[PL] How do I protect my camera for shipping?

Cameras are often sent as courier shipments (e.g. from an electronics shop to a buyer). This is not cheap equipment, so special care must be taken to ensure its safety during transport. The camera must then be properly packed and protected. Don’t skimp on packaging and other packing materials. Good quality translates into high durability – and that is, after all, what shipping your camera is all about. How do I pack my hearing aid for shipment?

How do I pack my hearing aid for shipping? Preparations

Your camera should not be thrown loose in a cardboard box. It should be placed in a branded carrying case beforehand – it is important that the protective packaging is original, straight from the device manufacturer, because then you can be sure that the equipment is safe and stable during the journey. Other, ill-fitting covers could prove too loose or too tight for the camera. This would result in damage during transport. In the first case, the equipment would move sideways, which is detrimental. In the second case, the walls of the case, pushing against the camera, would certainly damage it mechanically.

The camera should also be in a suitable, fitted case for other reasons. There is a danger that unprotected equipment will come into contact with pollen, dust, sand and other contaminants that have been deposited on packages during transport by courier van. This is a very bad sign – a threat to the safe operation of the camera.

How do I secure my camera for shipment?

A camera is not a cheap piece of equipment, so the seller must remember to protect the goods as much as possible before shipping them to the customer.

Each camera, lens and photographic accessories should initially be in their original cardboard boxes. These boxes will later be put into a larger cardboard box, but several other steps need to be taken at this stage of packing. Wrap the original cartons in stretch film and bubble wrap. This will protect the equipment from mechanical damage, moisture. However, this is only the beginning of the steps on how to pack your camera for shipment.

Now pack the camera and the rest of the kit in a larger cardboard box, and fill the free space in the box with parcel fillers (this is an additional protection). Find out more here: Learn about the different types of parcel fillers and pack safely.

Seal the whole thing very carefully with adhesive tape (e.g. packing tape). It is a good idea to use warning labels (the sticker “Caution, do not throw” fits here), which will inform the courier, warehousemen and sorters that there is valuable content in the package.

Packing your camera properly is something that should not be taken lightly when sending your camera by courier. If it is sent as a parcel with declared contents, in the event of damage during transport (through the fault of the courier, the carrier), the recipient can count on appropriate compensation. Incorrect packaging or gaps in security, on the other hand, will become an argument not to pay compensation.

How to pack a photographic lens for shipment?

Quite a few people (especially budding photographers) buy their cameras in a kit, complete with lens and accessories. Experienced visual artists have been investing in single pieces of equipment for some time now, including good quality lenses. This is an extremely sensitive product. When packing it, it is better to take a few safety measures (the prudent always insured). As it turns out, knowing how to secure a camera for shipment is not the same as packing a lens.

Securing your lens – the first step

If your lens is new, don’t open the factory packaging. It has already been sufficiently protected by the manufacturer. If you are shipping a used lens – without the original box – follow a few steps. First, pack the lens in a zipper bag – dimensionally matched to the equipment. This is a very important point. The inconspicuous drawstring bag protects the glass part of the lens from scratches. In addition, it keeps out dirt and dust. Ziplock bags have a tight seal and a strong structure. You can be sure that the lenses placed in them will be protected from moisture, dirt.

The next step is to wrap the lens in bubble wrap. This product is an excellent shock absorber. It protects the contents from bumps, falls from heights, shocks and pressure from other heavy objects. If you want to know more about it, read: Everything you need to know about bubble wrap and its types.

Choose the outer packaging – the second step

Now choose the right outer packaging – usually a cardboard box. This is a step that should be taken with both a protected used lens and a new one. The cardboard box should be relatively matched to the factory box or bubble wrap – neither too big nor too small. Remember to leave some free space, which you will fill with parcel fillers. Not filling it is a cardinal mistake. If you did this, the lens would bump against the cardboard box during the journey, which could result in damage. What should I fill a parcel with for shipping? You can use fillers such as skropak, Flopak. It is worth paying particular attention to the first of these. It is both an excellent shock absorber and stabiliser.

Other measures – the third step

The outer packaging is the first layer of protection against mechanical damage. However, this is not everything. The cardboard box should be carefully taped with adhesive tape. Then wrap it tightly with stretch film – the ultimate protection against moisture. Finally – as a precaution – stick a “Caution, do not throw!” warning label on the carton. This tells the courier about the fragile and valuable contents. He will know that the package in question must be handled with care. This sticker may result in the package being treated as a non-standard parcel. The downside of this is that you will have to pay more to send the parcel. The significant plus is that the parcel will be treated differently at each instance at the carrier (even at the sorting office). You can therefore breathe a sigh of relief and count on good care.

How do you find a good courier for your camera equipment?

You already know how to pack your camera for shipping and how to secure your camera lens in the package. The next step is to choose a courier to transport your photographic equipment. It needs to be thoughtful. Consider the detailed options for shipping your camera by courier during your search – find out what the rules are for securing sensitive (sometimes camera-dedicated) equipment.

Shipping your camera by courier – only with products from RAJA

Among the assortment of the RAJA online shop, you can find all the products you need to tightly pack and protect your camera (including the kit). You can choose among various types of cardboard packaging (e.g. cardboard boxes with automatic bottom, height-adjustable cardboard boxes) and fillers for parcels (Flopak, bubble foil, air cushions), important accessories (packing tape, stretch foil, moisture absorbers). No need to manoeuvre between different shops – RAJA has everything you need.