Giving your Camera a Check-up

Don't miss that priceless shot of the kids gazing at Grand Canyon for the first time or the Eiffel Tower glowing in the night sky. Make sure your camera is in working order before you pack up the car or make that trans-Atlantic flight.

Test pictures
Shoot a short 12-exposure roll of film with your camera and have it processed before you leave. With a digital camera, snap a few pictures onto your picture card and make sure they upload to your computer and print out okay.

Batteries
Put fresh batteries in your camera and pack a fresh set of backup batteries. Remember, a digital camera can drain battery power quickly. Many cameras use AA batteries. If yours does and you will have access to an electrical outlet, consider getting a battery charger and rechargeable batteries.

Lens
Do a thorough lens cleaning before you go. Blow away any loose debris with a bulb brush or a can of compressed air. Moisten the lens with photographic lens cleaner or by gently breathing on the lens. Wipe with a soft, lint-free cloth or untreated photographic lens tissue. Never wipe a dry lens or use alcohol or chemically treated eyeglass cleaners.

Film
Stock up on 400-speed 36-exposure film rolls—about 3 rolls per week. To prevent damage by airport x-ray baggage scanning equipment, carry all unexposed film and your camera with you onto the plane in a clear plastic bag. For optimum protection of your film, ask for a hand inspection at the carry-on checkpoint. FAA regulations in the U.S. allow for a hand search of photographic film and equipment, if requested. International airports outside of the U.S. are less predictable — you may have greater difficulties protecting your film abroad.

Picture cards
Empty your picture cards before you pack. You'll want all the memory capacity you can get. Take enough cards to capture about 100 pictures per week. Depending on the camera, a 64 MB memory card or two 32 MB cards should give you plenty of room to take lots of pictures. But it's always a good idea to take along a spare 32 MB card.