10D Battery icon and cold weather

[cspratt]

I have a 10D. During cool weather (around 10C) after I've turned the camera on for a few minutes the "Low Battery" icon appears even though the battery is fully charged. If I turn the camera off and remove the battery and then re-insert it, the "fully charged battery icon appears" when I turn the 10d back on. If I then take a couple of shots the "low battery icon re-appears. The camera does operate normally anyway.

Is this situation normal?

Chris. Spratt
Victoria, BC

[blackviolet]

lithium ion batteries are very much affected by cold weather. i know my 10d shuts itself off 'no juice' very quickly in the cold, as does my camcorder (japan, korea, and colorado cold - it doesn't get cold here :cool:) but the 1dmk2 keeps happily shooting. i've also noticed that upon returning to warmer temps, the batteries 'spring back to life' - presumably in the cold, the chemical process slows, decreasing the output enough enough to cause this. i'm also pretty sure that the cold has caused the death of more than one of my Li ion batteries over the years (inability to hold much charge).

nothing scientific - just my observations...

[PacAce]

10C really isn't that cold. The 10D should be able to handle that without even blinking. I've had my 10D out in near freezing temperatures without a problem so I'm inclined to say that there might be something the matter with your camera or the battery itself.

[robertwgross]

The mere act of turning a camera off and then on again will cause just a little extra current to be drawn from the battery. In one respect, that drains the battery slightly, causing the voltage to drop (by a tiny amount). On the other hand, that current draw causes the battery to self-generate a little chemical heat, so that will likely balance out the drain effect.

---Bob Gross---