Is it safe to swap manual lenses with camera switched on?

[tadwil]

I can't speak for every e-mount bodies but my A7 II and A6000 with native lenses mounted and the camera turned off, the diaphragm is closed to the minimum aperture value.  When the power is turned on, the lens opens to the maximum aperture setting.

Should I be glad I have e-mount cameras?😁

[Cameratose]

9 hours ago, XKAES said:

It looks like we have to get specific about camera model,  With all of my cameras -- Maxxum and Sony a-mount -- the lenses are closed when not on the cameras, and wide open when attached to the cameras (regardless of the camera being ON or OFF).  They only stop down during the exposure -- or when the stop-down button is pressed.

E-mounts?  I have no idea -- but it's one more reason I'm glad I don't have anything e-mount.

Please start a thread and expand. I'd love to know about your dislike of E-Mount. Besides my Es, I also have a Maxxum 5D and a Sony A350, both CCD sensor cameras. I've had an A700 which I miss sometimes, and an SLT A65, which I hated. Lenses are the 80-200/2.8 APO HS G, the 500 AF Relex, 28-135, and a couple of the also rans like the beercan, 75-300, 100-200.

[XKAES]

22 hours ago, Pieter said:

How exactly is the behaviour of E-mount a disadvantage in this regard? I don't see it...

 

If I have to turn off the camera every time I change a lens that's a big disadvantage -- and a real nuisance.

[XKAES]

21 hours ago, tadwil said:

I can't speak for every e-mount bodies but my A7 II and A6000 with native lenses mounted and the camera turned off, the diaphragm is closed to the minimum aperture value.  When the power is turned on, the lens opens to the maximum aperture setting.

Should I be glad I have e-mount cameras?😁

I prefer SLRs where I don't need to turn on the camera to see through the lens, change lenses, as needed, and compose the scene/subject.  Then I can decide if I actually want to turn on the camera.

[Cameratose]

Interesting, but seems minor. I always turned the camera off when changing lenses, all the way back to my Maxxum 7000 days in the mid 1980's, so it's not an issue for me.

Conversely, I can look through my viewfinder in extremely low light and see the scene very bright and clear. Once I went to mirrorless I had no desire to return. I still shoot my DSLRs, but it's for something different on a photo walk, same as when I load a roll of film.  

[Pieter]

6 hours ago, XKAES said:

If I have to turn off the camera every time I change a lens that's a big disadvantage -- and a real nuisance.

This is not at all specific to E-mount. Snippet from the A99 mark 2 user manual:

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[FunWithCameras]

LensRentals had an article about damage done to their rental gear by people trying to photograph eclipses. There were examples of melted shutters and even one of a melted set of lens aperture blades. I don't remember examples of damaged sensors - possibly because shutters and aperture blades are quite thin, and sensors are rather chunkier?

Anyway, if you are curious or dubious about possible damage of leaving a camera in the sun without a lens cap - have a look.

[Pieter]

Also from A99ii manual:

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Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[Cameratose]

3 hours ago, FunWithCameras said:

LensRentals had an article about damage done to their rental gear by people trying to photograph eclipses. There were examples of melted shutters and even one of a melted set of lens aperture blades. I don't remember examples of damaged sensors - possibly because shutters and aperture blades are quite thin, and sensors are rather chunkier?

Anyway, if you are curious or dubious about possible damage of leaving a camera in the sun without a lens cap - have a look.

That is caused specifically by people using the wrong filter to shoot the sun, like a weak ND. Even a strong ND can cause problems. Using a solar filter will be fine. I shot several hundred of the total eclipse this past April with no ill effect.

The warning Sony issues to owner's whose cameras can close the shutter on powering down, like the A1, A7 IV, A7R V, A9III is a different matter.

