection though, possible surge arc, although god knows how much of an arc you can get with 7volts, electronics are tetchy.
When I look at the contacts, it's difficult to say whether it's possible for one lens pin to be touching two contacts at the same time.
I would think its unlikely, manufacturers usually factor in a "stupid" element..:D
 
I read a response from Canon's North American CEO (Chuck Westfall) to a question and answer session last year where he stated that it wasn't neccessary to power down the body. I'm pretty sure that the power switch doesn't remove power from the lens contacts anyway.

Bob
 
I often leave my 400D turned on when changing lenses and CF cards ( only because I've forgot ! ). I've never had any problems.
I would think that it's good practice to turn them off though - just in case !
 
again had the odd ocasion where i have forgotton to witch off changing lenses. however always switch off before swapping memory cards.
 
I would think swapping lens / memory cards with the power still on is something the manufactures design for, or they would be inundated with calls from customers with lots of busted cameras.
 
If you have an IS or VR lens then turn off the power and wait 2-5secs before changing. Otherwise its just up to you to decide switch off or not to change your lens.
 
Canon Bob said:
I read a response from Canon's North American CEO (Chuck Westfall) to a question and answer session last year where he stated that it wasn't neccessary to power down the body. I'm pretty sure that the power switch doesn't remove power from the lens contacts anyway.

Bob
Click to expand...

Something else, the CF card busy light flashes on my D200 as a lens is mounted when the camera is switched off, so there must be something on those contacts, even if you follow manufacturers instructions.
 
I can't speak for Nikon bodies but Canon bodies have a switch on the door to the CF compartment. Leave the camera off and open and close the CF compartment door....you'll see that the CF read LED flashes.
The main power switch has no effect on these functions and switching off will still allow the body to finish writing to the card if a write cycle is in progress.

Bob
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top