Frozen Tripod Legs - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8

03/01/2011 03:03:49 AM · #1

All you cold weather folks-
Ever had your tripod legs freeze up? Freeze, as in, ice caused the legs to "freeze" in position and lose all adjustability?
This weekend I had a run-in with the issue, and while I got it fixed in quick order, it seemed like something I could see becoming un-fixable, and I don't exactly want to have to carry a fully extended tripod miles back to my vehicle from the backcountry.
It was not my locks (which incidentally are twist), because they very nicely twisted and unlocked. The leg itself was frozen and could not telescope, presumably due to a minor amount of snow that melted whilst I was adjusting the legs.

Gordon_1

Nikon D300

03/01/2011 03:12:17 AM · #2

Originally posted by spiritualspatula:

maybe a slight spray of silicone would help give it a coating so it wouldnt lockup

Samsung Galaxy S24, S24+, S24 Ultra

03/01/2011 03:17:08 AM · #3

Originally posted by toddster45:

Originally posted by spiritualspatula:
All you cold weather folks-
Ever had your tripod legs freeze up? Freeze, as in, ice caused the legs to "freeze" in position and lose all adjustability?
This weekend I had a run-in with the issue, and while I got it fixed in quick order, it seemed like something I could see becoming un-fixable, and I don't exactly want to have to carry a fully extended tripod miles back to my vehicle from the backcountry.
It was not my locks (which incidentally are twist), because they very nicely twisted and unlocked. The leg itself was frozen and could not telescope, presumably due to a minor amount of snow that melted whilst I was adjusting the legs.

maybe a slight spray of silicone would help give it a coating so it wouldnt lockup

Think that would impact locking?

Bear_Music

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

03/01/2011 01:33:42 PM · #4

Originally posted by spiritualspatula:

Originally posted by toddster45:
maybe a slight spray of silicone would help give it a coating so it wouldnt lockup

Think that would impact locking?

Yup :-(

R.

LevT

OM System OM-1

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

03/01/2011 01:52:08 PM · #5

I am not an expert, but perhaps chemical-based "warmer packs" which skiers use might work in a pinch? something like this

chromeydome

Nikon D7000

Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX Aspherical DG HSM for Nikon

03/01/2011 01:59:50 PM · #6

Maybe a small bottle of rubbing alchohol? Spray a bit on the affected spots. (or a can of the windshield de-icer) Perhaps best to try on an enemy's tripod first, make sure it doesn't degrade anything (though it should be low risk).

bohemka

Nikon D700

03/01/2011 02:10:42 PM · #7

Originally posted by LevT:

I am not an expert, but perhaps chemical-based "warmer packs" which skiers use might work in a pinch? something like this

That was my first thought as well but those would add up in dollars and in weight, with hiking and all. Bring a stack of Leroy's photos?

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

03/01/2011 02:27:51 PM · #8

Was your tripod warm when you set it in the snow? Even just the heat of sunshine can be enough to warm the tripod up enough to melt the snow... I've noticed that this doesn't happen when it's too cold for the tripod to gain heat (worst problem is with dark / aluminum tripods). White tripods next then?

d56ranger

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

03/01/2011 03:33:16 PM · #9

I really love it when someone gets into an area of my expertise such as equipment in cold weather. To that end, I live in the arrowhead region of Minnesota. In the winter, it's not infrequent to get in the -50Âº F/-45Âº C arena. And, we can get a wind chill a lot colder than that (but wind chill's for wimps and has little or no effect on equipment).

Anyway, think about that glass of ice water the waitress brings you for dinner. It sweats on the outside when there's warm air and humidity. The same thing happens with your tripod and other equipment. When it's outside, and it gets cold, and then you bring it inside, the equipment sweats; everything works fine but when you close the legs the water, even just a minor bit, gets inside. Then, when you take it outside again, the equipment (read moisture) freezes. Keep in mind that "bringing inside" also means the inside of a warm vehicle.

There are several solutions but my two favorites are: 1) leave the equipment outside so there's temperature stabilization. That way there will be minimal condensation that can later freeze. This would work for your tripod, especially if you have a second one that you can keep warm. And, 2) Put the equipment in a plastic bag before bringing it inside. this way the moisture condenses on the outside of the bag. After the equipment warms up you can remove it and there will be no condensation that can later freeze. I always carry plastic bags when working in the cold (large zip locks work great for a camera and smaller ones for the batteries and I have a large plastic bag that I roll my tripod in.

A couple of other hints. Remember, you can go from warm to cold with no problem but you'll get major condensation when you go from cold to warm. My tripod has pipe insulation (available at any home improvement store) zip tied to the upper legs, this allows me to handle the cold tripod with my bare hands in comfort. I'd avoid the various sprays mentioned above as they are dirt grabbers which could impact the operation of your equipment.

RamblinR

Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III

Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro

03/01/2011 03:46:29 PM · #10

To keep my tripod legs running smooth to pull in and out I use a product called Mr Sheen. It's a spray furniture polish but I spray it onto a cloth and then wipe it onto the legs and this sort of polishes them. It won't attract dust and it all locks into place fine.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

03/01/2011 09:56:14 PM · #11

In regard to various questions about conditions-
The tripod was lashed to my pack and out in the weather, so it wasn't warm. It was in the cold for approximately 1 hour before any snow fell, and then after that there was light Colorado champagne powder snow mixed with whatever was kicked up by my travel (which was also light powder) for another 2 hours before use. There was no sun (seriously no sun. 1/200 F7.1 @ ISO200) but tripod legs are dark slate color, so in other circumstances you'd be dead on. I'm well aware of general treatments for cold weather and equipment, as I frequently bring my gear deep into the backcountry with me, but hadn't ever had my tripod legs freeze up like that.

For one, I'm not sure HOW it froze, since it was acclimated as I said, and it wasn't like the legs were moving/sliding since they were locked in place during all the traveling and they were frozen like that when I first tried using it. Secondly, I'm worried that I'd have to keep my tripod in my pack, which is just a huge use of space and would force me to take my bigger pack which weighs more and is more cumbersome for more difficult terrain.

The heat solution is one I thought of, especially since I did have one of these with me for water, as well as a pack of the heat packs for an emergency, but I was optimistic about a preventative measure. Anybody even had this issue come up? Maybe it's the tripod itself that's apt to freeze or something somehow...
::grumble::

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

03/01/2011 10:05:52 PM · #12

Most tubular tripod legs that telescope have a little "stopper" on the smaller tube, and inside the larger one, to stabilize the leg, and to keep it from pulling all the way out when extended. There may be a problem with materials with differing coefficients of expansion going on. For an experiment, you may want to put the tripod in a deep freeze for a while, and see if the effect can be recreated with the tripod completely dry.

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

03/01/2011 11:00:28 PM · #13

What kind of tripod is it?

jbirkman

Canon EOS-7D

Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro for Canon

03/01/2011 11:06:14 PM · #14

I would imagine a metal tripod would be more of a problem for the cold climate. Perhaps a wooden or carbon fiber model would not have this problem?

Magnumphotography

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS USM

03/01/2011 11:07:44 PM · #15

I have a Giotto Monopod, which binded up. It uses twist locks, which I guess were over tightened. Locking the internals. Even loosening the locks, did nothing. I ended up tapping it free, with a rubber mallet. It did this once more to me. I did the mallet trick and disassembled it.
I then cleaned and lubed the internals. It did the trick. l plan on doing the same to my Manfrotto. Those swamp shoots, are starting to take their tole. Grit in the legs, is never good.