Can a digital camera's image quality degrade from long periods of non-use or from heavy use?
Asked 4/24/2012
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2 answers
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I've heard two conflicting claims about digital cameras, especially superzoom/bridge cameras: one is that leaving a camera unused for three months or more can make it take worse photos, and the other is that using it too much will reduce photo quality over time. Is there any truth to either idea? In normal use and storage, can a digital camera actually lose its ability to take good photos from being left unused or from heavy use?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
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No. It does not. I own currently 7 digital cameras and I have used some after being unused for over two years without any problems.
Even the Lithium-Ion battery still had some charge after that period. Those who use AAs will note that rechargeable NiMh ones lose their charge after a month or two unless they are Imedion or Eneloop (low-self-discharge).
Lenses may jam as oil form on aperture blades I was told but even after not using lenses for years at a time (which I currently have over 30) I have never seen it happen. Some super-zooms do not even have aperture blades at all, so that won't apply to them.
All in all, I expect cameras with more mechanical parts like DSLRs to fail first due to use. Some small cameras do not even have mechanical shutters either, so there is one less thing which can fail.
Originally by user1620. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1620
14y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
In normal storage, a digital camera does not gradually “forget” how to take good photos just because it sits unused for a few months. Image quality itself should not decline simply from non-use. The main things that can age while sitting are batteries, lubricants, and possibly flash capacitors over long periods, but that’s different from the camera suddenly taking worse pictures.
Heavy use can wear out mechanical parts over time, such as shutters, zoom mechanisms, buttons, or moving lens components. So a heavily used camera may eventually fail or develop faults, but that is wear and tear, not a gradual drop in image quality under normal operation.
In short:
- non-use for a few months: generally no effect on photo quality
- heavy use: can wear mechanical parts, possibly leading to failure eventually
- batteries do age whether used or not
If the camera is properly stored and cared for, neither normal non-use nor normal use should make it take worse photos.
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