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10/27/2004 10:42:26 PM · #1 |
Does anyone ever had issues with using digital cameras in cold weather? I had a problem few years ago with a digital P&S camera. After using a whole day in winter time (-10 celsius or 14 fahrenheit), it never worked again... Now I have a DRebel and as winter is coming I feel a little scared...but so many nice pictures to take in winter... The manufacturer recommendations is always over freezing point usage. Opinions? Experiences good or bad?
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10/27/2004 10:44:51 PM · #2 |
My recommendation is to stay within the manufacturer's stated environmental specifications.
-Terry
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10/27/2004 11:05:27 PM · #3 |
| I shoot outdoors a lot in the winter and have not had any problems in temps as low as 2 degrees F. This has been using Nikon and Olympus cameras attached to a telescope for astrophotography. Battery life takes a hit in the cold, though. Only possible issues I could see is if you brought a warm camera into the cold, you might get condensation. |
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10/27/2004 11:39:21 PM · #4 |
Chuck Westphal of Cancon Inc. refers to the specs in your manual (0º - 40º C operating temp) and says: "No apologies," when asked how he felt about exceeding these recommendations. He goes on to say that you're welcome to try your cams in -20º C weather, if you take considered precautions (i.e. prevent/avoid condensation).
Cards, batteries and LCD are usually the first thing effected by cold. At -20º your LCD should cease to function only to be reborn after the temperature has risen again. There are various accounts of photographers encountering failing shutters and dial malfunction, although, fortunately, most of these symptoms were temporary only.
Some of Canon's models appear to be more cold sensitive than others (despite weather sealing or the lack of it). The 10D is rumored to be more cold resistant than the more expensive series. One, I just read about, apparently, returned fully functional from the top of the world.
I know I'll hug my baby when it gets cold.
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10/28/2004 12:09:16 AM · #5 |
| I have had my E10 stop functioning in cold weather... temp was approx 10 degrees F. I had walked about half an hour to a hedge that I wanted to photograph, after I brought it out into the cold it functioned for about ten exposures but suddenly stopped with a noise I had never heard before - a kind of electronic clank. My proceedure after this was to turn the power button off. Condensation is undoubtedly the worst enemy to a camera.... and taking a cold camera into a warm environment immediately would probably be worse than the cold. I warmed the camera gradually by taking it into a garage and later to the house. I have been much more careful in cold weather after this incident. I would think that the plastic camera bodies would be better able to take the cold than metal ones. |
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11/22/2004 12:58:43 PM · #6 |
| I just returned from a backpacking trip in the Sierra, took my Canon 300D. Temps got down to 12 degrees F with no ill affects to my camera. The only problem I did have was with the battery, it indicated that it was low for two days, but functioned normally the whole time. |
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11/22/2004 01:31:55 PM · #7 |
I shoot in -20C with my rebel and have had no problems.
Just watch out for moisture problem when you bring it back inside. |
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11/22/2004 01:35:50 PM · #8 |
I've shot with my Canon G2 at -40C (or -40F it's all the same) without much in the way of problems. I shut down well before the camera did.
Try and keep it protected inside your jacket for most of the time.
Try and keep a spare battery in a warm pocket, close to your body.
You can swap the batteries around when the die and they'll perk up when
they warm up again.
Try not to breathe on any parts of the camera - your breath will freeze.
When you come back inside, put everything inside a ziplock or plastic bag (before you get inside)- the condensation will form on the bag, rather than on the camera.
Message edited by author 2004-11-22 13:36:20.
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