What should I know about the Alaskan winter and my camera gear?

[shomat]

My girlfriend and I are planning a trip to Alaska to see the Aurora Borealis in mid-late January, and I am wondering if there is anything I should know about using camera gear in that sort of extremely cold weather.

I use a 5D and currently have a few L lenses, a few non-L's, and am looking at a Sigma ultra wide angle zoom. She has a Powershot and is considering getting a Rebel for the trip.

Will we need to take special care of the equipment due to the cold? Mind the tip regarding using plastic bags to prevent condensation? Anything else?

[JuiceBox]

I've never shot in extreme weather like this, but I'm going to imagine you'll need lots of extra batteries; cold wreaks absolute havoc with batteries. Keep your spares tucked nice and deep in your gear to keep them warm; they won't last long once you take them out and start using them.

Other than that, I really don't know of any effects cold weather has on camera gear. It only gets down to about 10*F at the most where I am, and an Alaskan winter is much, much harsher.

[shomat]

Apparently it can get down to 20 below in Fairbanks.

[JuiceBox]

Huh; I would think it would be much colder. I've spent nights in the wilderness in upstate NY and have it get -20*F. Weird.

[bps]

I've never shot in extreme weather like this, but I'm going to imagine you'll need lots of extra batteries; cold wreaks absolute havoc with batteries. Keep your spares tucked nice and deep in your gear to keep them warm; they won't last long once you take them out and start using them.

I second this. I would recommend having some spare batteries and keeping them against your body (via an inside pocket) while you are outside.

I know this is obvious, but you;ll want to protect the tips of your fingers....

Other than that, and keeping your gear in zip-lock bags when gong from cold-to-hot, you should be fine.

Bryan

[eeeksNYC]

another thing to keep in mind that with the extreme cold, plastics and such, become much more brittle and susceptible to shattering with sharp knocks.

A tip someone once told me is to purchase some of those hand warmer packets and stuff them in an inside pocket with your fully charged backup batteries, might help them to last a bit longer.

also, to help combat the condensation problem, the plastic bags that bps mentioned should help but also pack a bag of Damp Rid (a dessicant available at Home depot) or something similar in your camera bag.

[keitaro]

get some pocketwarmers, and keep your spare batteries with them. Also get a large ziplock bag to keep your camera in when transitioning between outdoors and indoors. This will avoid condensation building up.

[Blackey Cole]

Get yourself some of the hand warmers that stick so you can place them on your batteries to keep them alive in cold wx. Also do nothing for the first 1/2 hour you go out in the cold or in from it to allow your equipment to adjust and not be covered with condensation. and dress very warm.

[PBeeee]

Keep your batteries close to your body. You'll be changing them out, put 'dead' ones in a warm spot and they may come back. Mine usually do. I have a little pocket sewn into the waistband of my thermal base layer, its where I keep mine. I've also 'revived' batteries by rubbing them on my nylon outer gear. I have gotten alot of shots out of dead batteries that way.
Your LCD is a LIQUID crystal display. It can freeze and that is big-O trouble. I know you're going to want to use a tripod for auroras but you need to put your camera under your coat to warm up if the temps are below zero. How often? Depends how cold. I would say if it is below zero, no more than 5 minutes. Use a quick release plate.
My 40d's shutter has stopped working twice this week in wind chills in the -30 to -40f range. As soon as it was warmed slightly, it came back. I'm not keeping my camera out from under my coat for more than 5-7 minutes at a time right now. And the post about plastics being more brittle is right on. Not a good idea to bang or drop a cold camera or lens.
The whole thing with bags only applies if you are going to a warm environment directly from the cold. I don't usually do that with my gear, I leave it in our shop, which is heated, very dry and not above 50f most of the time. After a bit, I bring it in the house. I also don't put it near the car heater on the way home. If I really can't wait for the pics, I just grab the card.
Once you and your gear are all back in a warm place and both warm, do your camera a favor. If it is not a humid environment, remove the battery and card and leave the doors open. This tip came from Canon, to allow any minute condensation to dry. I also always take time to clean my camera after I've abused it. Call it camera karma but I think babying it a little pays off, I take my gear out in pretty rugged stuff and until this week I had not had any issues before.

[Karl Johnston]

The cameras are more durable than that. I shoot all the time with my gear in -40 and below and never have half the problems people listed here.

Sure you can't stand outside for a whole night shooting, your batteries will only last about an hour before starting to give way and if you do a lot of handheld shooting i recommend some warm gloves.

Tripod is absolute necessity. A really good one. I'm just about to dump 700 $ on a really good 3way head and manfrotto myself; shop around, you can get a nice 055D for less than 100 $ (no head)

go here to see some northern lights done by a powershot;

on careful support you can get some really nice auroras;

http://flickr.com/photos/karljohnston/2880671424/
http://flickr.com/photos/karljohnston/2785659485/
http://flickr.com/photos/karljohnston/2740243919/

The 5D will have the larger sensor and be able to handle the noise better, but I don't recommend you go over iSO 800 with it when shooting. Also pack a nice wide angle.

[Isshinharu]

If you go outside from a room temp environment to frigid air, keep in mind your glass may fog. I had this happen and it took a good 45 min or so for it to go away. Don't want to miss those shots!

[Steve In Kentucky]

Most have already given great tips so, all i have to add is I'M JEALOUS.