Off topic, but Birders are out in the winter weather..

[bromm]

More than most other types of photogs, how do you keep the batteries from dying of cold? do the battery grips with two packs help for more life? I just want to get prepared for this winter as I didnt get a lot of photography in through the summer, so the winter models have to take up the slack.:D
Thanks for any help!

[Airedale1]

Trevor I don't do anything special in the winter. I just make sure my battery is fully charged before I head out for the day. That being said, I keep my camera inside my Lowepro Mini-Trekker. That and it being in the car till needed keeps things fairly warm.

[hTr]

Trevor Most of the Lithium Batteries suffer greatly from cold weather, I would Suggest you keep a spare inside of your coat and when the first runs down Exchange and Put it inside your jacket and most will Regain some amount of Charge from being warmer.

[kolok]

When I shoot outside in the winter, I pull the battery out and stuff it into an inside pocket of my jacket, then just load it into the socket when needed. Keeps the battery warm and rearin to go at moment's notice. Started doing this since realizing that at times it took a while for the camera to even turn on in colder weather, otherwise it would just be very sluggish.

[EdV]

Hi Trevor,

I make sure my battery in the camera is fully charged. Then I carry a spare in an inside shirt pocket close to my body and under whatever layers of clothing I am wearing. Generally your best source of heat out in the field is your body heat. So far, its worked for me.

[Booswalia]

A fully charged battery should get you through an afternoon of shooting in the cold, but it is good to have a spare. Just keep the spare warm by storing it your pocket in stead of in your camera bag. I don't think the battery grip would help at all because both batteries would get cold.

[Gary Fairhead]

Keeping a spare in your pocket near body heat ( shirt pocket) has worked for me and this also works when a battery dies suddenly or loses its charge from the cold.For the 350 D batterries..5 minutes in my shirt pocket is enough for the battery to regain its charge....on the 30 D I have 2 batteries in a grip and on a few occasions in February of this year I used the camera for an entire morning in -30 Degree wheather and the batteries were fine.

[canonloader]

Most of last winters eagles were shot at minus 22f or lower in a 25 mile an hour wind. I started with fresh charged batteries and never had to change them while shooting 2 2Gb cards. That's about 900 RAW images on the 30D using the 400L Prime.

I had one problem during all the shoots I did. One time, the shutter stuck open. I turned off the camera, removed the battery, put it back in, turned the camera on and went back to shooting. I figure an hour to an hour and a half out in the cold and the battery never gave out.

[pttenn]

"-22 degrees Fahrenheit????" Remind me never to go bird shooting with you northern guys in the wintertime! BRRRRRR!
Karen

[canonloader]

Hey, Liz drove over here just for the pleasure of standing out there for over an hour.

Uh-oh, I just remembered, she stayed out there longer than I did. :o

[bromm]

Thanks for all the info folks, I think I'll pick up an extra battery soon.,I think my original batt. is starting to lose its charge faster now, it is almost 2years old and close to 20k clicks so I guess it owes me nothing :D