How cold is too cold for my camera?

[izthistaken]

I'm sorry, no idea where to put this question at. I love taking my camera with me everywhere because it seems when I dont something always happens that I want a picture of. If I go to work and leave my camera in the car what temp should I be worried about if any? It's been 20 degrees already some nights/days. I can't take my camera into work since we have prototype cars there so thats not an option.

Thanks,
Matt

[Jon]

The battery's capacity will fall off dramatically in cold weather, and if you bring the camera from cold to warm conditions, you need to protect it from condensation. If it gets down around -40 and below, your shutter and/or diaphragm may slow or stick in operation. And handling bare metal with bare hands when it's cold you may get frost burns. You could always keep it in a styrofoam cooler, perhaps with a hand warmer or hot water bottle if you're too worried. That'd moderate the temp. changes somewhat.

[izthistaken]

The battery's capacity will fall off dramatically in cold weather, and if you bring the camera from cold to warm conditions, you need to protect it from condensation. If it gets down around -40 and below, your shutter and/or diaphragm may slow or stick in operation. And handling bare metal with bare hands when it's cold you may get frost burns. You could always keep it in a styrofoam cooler, perhaps with a hand warmer or hot water bottle if you're too worried. That'd moderate the temp. changes somewhat.
Ah good idea with the warmer or something along those lines. I'm not excpecting anything too much colder than 0 or - anything too much. At that point I'm just worried about getting from point A to point B :lol:

Thanks!!!!

[Karl Johnston]

What I do with cold shooting is get one of those magic bags from the pharmacists. Then I put it in my front of my hoodie, put my jacket on over that and bundle up. Whenever i'm not shooting or the northern lights I keep the camera against my stoamch where the magic bag in my sweater, is. I keep the second battery in my jacket pocket so its also being warmed by the thing.

It's kinda dangerous theoretically if the extreme heat causes the thing to break, and could spill corrosive acid allover you... but up here its -33 right now and it's not even the evening yet, so as long as you keep an eye on things and dont have the bag blazing hot then its not too big a deal

[izthistaken]

Cool, I hope it doesnt come to that. It's 28 here now and sometimes through the day. It'll get into the -'s a couple times but those days I might not bring my camera to work :lol:

[Karl Johnston]

28?! You call that cold man?? JESUS!

That's spring for me.. you yankees have a warped perspective of cold :D lol in that case you'll be fine, nothing should effect your cam at those temps

[thecackster]

haha agreed. It was -8 the other morning at like 9 am here... haha

[vision35]

Remove the battery so it dont pop or bulge lodging it in the camera. Lubricants will thicken & alter performance of the camera somewhat. Invest in a hardshell waterproof pelican case, mine is 20yrs old & fine. Put your camera in a gallon ziplock before bringing it into the house to warm up. Any condensation will be on the bag & not inside your lens.

[Toob]

Put your camera in a gallon ziplock before bringing it into the house to warm up. Any condensation will be on the bag & not inside your lens.

I agree here, I keep one in my equipment bag at all times. I'm so paranoid, in fact, that I keep a couple of those packets of silica gel in the Ziploc bag just as an extra measure. Plus, the silica gel packets are always free in boxes with new shoes or inside new bags! :lol:

[tpweller]

I've recently bought a remote control for my camera and was planning to do some long exposures overnight - apart from my batteries possibly dying if its cold (eg. up to -10C), are there any other 'dangers' / precautions to take?

[vision35]

some plastics are more brittle in the cold weather

[izthistaken]

I had my camera in the car at 2 degrees yesterday and it was cold and immediately brought it into my buddies house. Never again. So much condensation. It's usually in my car where it gradually heats up... I am going to go grab a ziploc right now.

[gymell]

Your camera will be fine. Just keep the battery warm and make sure when you bring your gear back in the house that it's zipped up securely in the bag, so it can warm up slowly to avoid condensation. BTW, 20 degrees doesn't qualify as cold unless you live in Florida. ;)

[izthistaken]

Well recently it's been in the -'s a ton. I'm sure you're aware :lol:

[gymell]

Heh, yeah I noticed. Then I noticed how old your first post was. ;-)

[vision35]

Leave the lens to camera body seal tight. Its best to leave the lens attatched to the camera when zip locking & bringing it in the home. I even turn down the thermostat to approx 65 degrees before leaving to take photos.