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DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> Camera and the cold
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 01/13/2008 01:10:45 PM · #1
I'm planning a trip to Alaska in the summer, and even though it doesn't get below freezing at night it gets quite cold. I would be camping so my camera would be outdoors all the time. Will the cold affect my camera in a negative way? If so what can I do to avoid problems? My camera is the Canon 350d.

Thanks in advance.
 01/13/2008 01:15:25 PM · #2
It's winter in Vermont right now, and I shoot outside with my cameras all the time. The biggest thing is to keep from moving them between temperature zones without letting them slowly adjust. For example, taking it from the cold outside air stright into a warm building/tent. I stick mine in a gallon-sized Ziplock and let it sit for an hour or so; this way any condensation forms on the outside of the bag, and not in my camera and lenses.

I've also found that when I've had my entire bag out with me, leaving all the gear in the bag, and the bag zipped works about the same as the Ziplock, although it takes a bit longer to warm up.

Aside from that, the only thing I can think of is batteries, which of course drain faster in the cold.
 01/14/2008 08:22:18 AM · #3
I live and shoot in Wyoming (and yes it is cold as hell here most of the winter) and would agree with Brent on all points:

*Avoid rapid temp changes
*Use of camara bag instead of ziplock
*battery drain can be much greater
 01/14/2008 08:45:10 AM · #4
All I've ever read is that the temperature change from cold to room temp should be gradual to prevent condensation forming on the inner parts. When I come in from an extended session in the cold and my pack is freezing, I tend to just take out the CF card and then close the bag up again and leave it closed to warm up over time.

N
 01/14/2008 09:36:20 AM · #5
I compiled some previous answers to your question -- you can check out the thread here.
01/14/2008 12:53:53 PM · #6
I'm a strong beliver in silica gel (Desiccant). I have a large pack in the bottom of every camera bag, and a small pack of one in every compartment. Every other month I put them all in my food-dehydrator for a couple of hours. Rice also works in a sewn poutch or in a metal container with small holes.

Message edited by author 2008-01-14 12:54:20.
 01/14/2008 07:55:02 PM · #7
Thanks alot for your help, very useful
 01/14/2008 08:01:41 PM · #8
keep the batteries - when possible - in as warm as possible an enviroment.

also a cold battery might regain some power if you warm it up.
 01/14/2008 08:14:47 PM · #9
Best place to warm them is somewhere in your clothing against your body. Someone told me for women its great to stick it in your bra!!!!
 01/14/2008 08:25:53 PM · #10
Another trick that works VERY well is to collect all those tiny sacks of silica gel that come in small electronics boxes and throw them in your camera case and/or bag for your camera and/or lenses. Their amazing power to drink moisture makes a HUGE difference.
 01/14/2008 08:31:48 PM · #11
Originally posted by Monique64:
Best place to warm them is somewhere in your clothing against your body. Someone told me for women its great to stick it in your bra!!!!

Hey Monique, let's have a GTG shooting some snow or iceberg scenes, ready? LOL!
01/14/2008 08:52:07 PM · #12
I was down at the snow in July but I didn't need to do it as it didn't go below zero and my battery in my camera lasted. I do put my lens cap in my bra sometimes and sometimes I forget it's there!!!!! :)
 01/14/2008 09:08:15 PM · #13
Originally posted by Monique64:
I was down at the snow in July but I didn't need to do it as it didn't go below zero and my battery in my camera lasted. I do put my lens cap in my bra sometimes and sometimes I forget it's there!!!!! :)


I'm struggling to contain a smutty 'cor, are those 77mm or are you just cold' comment....DOH ;)

(I actually bought TWO 77mm caps today...one to replace yet another lost one (that's two in two shoots) and a spare for when I lose the next. If I start wearing a bra as a lens cap holder I think serious questions will be asked, but hey, what a rationalisation :)

N
 01/14/2008 09:16:56 PM · #14
Originally posted by Quasimojo:
Originally posted by Monique64:
I was down at the snow in July but I didn't need to do it as it didn't go below zero and my battery in my camera lasted. I do put my lens cap in my bra sometimes and sometimes I forget it's there!!!!! :)


I'm struggling to contain a smutty 'cor, are those 77mm or are you just cold' comment....DOH ;)

(I actually bought TWO 77mm caps today...one to replace yet another lost one (that's two in two shoots) and a spare for when I lose the next. If I start wearing a bra as a lens cap holder I think serious questions will be asked, but hey, what a rationalisation :)

N


I would suggest a jacket with pockets. :) Less strange looks.

Message edited by author 2008-01-14 21:17:12.
 01/14/2008 09:58:35 PM · #15
Originally posted by Monique64:
I was down at the snow in July but I didn't need to do it as it didn't go below zero and my battery in my camera lasted. I do put my lens cap in my bra sometimes and sometimes I forget it's there!!!!! :)

LOL! I'm going to be a gentleman and bite my tongue. ;-)

01/15/2008 11:36:50 AM · #16
I've found that on the 400d the autofocus sometimes slows right down in the cold, it will either move forward in tiny increments, or just stop working entirely. Same goes for the shutter too, i've had it on occasion where you compose, click the shutter and nothing happens. I gave it a bit to warm up inside my jacket and we were all good.

This was in the biting wind and rain though so i suppose some decrease in performance is expected on a camera without any kind of weather protection.
 01/16/2008 11:56:12 AM · #17
Apparantly a tea bag will also do a great job of avoiding excess moisture (same as rice), but im not sure about using it in a camera bag? I guess its just asking for the fine dust to get into your camera body...
 01/17/2008 09:49:58 PM · #18
Originally posted by Tez:
I've found that on the 400d the autofocus sometimes slows right down in the cold, it will either move forward in tiny increments, or just stop working entirely. Same goes for the shutter too, i've had it on occasion where you compose, click the shutter and nothing happens. I gave it a bit to warm up inside my jacket and we were all good.

This was in the biting wind and rain though so i suppose some decrease in performance is expected on a camera without any kind of weather protection.


I don't normally use auto focus so that shouldn't be a problem in my case.
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