Extreme Cold and Plastic Camera?

[Malok]

This morning it was a perfect day for photography. The trees were glistening with snow, the sky was mostly clear and the air was clean. However, the temperature was very cold, -10 Farenheit (-22 C).

At what point do I have to worry about the plastic on my camera cracking or shattering into a million little pieces. I've only taken about 5,000 shots on my G3 so far and if the other thread (about the life span of a digital camera) is correct, I should still have another 45,000 to go. I'd like to make it to 50k if I can!

Any thoughts on extreme cold useage would be helpful. I don't want to miss another beautiful morning!

Erik

Here's one from a warmer day:
http://photos.balkanhope.com/photos/standard/winter/Longs%20Point%20Cabin.jpg

[pradeep1]

I don't think any natural temperature, no matter how cold, is going to kill your camera. It might reduce your camera's batteries to wimp status, but your camera should work fine as long as it is getting enough juice. If you dip your camera in liquid nitrogen and then drop it, then your shattering into a million pieces scenario may happen.

If you are regularly shooting in extremely cold environments, Sandisk has their "extreme" version of their CF cards. You may want to check into those to see if there is anything that might be useful to you. I am not sure if CF card write speeds are affected by the cold.

[pgparlee]

However, the temperature was very cold, -10 Farenheit (-22 C).
At what point do I have to worry....

Erik I live in northern Ontario Canada. This winter we've had weeks of extended cold weather temps ranging -25C to -47C (-40C and -40F are the same temp). I wouldn't worry at all about the cold weather if you take some simple precautions. My G2 has gone through two winters like that without problem.

Keep the camera in a well made padded case (like a Lowepro Nova bag) for protection against the elements; keep some selica paks (absorbs moisture) in the bag; avoid using the camera for a while when coming from extreme cold to warm inside temps where condensation is a issue (if your eyeglasses fog up, so will the lens). Even use a plastic bag if necessary until the camera gets to room temp. Don't store the camera in the cold, i.e. the back seat or trunk of the car; and don't let snow or water get to it. If you are hiking, skiing, snowmobiling etc for hours in extreme cold, keep the neckstrap around your neck and the camera under your parka so it gets some body heat. So, while I live in extreme cold temps, I do try and use some common sense to protect the camera because no delicate machinery is designed to be exposed to -40F for long. Doing simple common sense things should let you operate without hinderance. And no, I've never left the camera in the car when it was down to -40F to see what happens. If it's that cold, it goes inside with me.
- Paul, N-Ont

[PacAce]

...At what point do I have to worry about the plastic on my camera cracking or shattering into a million little pieces.

Erik, I'd only start worrying about such things when the camera starts sticking to your face from it being so cold. :D

The camera is rated only down to 0 degrees C (32 F) so I think it'll stop working long before it starts cracking from the cold.

Nice picture, BTW.

[Malok]

Thank you all for your advice! I am especially greatful to hear from pgparlee. Folks living in Ontario usually know what they are talking about when it comes to cold weather.

Stay warm!

Erik

[pradeep1]

Thank you all for your advice! I am especially greatful to hear from pgparlee. Folks living in Ontario usually know what they are talking about when it comes to cold weather.

Stay warm!

Erik

Yes, those of us in Georgia would not know cold. 8)

[civis]

Yes, those of us in Georgia would not know cold..
Looking at your state's record low temperatures, that's not quite true. January of 1982, for example, was pretty cold. The record low temp in your state was -17F back in 1940. While that isn't Antarctica's Vostok weather station, , but it's not equatorial africa either.

[satnitefever]

I heard, but don't quote me on this, that if temperature is cold, noise levels would be low....

[pradeep1]

I heard, but don't quote me on this, that if temperature is cold, noise levels would be low....

Opposite of the noise levels would be high if it is hot. Maybe true. Malok, if you are still freezing your butt off in Canada (it's a nice 70 deg. F or 21.2 deg. C here in Georgia), give us some insight.

Thanks,

[Malok]

Hey Pradeep,

I'm still on top of a mountain in Colorado and loving it. Yesterday about 7 of us got together at 5am hiked several miles up a mountain to stand on a very windy frozen lake and wait for a sunrise which ended up being swallowed by the clouds. Don't you wish you were here? :wink:

I am sorry that I can't give you any real information on noise and temperature, other than to say that I haven't seen a real difference. Because my focus is on landscape, I shoot everything at ISO 50 and so my noise levels are always quite low.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

Malok

P.S. Sorry to hear about the bad weather you are having Pradeep. I wouldn't trade for anything. :lol:

[pradeep1]

P.S. Sorry to hear about the bad weather you are having Pradeep. I wouldn't trade for anything. :lol:


:P