How to pack your camera before shipping it to the workshop

An old camera rarely takes kindly to impacts, vibration and pressure from the side. A well-prepared parcel does more than ensure the equipment arrives in one piece: it also prevents additional faults, displaced parts and misleading symptoms when the package is opened.

Before sending your camera to the workshop, take a few minutes to pack it carefully. That is often what makes the difference between trouble-free shipping and an unpleasant surprise on arrival.

The principle: immobilize, cushion, isolate

Good packing follows three simple principles. The camera must not move inside the box, it must be surrounded by material that absorbs shocks, and it must never touch the outer walls directly.

The box may be dropped, compressed or transported on its side. Imagine the parcel in every possible position, not just resting neatly on a table.

Prepare the camera before packing it

Remove accessories that are not needed for diagnosis: strap, filter, loose cap, soft case, old batteries, or film if it is not directly relevant to the fault.

If the camera contains a battery, remove it where possible. Old batteries can leak during transport and damage the compartment, contacts or electronics.

If you are sending a body with a lens attached, make sure the whole assembly is properly protected. Where possible, it is better to separate the body and lens and pack each item individually.

Recommended packing

First wrap the camera in several layers of bubble wrap or soft foam. The lens, prism, dials and covers must be protected without being compressed.

Place the camera in an inner box and add cushioning around it. Then put this first box inside a stronger outer carton, with another protective layer between the two.

Double-boxing is particularly recommended for heavy cameras, TLRs, medium-format equipment, large lenses and bodies with protruding controls.

What to avoid

• A camera placed directly in a carton with only a few sheets of paper around it.
• An oversized box that allows the equipment to move around.
• A simple padded envelope, even for a small lens.
• Adhesive tape directly on the camera, case or leatherette.
• Newspaper packed only on top of the contents.

The simple test: once the parcel is closed, shake it gently. If you can feel or hear the camera moving, add more cushioning.

Include useful information

Place a sheet inside the parcel with your name, email address, telephone number and request reference, if you have one. This makes it easy to identify the equipment on arrival, even if the outside label is damaged.

You can also briefly describe the problem: symptoms, frequency, the conditions in which it occurs, battery used and last known use. This information is often helpful during diagnosis.

Photograph the parcel before shipping

Before sealing the box, take one or two photographs of the internal packing. Keep a photograph of the closed parcel with its shipping label visible as well.

These images may help if there is a shipping problem, but above all they provide a clear record of the condition in which the equipment was sent.

On arrival at the workshop

When the parcel arrives, I check its external condition, open it and match the equipment to your intake request. You then receive confirmation of receipt.

Clean, clearly labelled and well-cushioned packing speeds up this stage and reduces risk. Time spent preparing the parcel is time saved for the rest of the repair.