There are various things you can do if you want your digital camera to last as long as it should and keep on taking good quality images. Digital cameras are delicate and need maintenance and gentle handling. To minimise the chance of it being damaged, follow these tips and your camera should last you for years.

Ensure you buy, or preferably get for free upon purchase, a padded camera bag to keep your camera safe from exposure to the outside elements, including rain and sunshine. When you're not using it then keep it stored in the bag at all times.

As well as the body, you also have the camera lens to look after, lenses that are interchangeable means they are more prone to the risk of damage through being handled roughly, or can get scratched during your travels. Some people have their cameras for years and there's no reason why yours shouldn't last just as long if given a little TLC.

It's advised to keep any camera and equipment stored in a safe, dry place and use silica gel capsules to prevent against condensation. Keep it away from any kind of magnets as they have an effect on the circuitry of the digital camera, and if you are storing the camera for a long period then remove the batteries as there is a possibility they can corrode and leak.

If you are intending to take your camera to the beach, or out in particularly wet and windy weather then only take it out of the bag when you're ready to take photos, then place it safely back inside once you have finished. If water and sand get inside your camera it can be ruined, it's a good idea to keep a ziploc bag with you to put the camera in if it should start to rain heavily. If you have a small enough camera to fit in your pocket or purse then always make sure it's in its case, putting it in otherwise where it will be amongst loose change or keys will just result in scratched lens, LCD surface or casing.

The lens of your digital camera is just as important as the body as it acts as the window. Ensure the lens cap is always kept on until you are ready to take photos, and clean it regularly by using a specialized soft lens cloth to prevent the lens from getting scratched and remove dust and grime from your camera so it will operate to its best ability. If the lens seems really dirty then you can buy special cleaning equipment to do the job, such as a lens brush and lens blower.

Never store your camera in a location where it is exposed to a particularly high temperature, such as the hot sun or left sitting on a car seat in a heatwave. This also applies to very cold conditions.

It's not only the camera and lens that need protecting. Don't forget all the little extras that are essential for making your camera work - batteries should be removed if the camera is not being used for a long time, and memory cards are fragile items, insert and eject them carefully to avoid damaging the contacts. Turn your camera off prior to removing or disconnecting the power source or a cable, or taking out the battery or memory card.

Be particular who you let get hold of your camera! If you leave it lying around the house then you might find your kids have been treating it as a toy, throwing it around, pressing the buttons and discarding it when they get bored. Or if you decide to lend it to friends as a favour, they may not appreciate how fragile compact digital cameras can be and it could easily be returned in a damaged state.

Always look after your camera, you have invested a lot of money into it and unless you have cash to waste then it will pay in the long run to take care of it. It may look robust but digital cameras can go wrong just as any others. Remember how much you paid for your Nikon digital SLR camera, and treat it carefully and it should last you for a long time.