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General
Diopter adjustment
Correctly setting the diopter on your binoculars will enable you to maximize detail and ensure comfortable viewing. It is important to keep both eyes open while adjusting the diopter to get an accurate setting. View the same subject with both left and right sides.
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Look through the left eyepiece with left eye while covering the right front lens with your hand. Focus using the center focus wheel until sharp.
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Look through the right eyepiece with your right eye while covering the left front lens. Turn the diopter ring until the subject is sharp.
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Make a note of the diopter position for future reference, or use a small dot of nail polish to mark the diopter adjustment ring where you set it for your eyes. Use a different color for everyone who uses your binoculars regularly. When you want to use them, just set it to your color and start viewing!your equipment, and wash your hands before use.
Frequent use
Many cameras have shutters and other components that are self-lubricating. The lubricant is spread over the parts by the mechanical motions that occur during use. If you leave them for too long, the lubricants dry up, and your camera can be damaged.
Even if you’re not going to be shooting pictures with your camera (lenses too), get it out and put it through its paces regularly. You might save yourself a repair down the line, and your camera has a better chance to maintain its value for a longer period of time.
Engraving
For some things, it may make sense to scratch a serial number of some sort on the body of the item using an engraving pen. For cameras and video equipment, it does not. Cameras and video equipment already have serial numbers engraved into the equipment directly or attached with truly remarkable glue. They are on everything, so you don't need to be redundant. (If you find a piece of electronics without a serial number be very suspicious.) Simply make note of the serial number that is already there. More importantly, engraving seriously decreases the resale value of your equipment. People won't pay nearly as much for equipment with a serious cosmetic defect.
Used condition
Here is a general checklist that will help you evaluate your equipment. Each model of camera, and each individual camera, will have things that are not on this list, which need to be checked.
Check shutter speeds – Does the shutter fire at all shutter speeds? Look particularly for a slowing of the shutter speeds, which will be most noticeable at the higher settings.
Check meter accuracy – Use another camera for comparison, but keep in mind that very few cameras will be exactly the same.
Check lens aperture – Make sure that it stops down all of the way. It should be lightning quick. There should be no oil on the blades.
Check the aperture coupling pin (if applicable) – It should move smoothly and quickly.
Check focus – Make sure that your camera will focus at both the minimum focus distance and at infinity. The focus ring should move smoothly but not be loose.
Check the cosmetics – Look for dings, dents, scratches, and I.D. numbers that have been engraved into the equipment (they reduce the value).
Check for water damage – Look for rust, corrosion, and water spots in the lens. Remember to smell the equipment for mold or mildew.
Check the battery compartment – Look for cracks and corrosion.
Check the flash sync
Check the lens – Look for scratches, fungus, mildew, and internal dust.
Check the self-timer
Check the ISO dial (ASA in older models) – Make sure that it turns easily and that it actually affects the light meter.
Check the film counter – Does it reset?
Battery availability – Some of the older-style batteries are no longer manufactured or have been banned because of their contents.
Determining Hasselblad age
To find out how old your Hasselblad camera is, look at the serial number. In the serial number, you will notice that there are two letters. Use the code below to determine the year of manufacture.
For example, if you apply the VHPICTURES method (VH stands for Victor Hasselblad) to the serial number below you will find that the "E" is for "9" and the "R" is for "8". This camera was made in 1998.
Sunny 16 Rule
If you have an older camera with a questionable light meter, or no light meter at all, use the "Sunny 16 Rule" to get good pictures.
On a sunny day, you can set your aperture on 16 and set your shutter to the speed closest to your film speed. For example, if your film speed is 100, set your shutter to 1/125th; if your film speed is 400, set your shutter to 1/500th; etc. This will give you a remarkably accurate exposure on a sunny day. With a little practice, you will be able to adjust for cloudy, rainy, and evening conditions on the fly. Give it a try!
You can also see how accurate your meter is by comparing what it says to what the Sunny 16 Rule tells you to do. If there is a big discrepancy, have your meter adjusted.
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