Caring for the Camera and Battery: Cautions
Camera Care
Do not drop the camera or lens or subject them to blows. The product may malfunction if subjected to strong shocks or vibration.
Keep the camera dry. Rusting of the internal mechanism caused by water inside the camera can not only be expensive to repair but can in fact cause irreparable damage.
Sudden changes in temperature, such as those that occur when entering or leaving a heated building on a cold day, can cause condensation inside the device. To prevent condensation, place the device in a carrying case or plastic bag before exposing it to sudden changes in temperature.
Static charges or the magnetic fields produced by equipment such as radio transmitters could interfere with the monitor, corrupt data stored on the memory card, or affect the product’s internal circuitry.
Do not leave the lens pointed at the sun or other strong light source for extended periods. Intense light may damage the image sensor or cause fading or “burn in”. Photographs taken with the camera may exhibit a white blur effect.
Do not direct lasers or other extremely bright light sources toward the lens, as this could damage the camera’s image sensor.
When cleaning the camera body, use a blower to gently remove dust and lint, then wipe gently with a soft, dry cloth. After using the camera at the beach or seaside, wipe off any sand or salt using a cloth lightly dampened in fresh water and then dry the camera thoroughly. In rare instances, static electricity may cause the LCD displays to light up or go dark; this does not indicate a malfunction. The display will soon return to normal.
These elements are easily damaged: remove dust and lint with a blower. If using an aerosol blower, keep the can vertical to prevent the discharge of liquid that could damage glass elements. To remove fingerprints and other stains from the lens, apply a small amount of lens cleaner to a soft cloth and wipe the lens carefully.
For information on cleaning the low-pass filter, see “The Low-Pass Filter” ( The Low-Pass Filter ) and “Manual Cleaning” ( Manual Cleaning ).
Keep the lens contacts clean.
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The shutter curtain is extremely thin and easily damaged: under no circumstances should you exert pressure on the curtain, poke it with cleaning tools, or subject it to powerful air currents from a blower. These actions could scratch, deform, or tear the curtain.
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The shutter curtain may appear to be unevenly colored; this does not indicate a malfunction. It also has no effect on pictures.
To prevent mold or mildew, store the camera in a dry, well-ventilated area. Do not store the camera with naphtha or camphor moth balls, next to equipment that produces strong electromagnetic, or where it will be exposed to extremely high temperatures, for example near a heater or in an enclosed vehicle on a hot day. Failure to observe these precautions could result in product malfunction.
To prevent damage caused by, for example, leaking battery fluid, remove the battery if the product will not be used for an extended period. Store the camera in a plastic bag containing a desiccant. Do not, however, store the leather camera case in a plastic bag, as this may cause the material to deteriorate. Store the battery in a cool, dry place. Note that desiccant gradually loses its capacity to absorb moisture and should be replaced at regular intervals. To prevent mold or mildew, take the camera out of storage at least once a month, insert the battery, and release the shutter a few times.
Removing or disconnecting the power source while the camera is on could damage the product. Particular care should be taken not to remove or disconnect the power source while images are being recorded or deleted.
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The monitor is constructed with extremely high precision; at least 99.99% of pixels are effective, with no more than 0.01% being missing or defective. Hence while these displays may contain pixels that are always lit (white, red, blue, or green) or always off (black), this is not a malfunction. Images recorded with the device are unaffected. Your understanding is requested.
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Images in the monitor may be difficult to see in a bright light.
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Do not apply pressure to the monitor. The monitor could malfunction or suffer damage. Dust or lint on the monitor can be removed with a blower. Stains can be removed by wiping the monitor lightly with a soft cloth or chamois leather. Should the monitor break, care should be taken to avoid injury from broken glass. Be careful that liquid crystal from the monitor does not touch the skin or enter the eyes or mouth.
If the camera is used in the rain, water may penetrate the supplied accessory shoe cover. Remove and dry the accessory shoe cover after using the camera in the rain.
Battery Care
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If improperly handled, batteries may rupture or leak, causing the product to corrode. Observe the following precautions when handling batteries:
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Turn the product off before replacing the battery.
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Batteries may be hot after extended use.
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Keep the battery terminals clean.
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Use only batteries approved for use in this equipment.
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Do not short or disassemble batteries or expose them to flame or excessive heat.
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Replace the terminal cover when the battery is not inserted in the camera or charger.
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If the battery is hot, for example immediately after use, wait for it to cool before charging. Attempting to charge the battery while its internal temperature is elevated will impair battery performance, and the battery may not charge or charge only partially.
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If the battery will not be used for some time, insert it in the camera and run it flat before removing it from the camera for storage. The battery should be stored in a cool location with an ambient temperature of 15 °C to 25 °C (59 °F to 77 °F). Avoid hot or extremely cold locations.
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Batteries should be charged within six months of use. During long periods of disuse, charge the battery and use the camera to run it flat once every six months before returning it to a cool location for storage.
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Remove the battery from the camera or charger when not in use. The camera and charger draw minute amounts of charge even when off and could draw the battery down to the point that it will no longer function.
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Do not use the battery at ambient temperatures below 0 °C (32 °F) or above 40 °C (104 °F). Failure to observe this precaution could damage the battery or impair its performance. Charge the battery indoors at ambient temperatures of 5 °C–35 °C (41 °F–95 °F). The battery will not charge if its temperature is below 0 °C (32 °F) or above 60 °C (140 °F).
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Capacity may be reduced and charging times increase at battery temperatures from 0 °C (32 °F) to 15 °C (59 °F) and from 45 °C (113 °F) to 60 °C (140 °F).
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Batteries in general exhibit a drop in capacity at low ambient temperatures. Even fresh batteries charged at temperatures under about 5 °C (41 °F) may show a temporary increase from “0” to “1” in the setup menu [] age display, but the display will return to normal once the battery has been recharged at a temperature of about 20 °C (68 °F) or higher.
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Battery capacity drops at low temperatures. The change in capacity with temperature is reflected in the camera battery-level display. As a result, the battery display may show a drop in capacity as the temperature drops, even if the battery is fully charged.
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Batteries may be hot after use. Observe due caution when removing batteries from the camera.
Charge the battery before use. The supplied battery is not fully charged at shipment.
Before taking photographs, ready a spare battery and keep it fully charged. Depending on your location, it may be difficult to purchase replacement batteries on short notice.
Partially-charged batteries may not function on cold days. In cold weather, charge one battery before use and keep another in a warm place, ready to be exchanged as necessary. Once warmed, a cold battery may recover some of its charge.
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Turning the camera on or off repeatedly when the battery is fully discharged will shorten battery life. Batteries that have been fully discharged must be charged before use.
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A marked drop in the time a fully charged battery retains its charge when used at room temperature indicates that it requires replacement. Purchase a new rechargeable battery.
Continuing to charge the battery after it is fully charged can impair battery performance.
Recycle rechargeable batteries in accord with local regulations, being sure to first insulate the terminals with tape.
Using the Charger
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Do not short the charger terminals. Failure to observe this precaution could result in overheating and damage to the charger.
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Unplug the charger when it is not in use.
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Use the MH-26a with compatible batteries only.
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Do not use chargers with damage that leaves the interior exposed or that produce unusual sounds when used.