Cold and Digicams

[max101]

I'm planning a trip into the mountains where temperatures could get down to -20C (-4F). (it's summer holiday time :D )

Aside from the effect on batteries, will this temperature affect/damage the CCD? Any other things I should be aware of? (I'm expecting that auto-focus on my SLR lense could freeze)

[John_T]

Well, the specified minimum operating temperature for cameras is usually 0 degrees C. Storage is usually -5C to -10C. You will want to avoid freezing condensation too.

There are a number of things you can do. Carry it inside your outer clothing, but not where it would pick up humidity. Put it in an insulated bag with a hand warmer.

Don't know if -20C itself would actually damage anything in the camera, but the colder it gets the more impact breakable it will become, inside and out. In Sweden once, at -40C, I tugged at the door handle of my car and it broke off in my hand. In extreme cold, don't force anything and imagine it's made of glass. Remember cold fingers don't hold or operate things very well either. Ooops! :o

You will also want to avoid rapid extreme temperature changes. Rapid expansion/contraction can damage parts that have different coefficients of expansion/contraction.

Common sense is your best guide. 8)

[robertwgross]

Cold can have several effects on a digital camera, and you already know about battery power. It has similar effects on a film camera, but not quite the same.

Most digital cameras have one LCD display, and those get very sluggish in the cold. They still operate, but changes are slow and fuzzy. Film cameras don't have as much problem, and any LCD displays they have are less critical.

Very cold air tends to be very dry, and the dry air tends to cause increased static problems. You see that more with dust getting onto the main sensor of a digital camera, but static on film can be a problem also. I've seen the results of static discharge on film that was still in the camera.

Mechanical parts like motors and gears and diaphrams in the lens get sluggish. They have only tiny spots of lubricant on them, but that can get sluggish in the cold. I had a camera one time with an aperture error whenever the camera got much below freezing temperature.

---Bob Gross---

[max101]

Thanks for the advice.

I'll get back to you if my camera doesn't work after the trip :D

[robertwgross]

The more likely problem with cold is from condensation on the lenses. If you get big fluctuations in temperature, then the lenses will fog up.

Suggestion: Instead of letting your camera get very cold, and instead of letting it stay warm (like inside your coat), try leaving it at some constant intermediate temperature.

If I am skiing with my camera on, I leave it outside of my warm insulating layers but inside of my outer wind/rain shell.

When Galen Rowell did arctic photography, he used battery packs inside his warmest layers running on a cable out to the camera in his hands. That way, the batteries stay warm and the camera stays out and ready for use.

---Bob Gross---