D60 and Cold Weather - CF/Micro-Drive

[gdstaples]

Has anyone had a chance to use their D60 in cold conditions with both CF and 1GB IBM Micro-Drives? Since winter is approaching I am wondering if there are any major problems associated with shooting in the snow etc.?

Thanks,
Duncan

[Fat Guy]

The best data I've seen indicates that you're fine so long as you don't use the Ridata cards. Have a look at these tests:

http://www.robgalbraith.com/media/compactflash/temperature.html

Personally -- and this is just common sense not a documented test result -- if shooting in extreme temperatures, I'd favor CF over Microdrive. No moving parts.

On DC4800 with Sandisk cards I've operated successfully in extreme cold and heat. These units have remained in my car in mid-summer on New Mexico and Arizona parking lots where the car interior likely reaches 120 degrees or more. They've also spent nights in the car at the Grand Canyon in pretty darn cold weather. No problems ever. Poor battery performance has been the bigger problem for me in cold weather.

Hint: If you take a camera into extreme cold weather, carry it under your coat.

[oops]

The high New Mexico temps never concerned me much but any cold weather operation with mechanical micro- drives makes me question performance.

I have never had problems with my microdrive in cold weather (teens), but I have always taken it from room temp to cold and back again when I couldn't stand it anymore. I doubt if this is a real test since my body starts shaking at 30 degrees/f and I wuss-out shortly thereafter.:) We couldn't be talking more than 45 minutes from Indiana Jones to PeeWee Herman.

My greater concern is when I forget the camera in the car overnight below 32 degrees/f and want to take it inside the house. The possibility of internal condensation and resulting problems have forced me to simply leave it in the car to warm slowly on its own with a mental reprimand to never do this again.

Judging from some of the UK and Northern U.S. winter photos on this forum there are those who don't PeeWee until 'minus something' that could contribute even more. My microdrive has outperformed me in cold weather, to say the least.

[Motorsports Photo]

No troubles with the drive, but of course battery life is the real concern as your fingers go numb.

[zimmanj]

I just used my D60 in -5C in Montreal. I found the battery didn't last long. I had to rotate batteries that I had stored in my pant pocket. My 100-400 lens got cold but functioned well. My 1Gb microdrive worked well too.