How can I best look after my analogue SLR?

Question

I am new to photography and have just bought a second-hand Canon Eos SLR with two lenses and a kit bag for £70.

What I'd like to know is, as I start collecting lenses, film and other ancilliaries, what is the best way to keep them all safe whilst on the move and whilst sat at home for quiet periods? Bearing in mind I am aiming to become a freelance photo-journalist after I have saved up emough for a digital SLR, I'd imagine a large, robust satchel with lots of room would be best- but which one?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Please don't call a Film camera 'analogue'. It's a bit incorrect.

You must buy the best padded camera bag that you can afford. Equipment of this quality deserves to be looked after well. Don't just relay on the plastic case which may be provided with the camera. Cheap ones don't afford the best protection against all the knocks which will it'll get, or even last so long.

Your bigger accessories and new lenses should come with their own cases. If they don't, or if the case is a saggy old cloth bag, then buy decent ones as soon as you can. Lenses, sepecially large ones, should be kept in hard cases with soft lining.

Smaller accessories and small lenses may be stored in your nice big camera bag along with film.

Also keep a notebook and reliable pen with your kit at all times. This is to note the for your photographs. It seems a chore but if you're being serious then don't rely on your memory for that information.
I also used to carry a minature brandy 'cos some astronomical shoots could get quite 'chilly'. These days you should settle for a bar of chocolate.

I recommend that you consult a few issues of Amateur Photographer magazine for helpful adverts, dealers and advice.
Larger Jessops stores keep a selection of bags and cases but they're not always very robust or even helpfully shaped.

Answer 2

There are plenty of bags and cases on the market for both storing and carrying your gear. Important is to match your gear to the type of photography you do i.e. if your love is landscape, then you might want a back pack type of bag. If you expect to travel a lot using different modes of transport in all sorts of conditions then you might want to consider a hard case of the Peli variety.
The other aspect however, which you should seriously consider is how to store your kit and keep the moisture and humidity out. Many fine lenses and bodies have been ruined by humidity causing fungus growing on the elements of lenses. If this happens to elements withing the lens barrel, it means big expense if it can be repaired even. Plenty of silica gel should help you here. Just be careful, coming out of the wet cold weather into a warm house. Cheers for now.

Answer 3

Get a back pack from Lowepro available in a variety of sizes (and always around on e-bay). As for needing a digital SLR - it's the photographs and ideas that make someone suitable to be a professional photographer (how do you think all those remarkable images were taken pre-digital ?) not the technology - good luck

Answer 4

if you're gonna store your lenses at home the best thing to do is box them up, wrapped either in a cloth or bubble wrap. attach a photo of the item to the box so you can see what it is.
but for wandering about, a satchel or backpack is a good investment. try jessops!
as for films, they're best kept in a sealed box in the fridge. negs can be filed in special clear files (in 4s or6s), in a special ringbinder.
good luck

Answer 5

A good Lowepro bag when you are travelling and a large air-tight plastic container with lots of silica gel when they are in storage (don't store the kit bag in it as it may carry moisture). Avoid heat and dust.

Answer 6

Keep unused films in the fridge until you want them. Fluctuations in temperature doesn't do the chemicals on the film any good so keeping them cool is a good idea.

Answer 7

get a good camera bag
go to yahoo search
type camera bags

Answer 8

try here

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/connected/main.jhtml;jsessionid=SQW122W3CRHGJQFIQMGCFFWAVCBQUIV0?xml=/connected/essentials/dcarchive/nosplit/dcarchive.xml