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11/22/2006 01:26:38 AM · #1 |
So, I just purchased my new D70s, and it's getting pretty darned cold outside.
Within the next week, it is supposed to drop down to -27 C (-16 F).
I have 2 questions:
1. What is the safest lowest suggested temperature for a DSLR (non weather sealed) to be used in?
2. I usually have my camera with me all the time. When I am in my car, it sits on the seat beside me. Wherever I stop, I put it around my neck and take it in with me (for security reasons). Is the extreme change in temperatures for a short period of time (walking from my warm car to a warm store or house) risking damage to my camera? If not, how do I solve this problem? (moving is not an option)
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11/22/2006 02:02:55 AM · #2 |
Well, the camera will probably tolerate the low temps much better than it's battery will. If you let the battery get too cold, it will lose power quickly. I've used my 10D outdoors in 0F weather several time with no ill effects.
You can keep a spare battery in a pocket inside your coat (so it will be warm) and swap it out with the one in your camera shoudl you need to.
As for going from your warm car to your warm house, if your camera's in a bag, you shouldn't have any problem. It's not the temperature, but rather, condensation that is the problem.
If your camera is in a nice warm house, chances are that the air has moisture in it. Outside, the moisture is frozen out of the air. If you bring a cold camera into a warm moist room, moisture will condense out of the air and your camera will be wet. Not a good thing. If your camera is cold, just put it in a ziploc bag before taking it inside and then any condensation will form on the bag |
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11/22/2006 05:01:15 AM · #3 |
Also, when you come back inside resist changing lenses until your camera's had a chance to warm up - otherwise you can quickly end up with condensation on your sensor which helpfully welds the dust bunnies onto it so you can't blow them off.
I speak with experience ;-) |
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11/22/2006 07:57:16 AM · #4 |
actually the cold doesn't kill the battery - though it seems that way. if you warm it up the charge will come back.
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
You can keep a spare battery in a pocket inside your coat (so it will be warm) and swap it out with the one in your camera shoudl you need to.
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11/22/2006 08:34:47 AM · #5 |
i used my d50 here in iceland several times outside, when the temperature was -20 degrees and lower (plus strong cold wind) and i didn't notice any problems exept for the moisture, when you come in a warm room/car.
i also left the camera outside in the cold for aurora photography and long exposures (up to 2 hours), just protected by a jacket around the body, it was no prob. the only strange thing is an error that always comes up with long exposures in my d50, it says "job nr error". anyone knows, what the heck that means? |
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11/22/2006 09:29:00 AM · #6 |
A Nikon DSLR, will save a true raw image if the camera
detects a low voltage condition in the internal battery during the 'Job NR' phase of
the in camera noise reduction. Basically, as a safety feature, any image in the
buffer is saved to the memory card, without having the median filter applied.
There is a range of internal voltages which will cause the camera to abort a
'Job NR' and save the image to the memory card, unaltered.
Message edited by author 2006-11-22 09:29:56. |
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11/22/2006 10:59:36 AM · #7 |
Originally posted by soup:
actually the cold doesn't kill the battery - though it seems that way. if you warm it up the charge will come back.
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
You can keep a spare battery in a pocket inside your coat (so it will be warm) and swap it out with the one in your camera shoudl you need to.
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Exactly. If it's cold, it won't power the camera. That's why you swap them. When the one in the camera gets cold, you replace it with the warm one in your coat. If that one gets cold and stops working, you can swap again.
Message edited by author 2006-11-22 11:01:26. |
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11/22/2006 02:11:57 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by LERtastic:
1. What is the safest lowest suggested temperature for a DSLR (non weather sealed) to be used in?
2. I usually have my camera with me all the time. When I am in my car, it sits on the seat beside me. Wherever I stop, I put it around my neck and take it in with me (for security reasons). Is the extreme change in temperatures for a short period of time (walking from my warm car to a warm store or house) risking damage to my camera? If not, how do I solve this problem? (moving is not an option) |
1. does matter as long as the battery doesn't freeze.
2. Keep the camera in the trunk and the batteries in the car(cab). This will keep the temperature of the camera at or within parameters and the batteries fresh and warm. Prolonged exposure of the hot and cold will build condinsation in the camera which is why you keep it in the trunk and the heat from the car will keep the batteries warm/fresh which is why you keep them in the car.
If your going for a walk just use the neck strap and walk with a bulky jacket until your ready for the shot. The cold can and will kill your batteries which iswhy you should keep them seperate.
In snowy conditions is a different situation.
edit to add: with a battery grip you should be able to swap out one battery at a a time to always keep one warm and fresh.
Message edited by author 2006-11-22 14:12:40. |
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12/12/2006 12:46:49 PM · #9 |
| Does anyone make a remote power cable that would allow you to keep the battery warm in your pocket while powering the camera in the cold? |
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12/12/2006 12:54:13 PM · #10 |
The best thing I've found is to stick the camera in a sealed plastic bag when coming back inside (ziploc etc) and leave it there for an hour or more until it warms up to room temp. Otherwise you'll get condensation on the body.
I've had the same problem in the summer here in Texas going from air conditioning to outside, too quickly.
I've shot with an SLR down to about -40 (C or F, it doesn't much matter at that point). They work fine, though as everyone has said, batteries die quickly. Keep them in an inside pocket and warm. Try to have a couple that you can swap around.
I wear a glove liner and then thicker gloves - so that I can pull the heavy gloves off and shoot, without touching the metal of the camera with my hands.
Pipe insulation is useful around metal tripod legs, stops you getting too cold/ sticking to the metal when it gets cold.
try not to breathe on the camera if you are looking through the viewfinder.
Also, the LCD may freeze up/ go weird. They tend to recover when they warm up though.
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12/12/2006 01:00:23 PM · #11 |
What I gather from this thread is that it's OK to leave your camera in your cold car (such as during the day at work). But when you come inside where it's warm and moist, seal it up until it warms to avoid condensation. Is a camera bag good enough to avoid the condensation?
And how cold can it go? I don't know if I'd do much shooting when it's way below freezing, but it's nice to know that the camera is in the car, just in case. I can't bring it into work because it's either dusty by my desk or very humid in locker.
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12/12/2006 01:09:03 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by mad_brewer:
What I gather from this thread is that it's OK to leave your camera in your cold car (such as during the day at work). But when you come inside where it's warm and moist, seal it up until it warms to avoid condensation. Is a camera bag good enough to avoid the condensation?
And how cold can it go? I don't know if I'd do much shooting when it's way below freezing, but it's nice to know that the camera is in the car, just in case. I can't bring it into work because it's either dusty by my desk or very humid in locker. |
The camera manuals usually recommend a sealed plastic bag for shooting outdoors. I also normally try to keep the camera inside my jacket while outside to protect it some more.
The recommended operating range from the manufacturer for the Rebel Xt is 0C to 40C, so anything beyond that is out of spec, just FYI. It certainly works colder than that, but weird things will begin to happen.
I notice that the 1D bodies have the same claimed 0C low point, but are rated to work in 5C hotter conditions, up to 45C.
Message edited by author 2006-12-12 13:13:03.
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