When Walking Around - Leave Camera On or Off?

[PhotoXopher]

Oh, I do turn it off when inserting or removing the memory card.

And when swapping lenses I hope

 

[icassell]

Oh, I do turn it off when inserting or removing the memory card.

And when swapping lenses I hope

No, why? I don't turn my 30D off during a lens swap. They are designed for hot-swapping.

 

[kundalini]

Not necessary for lens swapping.

 

[Samanax]

I always forget to turn my camera off when swapping the lens...I prefer to turn it off during lens swaps because I don't want the sensor to be charged and attract even more dust than necessary...but I've changed lenses many times with the power on because I forget to switch the camera off...LOL...

 

[icassell]

Do you really think that turning off your camera would remove any residual charge on the sensor in the short period of time between removal of power and the lens-swap?

 

[PhotoXopher]

My manual (I think) says to turn camera off, remove lens, replace lens, power camera on.

But now I'm curious.

 

[farmerj]

You need to turn off the Nikon for the VR lenses.

Failing to do so can possibly cause the lense to have a loose sounding rattling to it internal. Turning the camera on and then off re-sets the lens VR mechanism.

I have done it both ways, haven't heard anything sound like it's rattling in the lens.

Otherwise, the camera stays on unless I am changing the lens or the memory card. Now that I have a Sigma 530 flash, I guess I turn the systems off and then on to synch them when setting them for Off-camera slave for TTL.

 

[Sherman Banks]

I chose other. I usually leave it on until I change cards/lenses, but luckily my D90 is a special edition with an "other" function that relates to anything, including power options.

 

[Samanax]

Do you really think that turning off your camera would remove any residual charge on the sensor in the short period of time between removal of power and the lens-swap?

I figure it can't hurt.

I live in a high humidity climate and the dusk here is "sticky" and doesn't get shaken off by the self-cleaning action of the sensor (I leave mine turned off) so I have to manually swab the sensor regularly. If I can keep the amount of dust on the sensor to a minimum by turning off the camera when I change lenses then I can go longer between cleanings.

But like I said, I always forget to turn off the camera anyway.

I manually clean the sensor in my XTi about once a month. I recently picked up a 40D and 5D and really don't want to be cleaning the sensors all the time. I'd rather be shooting.