Can Cold damage camera? vey cold...

Zephyrize · 5th of January 2010 (Tue)

Some friends and I planned a shooting on our nearby mountain this weekend.. only problem: the temperature is predicted as -20 C (-4 F)

We'll be out from lunchtime till sundown at around 5pm..
my concern is... will this cold weather damage my Xsi?
I know that it affects battery life, so I burrowed an extra one.. but can it actually cause physical damage to sensor, lcd, lens element, etc.

Note that I won't be going from cold to warm to cold... it's just plain cold all day

thanks

DDCSD · 5th of January 2010 (Tue)

Nope, you'll be fine.

That's really not even cold.

themadman · 5th of January 2010 (Tue)

Cold air should be fine, the only problems I see are...

1. Batteries get too cold
2. When you bring your camera from a very cold to a very warm location, you can get some condensation on the inside.

Since you aren't concerned about those two things, I won't worry too much. Cold air is usually dry air so I don't think that should case you too many problems.

jack lumber · 6th of January 2010 (Wed)

I have shot at -42c camera was fine.

capo-wear-i · 6th of January 2010 (Wed)

Appaently the LCD screen slows down in extreeme cold - anyone confirm this ?

10megapixel · 6th of January 2010 (Wed)

Liquid crystal displays are sensitive to temperature, and it can affect their behavior. Cold weather makes the liquid thick, slowing down the display.

Woolburr · 6th of January 2010 (Wed)

Keep the spare battery in an inside pocket, close to your body so that it stays nice and warm. You can rotate batteries if there seems to be an issue. Also, when you come in from an extended period out in the cold...it is a good idea to slip your camera in to a big ziplock bag and seal it outside....let the camera and bag slowly warm inside and you won't have condensation issues inside your body.

Khamelion · 6th of January 2010 (Wed)

Keep the little bags of Silica Gel you get when you buy anything from phones, tv's, leather goods etc and pop them in your camera bag, they suck up moisture and help keep your camera gear condesation free.

themadman · 6th of January 2010 (Wed)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khamelion

Keep the little bags of Silica Gel you get when you buy anything from phones, tv's, leather goods etc and pop them in your camera bag, they suck up moisture and help keep your camera gear condesation free.

Those are awesome, I have like 5 sitting in my camera bag =P Just remember, don't eat em!

Zephyrize · 6th of January 2010 (Wed)

Quote:

Originally Posted by themadman

Those are awesome, I have like 5 sitting in my camera bag =P Just remember, don't eat em!

haha thanks for the advice!

I was concerned since my xsi is not 'weathersealed' (I thought it included cold temperatures)... the others hikers are using 5D2s and D300s, so don't want to be the only one with a dead camera after a few hours lol

Jon · 6th of January 2010 (Wed)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khamelion

Keep the little bags of Silica Gel you get when you buy anything from phones, tv's, leather goods etc and pop them in your camera bag, they suck up moisture and help keep your camera gear condesation free.

Quote:

Originally Posted by themadman

Those are awesome, I have like 5 sitting in my camera bag =P Just remember, don't eat em!

If they're just sitting around in your camera bag for any length of time, they're probably no good any more. They're not all that absorbent to begin with in small quantities, and there's no "On/Off" switch to tell them when you don't need them to be collecting moisture out of the air.

Sam|McGuire · 6th of January 2010 (Wed)

I've had my 40d out shooting snowboarding in -15 with driving snow. You'll be fine.

Kafn8td · 6th of January 2010 (Wed)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zephyrize

-20 C (-4 F)

No problems, This time of the year in MN it is consistently below that, and I've shot well below that with P&S, XT, 30D and now tha 7D without issues.

Quote:

Appaently the LCD screen slows down in extreeme cold - anyone confirm this ?

I've been told this also, but have never noticed it on the XT, 30D and now 7D. I did however notice this past weekend -9 F that when I went to change my focus point it was slow. Back and top screen functioned as normal.
I shot 500+ pictures of Eagles last saturday in that cold, and when I checked the battery on the 7D, it still showed 85%. In fact I still haven't charged it and have taken another 100 and it's showing 77%.

themadman · 6th of January 2010 (Wed)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon

If they're just sitting around in your camera bag for any length of time, they're probably no good any more. They're not all that absorbent to begin with in small quantities, and there's no "On/Off" switch to tell them when you don't need them to be collecting moisture out of the air.

DOH! I better buy more then =)

Khamelion · 6th of January 2010 (Wed)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon

If they're just sitting around in your camera bag for any length of time, they're probably no good any more. They're not all that absorbent to begin with in small quantities, and there's no "On/Off" switch to tell them when you don't need them to be collecting moisture out of the air.

