SLR in extremely cold weather

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The Boz

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Hi,
I'm going to Krakow in Poland for New Year. Obviously gonna take my camera. In Krakow at New Year the average daily high is zero degrees, and apparently in the evenings and at night it can get down to minus 20!

Will it be ok in these ridiculous conditions? Anything I should watch out for? I've heard that batteries don't last as long in the cold, so I was thinking of getting a spare battery.

What do you guys think? It's a Nikon D90 by the way. Cheers guys
 
Hi

A spare battery is a must and I'd keep it in a trouser pocket / inside pocket to keep it warm.

I think the other issue to be careful with is condensation, you need to let the camera come back to temp slowly - I beleive the best way is to put it in a sealed plastic bag when you bring in it and allowing any condensation to form on the bag, rather than the camera...

Hope this helps
 
Ok cool I'll get a spare battery then.

Ah condensation, didn't think of that. You've got me a little worried now as neither the camera or lens is weather sealed. I've got a lowepro bag so what about a load of silica gel packets in there? I can get em for free at work. Do u think that'd do the trick?
 
Ok guys, seriously now, is this a bad idea taking my camera or what? It's only the kit 18-55 vr lens on there, so absolutely no weather sealing whatsoever.

What's the worst case scenario? What would happen if I got condensation inside the lens say? Am I worrying over nothing, or is there genuine concern with taking a non-pro camera into these conditions?
 
You're worrying about nothing. I've had both a d40 and d300 out in -15 daytime temps plenty of times (lower at night) As said, keep it dry, and keep the battery warm (and take spares).
 
A few years ago i had a D90 and used it for a week with temperatures hitting -15. Didn't have any problems at all.

Condensation forms when the camera is colder than the air temperature. Keep a hand towel handy and when you get back to your hotel leave the camera out of the bag and give it a wipe if needed.

The spare battery is a very good idea and so are the silica gel packs. You shouldn't have any problems.
 
The other problem that could rear its ugly head is the lubricants solidifying. which could make things that should move freely (mirror, linkages) less willing to behave as expected.
 
Ok I feel a bit better now cheers guys. So I need a couple of spare batteries, a big zip locker bag and a few bags of silica gel. I'm gonna be in and out of bars and cafes and stuff most of the time so hopefully with a plastic bag and silica gel the condensation will be manageable. It's gonna be a bit of a ball ache but I'm sure I'll manage.
 
The condensation might not be as bad as you think, I just got back from the south of Poland, and coming inside with my camera being at outdoor ambient (-4/-5) I had no condensation at all. The air is much drier (you will notice this as you need to drink much more water), unlike here where the air is quite humid.

But just be sensible, and let it warm up etc.
 
Ok. So if I just pack my bag with loads of silica gel, and I think I'll use the plastic bag trick as well just to be safe, then I shouldn't really have to worry. That's good, thanks for the reassurance guys.

The problems might arise when we go indoors somewhere and there's something that I desperately need to get a shot of, but I won't be able to take my camera out til it warms up. How long are we looking at to wait so it doesn't condense up? Like 5 or 10 mins, or like an hour or so?
 
The Boz said:
Ok. So if I just pack my bag with loads of silica gel, and I think I'll use the plastic bag trick as well just to be safe, then I shouldn't really have to worry. That's good, thanks for the reassurance guys.

The problems might arise when we go indoors somewhere and there's something that I desperately need to get a shot of, but I won't be able to take my camera out til it warms up. How long are we looking at to wait so it doesn't condense up? Like 5 or 10 mins, or like an hour or so?
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I went from -4 to inside a cabin with the camera around my neck, no condensation, and was taking some pictures with no problems. Just see if there is any condensation. If it's anything like my trip it won't be a problem.
 
The Boz said:
Ok. So if I just pack my bag with loads of silica gel, and I think I'll use the plastic bag trick as well just to be safe, then I shouldn't really have to worry. That's good, thanks for the reassurance guys.

The problems might arise when we go indoors somewhere and there's something that I desperately need to get a shot of, but I won't be able to take my camera out til it warms up. How long are we looking at to wait so it doesn't condense up? Like 5 or 10 mins, or like an hour or so?
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I was on St Petersburg last winter and moving from night club to night club taking pictures - man there are some good looking women there.

My approach was to leave the camera in the bag whilst outside and only take it out once inside the clubs. That way it never gets cold and condensation simply doesn't become an issue.

If you do this and still see something outside that you want to shoot just be quick and get the camera straight back in the bag where it's warm(er).
 
I can't really comment much on the coming in from the cold to the heat but my D60 went on several walks in blizzards with me last winter (around my neck as I was trying to take photos, not in it's bag) and survived with no problems - that was in the week it didn't get above about -8 during the day so I wouldn't worry too much about cold - just be sensible. I think the cameras are much tougher then we give them credit for half the time.
 
I'm really not sure about the plastic bag thing though. Personally i wouldn't do that. The silica gel in your camera bag and letting your camera "breathe" in your room will be enough.

I don't think the lubricants will be a problem either.
 
I might be getting worried over nothing here. Obviously lots of people have done this with no problems.

I'll take a plastic bag anyway and if condensation becomes an issue then I'll try the plastic bag out.

Cheers for all the comments guys it's really put my mind at rest
 
Just curious, but what do the Russians and Polish do with their SLRs?
 
Ha ha good point. Hadn't thought of that. Probably nothing, exactly why I should stop being a mard-arse
 
I wouldn't get to hung up about this. A few years ago I was in Australia in January. I visited the ICE Bar in darling harbour, where luckily for me there camera had broken so we were allowed to take our own in. So I went from -5 in the bar to 20+ of the Australian summer. My camera did get a little foggy for about 10 mins before I could shoot again. but it was completely fine. I think cameras are designed to be a bit more hardy than we give credit for sometimes. I was using a Sony A200 at the time by the way.
 
