Wintertime and lenses

Hello all!

So it's that time of the year again... winter is fast approaching and weather is getting colder and it's more windy outside for sure.

Since this will be my first winter with my D-SLR and my lenses, I was wondering if there are any things I should keep in mind in regards to shooting outdoors in extreme cold situations.

Have you guys ever had focussing or USM or mechanical issues with lenses, L lenses in particular in the cold outdoors?

I hope this thread opens up some discussion for shooting in the wintertime and perhaps some ideas on shooting winter situations/landscapes too!

Cheers!

Ziplock Freezer Baggies. Extra batteries in your shirt (i.e. warm) pocket.

gasrocks wrote in post #6578555
Ziplock Freezer Baggies. Extra batteries in your shirt (i.e. warm) pocket.

I thought I would add some clarification:

Ziplock Freezer Baggies - for keeping equipment dry when you bring cold equipment into a warmer more humid environment.

Extra batteries in your shirt (i.e. warm) pocket - since battery life is reduced when they are cold.

Just keep your gear in your bag, take it out to shoot, then return it to the bag. Leave your bag closed upon going indoors for at least a half hour.

Wonder what the photogs at outdoor NFL games do in Dec. and Jan.

Wear gloves. Roll the windows up slowly on the drive home...?

One word - cognac!

It's gonna rain here this Friday and I'll be shooting outside, do I need to protect my hot shoe mount on my 1D with anything?

to add to the gloves, I cut the tip off my right finger of my gloves to work the buttons on the camera, it really helps!

Nightcrawler wrote in post #6578909
I thought I would add some clarification:

Ziplock Freezer Baggies - for keeping equipment dry when you bring cold equipment into a warmer more humid environment.

Extra batteries in your shirt (i.e. warm) pocket - since battery life is reduced when they are cold.

Interesting on the freezer bag idea- i never thought about that before.

Eagle wrote in post #6580017
Just keep your gear in your bag, take it out to shoot, then return it to the bag. Leave your bag closed upon going indoors for at least a half hour.

Agreed. I've never needed the freezer bags, as the climate in my camera bag stays uniform enough to prevent condensation as long as I leave it closed after coming in. (and I don't even use a tight sealing bag...I use a Domke F-2 and Domke F-802 for my bags, and they both just have a top canvas flap.) Works fine.

Just leave it in your bag and let it come to room temperture before removing them.

Eagle wrote in post #6580017
Wonder what the photogs at outdoor NFL games do in Dec. and Jan.

There was an article I read on here in February or so talking about the game between Green Bay and the New York Giants during the playoffs last year. It was ridiculously cold, we're talking Wisconsin in January here, and they were still shooting. Interestingly, the new Nikons that had just been released were freezing up horribly and had to be swapped out while the pro's with the 1D MkIII's kept on clicking. That was the kicker for me to go Canon. I can't remember where the article was though.

Icediamond wrote in post #6578136
Hello all!

So it's that time of the year again... winter is fast approaching and weather is getting colder and it's more windy outside for sure.

Since this will be my first winter with my D-SLR and my lenses, I was wondering if there are any things I should keep in mind in regards to shooting outdoors in extreme cold situations.

Have you guys ever had focussing or USM or mechanical issues with lenses, L lenses in particular in the cold outdoors?

I hope this thread opens up some discussion for shooting in the wintertime and perhaps some ideas on shooting winter situations/landscapes too!

Cheers!

we have very rough winters in northern california. i am considering switching to long pants today as the weather has finally dipped into the 70s !

ed rader

Some people do have rough winters, I guess..... 70s!

Snowed here today, first time in a long time we've had flurries before Halloween. Might be one of them winters.