After  you  have  exposed  all  frames,  depress  the rewind button (normally at the bottom of the camera) and  slowly  rewind  the  film.  Rewinding  too  quickly, especially in cold weather, could crack the film or cause static  electricity  that  will  damage  the  film.  When  the film  is  completely  rewound,  you  will  no  longer  feel tension on the rewind knob. Store the exposed film in a dry, dark container (such as a photo bag) or in its original canister until it is ready for developing. If your assignment requires you to shoot more than one roll of film, number the rolls directly on the  canister  using  a  china  marker  or  laundry  marking pen. INSPECTING AND MAINTAINING THE  CAMERA LEARNING  OBJECTIVE:  Identify  the  correct method   of   inspecting   and   maintaining   the 35mm single-lens reflex camera. The importance of caring for your camera cannot be overstated.   The   old   saying,   “Take   care   of   your equipment, and it will take care of you,” certainly holds true when it comes to photography. In the following text you will learn the basics of periodic camera inspection and maintenance, to include the lens, camera body and camera optics. NOTE:  You may be held liable for any damages while the camera is in your custody! THE LENS Remove the lens from the camera according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Inspect the lens and check it  for  dirt,  smudges,  fingerprints  and  scratches.  Remove dirt  with  a  blower  brush;  eliminate  smudges  and fingerprints   by   gently   wiping   the   glass   with lens-cleaning  tissue  moistened  with  a  few  drops  of lens-cleaning solution. Be careful not to oversaturate the tissue — one or two drops should be enough. Minor scratches may not alter the performance of the lens, but you should bring them to the attention of your  LPO  or  LCPO.  However,  deep  scratches  will probably  affect  the  performance  of  your  lens.  In  this instance,   notify   your   supervisor   and   obtain   a replacement lens. If you are not sure about the severity of a scratch, reattach the lens to the camera body, look through the viewfinder and focus on a subject. If any part of the field of view appears blurred or obscured, replace the lens. Next,  check  the  aperture  control  ring.  The  ring should  click  firmly  into  each  position.  Examine  the focus   ring.   It   should   move   smoothly,   without interruption. Check the lens exterior for dents and other damage. Finally,  make  sure  the  lens  is  mounted  with  an ultraviolet,  haze  or  skylight  filter  to  protect  the  front glass surface and its delicate antireflective coating. THE CAMERA BODY Inspect the camera body for dirt and defects. Use a blower brush to remove light dust and dirt; stubborn dirt can be removed with a silicon cloth or a soft chamois. Do not use liquids to clean the camera body.  Liquid cleaners, including water, can damage the camera. Check the back of the camera body and make sure it is lighttight. While the back of the camera is open, conduct a shutter speed test to determine whether the camera has maintained its calibration. You do this by opening  the  shutter  at  the  varying  speeds  from  one second to 1/1000" (or faster). There should be noticeable differences at the slower speeds (1/1", 1/2", 1/8", 1/15", 1/30"  and  1/60").  Inspect  the  back  of  the  outer  film carriage of the camera for nicks and warps. Examine the door  hinge  for  looseness. THE CAMERA OPTICS Look  through  the  viewfinder  of  the  camera  and focus  on  an  object.  If  the  field  of  view  is  blurred  or obscured and you know your lens is in good condition, you may have a dirty viewfinder. If  the  mirror  is  dirty,  clean  it  carefully,  using  a blower brush. Do not use lens-cleaning tissue or fluid on the mirror. If smudges remain on the mirror, consult your  supervisor  before  taking  the  camera  body  to  an authorized  dealer  or  repair  shop  for  professional cleaning. OTHER IMPORTANT AREAS Check  the  camera  battery/internal  light  meter.  A weak battery can affect your light meter reading, and ultimately, your photographs. Consult your instruction manual  for  further  instructions. Open the camera back and inspect the film chamber, rails, pressure plates, shutter curtain and take-up spool for  dirt,  film  debris  and  other  foreign  matter.  Use  a blower brush to clean this area. Be careful not to press on the shutter curtain. 11-9