[XKAES]

On 10/7/2024 at 3:04 PM, Pieter said:

This is not at all specific to E-mount. Snippet from the A99 mark 2 user manual:

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

It's interesting that the manual for the a99 (first model) doesn't mention that at all.  I suspect that the a99II is an exception regarding a-mount cameras.  There's nothing wrong with turning OFF the camera to change lenses -- other than wear & tear on the ON/OFF lever (I wonder how much that costs to repair?) -- it's just a nuisance, especially if you change lenses frequently, like me.

Edited October 9, 2024 by XKAES

[Pieter]

1 hour ago, XKAES said:

I suspect that the a99II is an exception regarding a-mount cameras.

It's no exception at all:

https://helpguide.sony.net/ilc/1610/v1/en/contents/TP0000434667.html

[XKAES]

Maybe it has to do with if the a-mount camera is a DSLT or has an electronic viewfinder or something else.  I don't know, but it sure isn't in lots of a-mount user manuals.

But my  opinion still holds -- and it's just my opinion.  I wouldn't want any camera that I need to turn off to change lenses.  Yes, I have to turn my car OFF before I fill it with gasoline, but I would never buy a phone that needs to be turned OFF -- before I can make another call.

Edited October 10, 2024 by XKAES

[Phormula]

Then maybe you have to revert to those fully manual film cameras, with no electronics in the lens.

Or simply take the risk. 

[Pieter]

7 hours ago, XKAES said:

Yes, I have to turn my car OFF before I fill it with gasoline, but I would never buy a phone that needs to be turned OFF -- before I can make another call.

That analogy is pretty far-fetched. Anyone servicing your phone will turn it off before replacing any components, much like your lens is an electrical component in your camera system.

I'd rather think of external USB drives, and how Windows requires you to 'safely remove device' before pulling it out of the computer. Most people did that because the option was there and the supposed risk of corrupted data or a bricked USB drive was enough to just do this little extra effort. We've all occasionally janked the USB drive from the computer only to realize we just forgot to 'safely remove the device', without any damage done. I know quite a few people who never bothered and just always pulled it from the PC when done. Never have they bricked their drive. Is it a smart thing to do? I don't know.

Edited October 10, 2024 by Pieter

[Cameratose]

4 hours ago, Pieter said:

I know quite a few people who never bothered and just always pulled it from the PC when done. Never have they bricked their drive. Is it a smart thing to do? I don't know.

Ok, you caught me! I never do anymore. I used to, but nowadays I just pull it. Never lost any data or anything. SD cards, Type A Express, CF Express, backup drives both mechanical and SSD, USB, whatever. So far so good. 

Out of curiosity I went and checked the old Maxxum manual, it doesn't say to turn the camera off before changing lenses. Not that it matters much but I found it interesting. Knowing that most of everyone who worked at Sony in the early days were Minolta people, I suspect the note came along later, and I also suspect it's CYA by Sony. Still going to do it because to me it makes sense.  

[Phormula]

4 hours ago, Pieter said:

Never have they bricked their drive.

Bricked, no, but file losses could happen. Years ago, I was in a hurry, I removed a USB data stick from my computer without going through the safe disconnection process. Most likely the computer was doing something on the files that I stopped when removing. The following time I inserted the stick on my computer I got the message that there was something corrupted, prompting me to attempt the file rescue. Since the files on the stick were not important, I simply formatted it. I am still using this stick, years after.

Anyway, coming back to topic, my opinion is that chances of damaging the camera or the lens by swapping lenses with the camera switched on are extremely low, if any. But since this is not best practices and goes against most (if not all) camera instructions, I don't want to learn the hard way how small a small chance is, and I prefer to develop a habit of switching off.

[XKAES]

3 hours ago, Cameratose said:

Out of curiosity I went and checked the old Maxxum manual, it doesn't say to turn the camera off before changing lenses.

Since Minolta was making a-mount cameras since 1985, and Sony's early DSLRs don't mention turning OFF the a-mount camera before changing lenses, it probably has something to do with specific later Sony models.  Why would the a99II manual mention it, but the original a99 not?  Why would the a68 manual mention it, but the a58 not?

