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Photography Question 

Carolyn M. DAlessandro
 

Turning Off the Camera?


I am curious if you shut off your camera as you are spending a day of shooting or do you turn it on and off. I heard from a no so sure a reliable source that the sensor gets hot if left on. Does anyone know what the correct way is ... sometimes I am out for hours walking and shooting with time in between. Thank you.


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September 05, 2011

 
- Carlton Ward

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Carlton Ward

 
 
Hi Carolyn,
My default automatic shutoff is 1 minute for my Canon 5D Mk II. I don't turn my camera on and off when I am shooting for the day, unless I sit down for a bite or stop to do something else - then I will switch it off. I shoot several festivals and will carry my camera all day and if it does turn off, once I press the shutter it wakes back up and is ready to go. I don't know that it uses any more battery power as I can shoot for 2 days like this before I need to replace with a spare and recharge again. I will shoot 400+ pics a day for 4 days straight at these festivals :)
my .02...


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September 05, 2011

 

Bob Cammarata
  I keep mine off until ready to shoot. (Maybe I worry too much about running out of power during a day afield.)


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September 05, 2011

 

Carolyn M. DAlessandro
  Thanks Carlton and Bob... I have the Nikon D300 and will have to check if there is an automatic shutoff... thanks for the advice.


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September 06, 2011

 
- Gregory LaGrange

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  The thing about the sensor getting hot is when doing pictures that take a really long exposure (over a minute), the current running through the sensor can raise the temperature of it. Astrology, star trails photos for example. And that can add noise to the photo.


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September 06, 2011

 

Bob Cammarata
  I can truly attest to long exposures creating heat and adding noise. My first (and only) attempt at creating star trails with a digital camera was met with disastrous results! With my old film cameras, it was a no-brainer.


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September 06, 2011

 

Lynn R. Powers
  Your D300 definitely has the function. You can set it to how long you want it to stay on after your last shot. The camera actually goes into a sleep mode.
Push half way down on the shutter button and it is ready to go again.
When I am on the whale watch boat I keep mine on for four minutes and the same length of time when photographing Snow Geese. But when I go to the tulip fields I have it sent for one minute.
I have forgotten to physically turn the camera off and a week later when going someplace to take photos found very little drain on the battery. However, it is always best to start with a fresh battery and have at least one more for backup.


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September 07, 2011

 
- Greg McCroskery

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  Carolyn,

I never worry about turning off my camera when I am in the middle of a shoot. As others have stated, I have my camera set to go into sleep mode after 5 minutes.

The only time you should be concerned about turning your camera off during a shoot is when you change lenses. When the camera is on the sensor is electrostatically charged and will attract dust particles.

God Bless,
Greg


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September 13, 2011

 
creativefotosbytracy.com - Tracy Bazemore

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  I have found what Lynn Powers said to be very true as I have forgotten to shut mine off as well and still had battery power. I usually only turn mine off when it is in the camera bag..Otherwise it is on with the automode on 1 min or adjusted for the time I may need depending on what I am shooting.


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September 15, 2011

 

Dan W. Dooley
  The ONLY time I turn my Canon 40D off is when changing lens or removing the data card. Otherwise it is switched on all the time. It goes into the sleep mode after a period of inactivity. I don't recall what that is set to but it's perhaps a couple of minutes. If I'm out of town or for any other reason I don't use it for several days or even a week or so, it is still on and there is no degredation in battery charge. When I pick up the camera it's on and I simply have to press the shutter button part way and it's ready to shoot.


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September 15, 2011

 
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