We run five cameras at Just Basl Productions. Every one of them is expected to perform on the day, every time. That doesn’t happen by accident — it happens through consistent maintenance habits that we’ve built into our production workflow over years.
Here’s the system that keeps our kit reliable.
The Pelican Case Rule
The first thing I do when a new camera arrives is order its Pelican case. Before it goes on a single shoot, it has a home — foam-fitted, labeled, and stored in the same place in our studio every time. This sounds obvious until you’re the person who has lost track of a camera body the morning before a shoot because it was left in a bag, then moved to a shelf, then put in a case that doesn’t quite fit.
A camera that always lives in the same case, in the same location, is a camera you can always account for.
“A camera that always lives in the same case, in the same location, is a camera you can always account for.”
Post-Shoot Inspection
After every shoot, before any camera goes back in its case, I do a quick inspection. Check the body for any impacts or damage. Check that the lens mount is clean. Check that the battery contacts are clean. Check the memory card slots. Two minutes of attention after every shoot catches small problems before they become expensive ones.
Sensor Cleaning
Sensor dust is inevitable. It shows up as dark spots in your footage, usually visible in bright areas or against clean backgrounds. I check sensors between major productions and clean them when needed — either with a blower first, and a wet swab if the blower doesn’t resolve it.
If you’re not comfortable wet-cleaning your own sensor, most camera shops offer sensor cleaning services for $50-$75. Worth every cent compared to the alternative of spending hours in post cloning out dust spots.
Lens Care
Lenses get cleaned with a lens pen or microfiber cloth — never a regular cloth or clothing. The rear element gets the most attention because any contamination there affects the image directly. Front elements are more forgiving but still need regular attention.
My Cooke SP3 and Xeen sets get cleaned and inspected before any major production. The glass on those lenses is why we bought them — protecting it is protecting the investment.
Battery Protocol
Every battery gets labeled with a number. Battery rotation is tracked so no single battery gets over-cycled while others sit unused. Batteries that hold noticeably less charge than their spec are retired — a battery that dies mid-shot is more expensive than the cost of a replacement.
The night before any shoot, all batteries go on chargers. No exceptions. The most embarrassing thing you can do in front of a client is pull out a dead battery.
Annual Service
Our primary cameras go in for manufacturer service once a year. It’s an expense, but it’s the cost of running a professional kit. A camera that’s serviced regularly doesn’t surprise you with a critical failure on a $20,000 production day.
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