Someone who never changes lenses wouldn't be interested in this topic -- but that's OK.  They should have bought a camera with a fixed lens, and saved a lot of money.  I change lenses constantly.

Edited October 10, 2024 by XKAES

[Phormula]

1 hour ago, XKAES said:

Someone who never changes lenses wouldn't be interested in this topic -- but that's OK.  They should have bought a camera with a fixed lens, and saved a lot of money.

And you would had bounced into a different problem, I trashed a Canon Powershot G1X because after a couple years dust particle found its way to the sensor and generated a huge black spec in almost all my pictures. When I contacted Canon, I discovered that the only way to clean the sensor was to disassemble the whole camera and then reassemble it, at a cost that was 2X its value at the time. Sold for parts for a few Euro. At least in a mirrorless or a DRLS I can clean the sensor even if I don't change lens but zooming and focusing suck dust in anyway.

[XKAES]

I'm glad I haven't had that problem with my fixed lens digital cameras.  The only good news is that they are less expensive to replace.

[Phormula]

10 hours ago, XKAES said:

I'm glad I haven't had that problem with my fixed lens digital cameras. 

Murphy law applies here. I have owned several point and shoot digital cameras since 2005 and none gave me this issue. I still use an "el-cheapo" Nikon Coolpix that is 10+ years old and sits in my desk drawer at the office because it is ready for use at any time, being powered by two AA batteries. Most of them died of "erectile" malfunction, i.e. the mechanism that pops up and retracts the lens each time the camera is turned on suddenly failed. The only camera that gave me the dust issue was the most expensive point and shoot one that I bought, i.e. the Canon G1X. Lesson learnt the hard way. 

[Pieter]

On 10/10/2024 at 2:31 AM, XKAES said:

Maybe it has to do with if the a-mount camera is a DSLT or has an electronic viewfinder or something else.  I don't know, but it sure isn't in lots of a-mount user manuals.

I think this is just a matter of progressive insight. Likely Sony found that the sensors attract slightly more dust when powered on, and perhaps found a very minor risk of damage due to shorting the contacts or power surge, and decided to add it to the manuals of later models just to be sure.

[XKAES]

8 hours ago, Phormula said:

Murphy law applies here. I have owned several point and shoot digital cameras since 2005 and none gave me this issue. I still use an "el-cheapo" Nikon Coolpix that is 10+ years old and sits in my desk drawer at the office because it is ready for use at any time, being powered by two AA batteries.

I have a similar Nikon E5600 that takes two AA batteries (the alkalines die very quickly, so I use lithium), but the camera is tiny & light with a 35-105 (EQU) zoom (with zooming viewfinder).  I got it for $3 at a thrift store.  What's not to love?

[XKAES]

5 hours ago, Pieter said:

I think this is just a matter of progressive insight.

As good a speculation as any.

[FunWithCameras]

I wonder if some mounts are more vulnerable than others - the issue would be whether the lens contacts could short the camera contacts when rotating the lens to remove it. Would be nice if they designed it so that couldn't happen, even if people don't turn the camera off.

Not an issue if you turn the camera off, of course.

I'm going to keep turning mine off to change lenses and to change batteries, and even to change memory cards. I also dismount memory cards before pulling them from the card reader. 

You are perfectly at liberty to do otherwise. 

[XKAES]

Minolta sold millions of cameras and lenses with the a-mount (5-contact & 8-contact models) -- for many years.  If there was a problem with the a-mount, I've got to believe that Minolta would have mentioned it -- talk about a large enough sample size.  But I've never seen it.

But all of the Minolta cameras I've seen, advise turning OFF the cameras to change batteries or memory cards.

My thought is that it has something to do with certain, newer a-mount cameras -- but I'm not going to lose any sleep over it, since I don't own any of these cameras -- and never will!!!