How often to calibrate camera?

[Patriot]

Does a camera need to be re-calibrated if so how often? It was just something I was thinking about since most things need to be re-calibrated every once in awhile.

 

[Derrel]

I don't think most new digital cameras ever need calibration, just because most things are electronic, and they either work, or they do not work. I'm not sure that regular use of modern cameras or lenses ever really causes them to "go out of spec", mainly because the Japanese developed the idea of "self lubricating" mechanisms that have relatively loose tolerances, and do NOT rely on precision machinery and metal-to-metal fittings that depend on oil- or grease-based lubrication and regular, mechanical "clean,lube,adjust" at $50 a pop (make that $250 a pop in today's dollars). I have multiple 30 year-old Nikkor lenses that still function flawlessly, and have never seen a repair shop's bench...this is NOT the way earlier, European and American cameras were designed in the 1940's and 1950's.

I think the only time modern, REAL NAME-BRAND, Japanese-designed cameras and lenses need repair shop attention is when they've been abused, or suffered catastrophic type failures. A air number of low-cost, off-brand lenses fail pretty easily: see the Lensrentals.com repair statistics. The Samyang/Bower/Rokinon off-brand lenses for example...those were breaking down and failing in just weeks, a totally alarming failure rate.

 

[Patriot]

Thank you for the answer Derrel. You even explained why not and I just learned something new.

 

[KmH]

Since I was an NPS member I sent my Nikon camera bodies in yearly for a clean, adjust, lube, and calibrate.

For a casual hobbyist once every 3 to 5 years should be OK. For an avid hobbyist every 3 years.

 

[Derrel]

Old myths die hard. https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20101105140748AAaArHw


[TABLE="class: post-message, width: 100%"]
[TR]
[TD="width: 99%"]The muffler belt has to come off to reach the flux capacitor; that's the perfect time to change it.

At your 50,000-mile service (not translatable into kilometers because people who use kilometers have better cars) you must change the following:

Muffler belt
Flux capacitor
Air in the tires--and don't forget the spare
Windshield grease
Fart catcher in the seat cushions

You must clean these items:
Back of the headliner
Seat belt joints
Steering wheel bolt
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[BGeise]

Old myths die hard. https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20101105140748AAaArHw

[TABLE="class: post-message, width: 100%"]
[TR]
[TD="width: 99%"]The muffler belt has to come off to reach the flux capacitor; that's the perfect time to change it.

At your 50,000-mile service (not translatable into kilometers because people who use kilometers have better cars) you must change the following:

Muffler belt
Flux capacitor
Air in the tires--and don't forget the spare
Windshield grease
Fart catcher in the seat cushions

You must clean these items:
Back of the headliner
Seat belt joints
Steering wheel bolt
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Don't forget about checking your Johnson rod

 

[KmH]

Fluid levels and tire pressures still need to be checked regularly and rotating tires evens out tire wear.
Even today's cars need to be cleaned inside and out on a regular basis to ensure a long life.

Cars today are not designed to be repaired by the user, and new cars come with schedules that show the owner when the car needs to taken to the dealer for routine service.

Go down to Scheduled Maintenance to see what needs to be checked monthly, every 6 months, and the multi-point inspection that helps to identify potential issues so major problems are prevented.- Owner Guide EU

One a smaller scale that same approach also applies to your camera - if you want it to always be in tip top shape.

 

[Patriot]

Well I guess it wouldn't hurt to have it taken care of when I have my camera clean then. I did drop my camera a few time, but from waist height. I'm sure the D7000 isn't damage from it's tough build.

 

[Solarflare]

As a hobbyist I dont expect I use my camera that often that it will ever need any calibration ... before I will buy a new one, anyway.

 

[TheFantasticG]

I planned on sending in my D7000 for recalibration soon. Just, if nothin else, to make sure everything is working as intended. Worse that can happen? It gets a clean bill of health.

 

[petrochemist119 144]

If it suffers a severe knock it might effect focus calibration, but there is little else that might change to re-calibrate. Of course any such a knock could easily effect alignments which would need adjustment to return them to correct settings.
Optics may need cleaning, and I guess if re-calibration could correct for exposure inacuracy from a build up of dirt but removing the dirt is a much better approach (& cheaper too!).

Getting the camera/lenses serviced occationaly is probably a good idea, but even with the thousands of pictures I take I've never found anything beyond cleaning that's been needed to keep mine working well.

 

[runnah]

I'd like to officially announce the grand opening of "runnah's camera calibration emporium". For only $399 I will lube and grease all shutter bearings, check and replace any aperture fluid, realign the focus shaft, rotate your HDR bushings and this week only I will thrown in a free 61 focus point inspection.

Wait, that's not all! Tell and friend and receive a bonus shutter button cover!