I'm fairly certain that you can reinvigorate them by drying them out in a warm oven for a few minutes, could be wrong though

5th of January 2010 (Tue)	#1
Zephyrize Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 316 IMAGE EDITING OK	Can Cold damage camera? vey cold... Some friends and I planned a shooting on our nearby mountain this weekend.. only problem: the temperature is predicted as -20 C (-4 F) We'll be out from lunchtime till sundown at around 5pm.. my concern is... will this cold weather damage my Xsi? I know that it affects battery life, so I burrowed an extra one.. but can it actually cause physical damage to sensor, lcd, lens element, etc. Note that I won't be going from cold to warm to cold... it's just plain cold all day thanks __________________ ~Be the change you want to see in the world. .. Flickriver.

5th of January 2010 (Tue)	#2
DDCSD GIVIN' GOOD KARMA Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: South Dakota Posts: 13,313 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Can Cold damage camera? vey cold... Nope, you'll be fine. That's really not even cold. __________________ Derek Bucketman Karma Fund POTN FF L2 MadTown Birds Full Gear List & Feedback

5th of January 2010 (Tue)	#3
themadman Cream of the Crop Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northern California Posts: 18,836 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Can Cold damage camera? vey cold... Cold air should be fine, the only problems I see are... 1. Batteries get too cold 2. When you bring your camera from a very cold to a very warm location, you can get some condensation on the inside. Since you aren't concerned about those two things, I won't worry too much. Cold air is usually dry air so I don't think that should case you too many problems. __________________ Will \| WilliamLiuPhotography.com \| Gear List and Feedback \| CPS Member \| Have you Pre-Ordered Your 3Dx Yet? \| HorusBennu Discussion \| In honor of Uncle Steve, thanks for everything! 10-5-2011

6th of January 2010 (Wed)	#4
jack lumber Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: southern alberta. Posts: 1,097 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Can Cold damage camera? vey cold... I have shot at -42c camera was fine. __________________ There is a fine line between "hobby" and "obsession" -------------------------------------- 5D-20D-7D gripped- all canon-28MM 1.8 - 50MM 1.8 -17-40 L -100MM 2.8 macro -70-200MM L F4- 100-40MM L -1X4 teleconverter-Sigma 20-40MM 2.8 580 EX 11 flash- manfrotto tripods and monopods.

6th of January 2010 (Wed)	#5
capo-wear-i Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Shropshire, UK Posts: 6 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Can Cold damage camera? vey cold... Appaently the LCD screen slows down in extreeme cold - anyone confirm this ? __________________ Canon 500D, 70-300 II, 18-55, 50mm 1.8

6th of January 2010 (Wed)	#6
10megapixel "I'm a little slow" Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: ……Surrounded by Corn and Rednecks in Indiana Posts: 3,864 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Can Cold damage camera? vey cold... Liquid crystal displays are sensitive to temperature, and it can affect their behavior. Cold weather makes the liquid thick, slowing down the display. __________________ Gear List & Feedback

6th of January 2010 (Wed)	#7
Woolburr Mr. PMS Himself Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: The Tupperware capitol of eastern Oregon...Leicester, NC! Posts: 65,344 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Can Cold damage camera? vey cold... Keep the spare battery in an inside pocket, close to your body so that it stays nice and warm. You can rotate batteries if there seems to be an issue. Also, when you come in from an extended period out in the cold...it is a good idea to slip your camera in to a big ziplock bag and seal it outside....let the camera and bag slowly warm inside and you won't have condensation issues inside your body. __________________ *People that know me call me Dan* *You'll never be a legitimate photographer until you have an award winning duck in your portfolio!* Crayons, Coloring Book, Refrigerator Art and What I Really Think About

6th of January 2010 (Wed)	#8
Khamelion Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: North East England Posts: 89	Re: Can Cold damage camera? vey cold... Keep the little bags of Silica Gel you get when you buy anything from phones, tv's, leather goods etc and pop them in your camera bag, they suck up moisture and help keep your camera gear condesation free. __________________ -- Kind Regards Dave

6th of January 2010 (Wed)	#12
Sam\|McGuire Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Burlington, VT 05401 Posts: 865 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Can Cold damage camera? vey cold... I've had my 40d out shooting snowboarding in -15 with driving snow. You'll be fine. __________________ Canon 5DII\| 35L \| 16-35LII \|24-70L \|70-200 F/2.8 IS LII \| Alien Bees \| CPS Member Flickr www.moralfibers.co

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