Merc said:
I'm really not sure about the plastic bag thing though. Personally i wouldn't do that. The silica gel in your camera bag and letting your camera "breathe" in your room will be enough.

I don't think the lubricants will be a problem either.
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I'm with this man!

I went to Krakow / Auschwitz a couple of years ago. Daily temps were around minus 12 in the city and it was minus 18-20 at the camp. I took my 5D and everything was fine. I didn't bother with plastic bags, just my camera bag and sort of kept my camera inside my coat when I wasn't using it much. I have plenty of batteries anyway, so that wasn't an issue.

Some of the pod bars there are pretty cold anyway. We had to wear our coats in one of them which became our most popular. I didn't ever put my camera or bag near a radiator, nor would I advise that.

You'll have no problems!
 
Again, that's good to know. So if I do get a bit of condensation there's no need to start screaming and shouting. Just wait a bit for it to clear and everything should be fine.

Yeah I think you're right that cameras are probably a lot tougher than we (I in particular) think!
 
The Boz said:
Hi,
I'm going to Krakow in Poland for New Year. Obviously gonna take my camera. In Krakow at New Year the average daily high is zero degrees, and apparently in the evenings and at night it can get down to minus 20!

Will it be ok in these ridiculous conditions? Anything I should watch out for? I've heard that batteries don't last as long in the cold, so I was thinking of getting a spare battery.

What do you guys think? It's a Nikon D90 by the way. Cheers guys
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Maybe you should go to Harbin in China - 35c so -20c is nothing who told you batteries don't last as long in the cold? thats crap never heard of that before i live in China.

IMO if you think the batteries are going to get cold what about the camera? oh my don't take it anywhere from a warn home if you are that worried. I think Canon solve this problem on the dslr long ago a camera is a lot tougher than you think.
 
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CanonEOS said:
Maybe you should go to Harbin in China - 35c so -20c is nothing who told you batteries don't last as long in the cold? thats crap never heard of that before.

IMO if you think the batteries are going to get cold what about the camera? oh my don't take it anywhere from a warn home if you are that worried.
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What a completely irrelevant post. Why waste your time spouting that rubbish?
 
Top of the Brocken in the Harz mountains thermometer read -17, wind speed was approx 30mph and snow was horizontal, 2 400ds staright of the train , took the fots, no problem, my Fuji F30 though gave up instantly.

Seriously ,worry not you will be fine, its more of a problem going into a warm area having been out in the cold, just let the condensation clear on its own.

Been twice in these conditions, battery degrodation has not been a problem.

Hope you have a good time and post some pics.

Nigel
 
elphesadente said:
What a completely irrelevant post. Why waste your time spouting that rubbish?
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In your opinion;) i have been to harbin never seen or heard of any one have this problem with a camera or batteries
 
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You need to use your camera more in the cold then.
 
I waiting for the -12c in China to come i love the winter so do the camera
 
If you are good with wood, make up a plug the same shape and size as your battery. Put two metal plates on it where the terminals are on the battery. Connect them with wires about a yard long to the battery. You can now keep the battery in your clothing.
 
When you think about their must be god know how many cameras used all the time all over the world,by photographer who live in extremely cold weather,during their winter time :)
 
I regularly take my camera skiing where its subjected to plenty of cold and bouncing around! I've never had a problem with condensation there although I do use the 'let it slowly warm up in a plastic bag' trick. I've also never had a problem with batteries although I do carry a spare in an inside pocket to keep it warm.

As a side note, I have had condensation problems in a very hot country. I was in Tunisea and we took a trip to see the Amphitheatre at El Djem. I got off the coach, took my camera out and literally couldn't see through it the condensation was so bad. Turns out I had put the camera bag on a shelf directly under an air con outlet so the camera had been chilled for a while before I took it out in the heat. I had no choice but to leave it and hope it ws ok when the condensation cleared. It cleared pretty quickly and seemed to have no adverse effects.

I would take sensible precautions but not worry too much about it.
 
Ok thanks for all the advice guys. I'm no longer worried about taking it. Looking forward to getting some real atmospheric dusk shots. From pics I've seen of krakow the architecture looks amazing, so hopefully I'll be able to shoot some stuff to be proud of.
 
When I go out in the cold I just leave the camera in the bag for a while when I get home and have never had any problems
The cold wont bother the camera its the condensation that could cause problems
 
When the sea freezes, you know its cold. -25º in Helsinki in February.

Battery life is affected - think about how many more car battery problems arise in the winter. Maybe the guys above saying it's not have nothing to compare it to but for me at home, I routinely shoot c1200-1500 frames on a fully charged battery over a period of 2-3 weeks.

On this trip I shot 1000 frames in five days, draining 5 fully charged batteries in the process. The night I captured that linked shot I changed batteries twice in 4 hours.

After a long time outside I noticed the LCD displays for settings and the preview screen started to be very slow to respond; they were fine once they warmed up again and remain fine now but I took it as a warning to wrap up before causing permanent damage.

Wherever possible I brought the camera up to temp slowly but you can't always manage that. If you do mist up, well, just make the most of it and shoot into the light for creative effect.
 
Condensation and battery drain are the 2 main problems you will face in the cold.

If you ever watch any TV program which is filmed in the extreme cold (for example Ice Road Truckers where they regularly drive in temperatures of -20 degrees) you will notice that they almost exclusively use the GoPro HD cameras on the outside of the trucks, since they have fully sealed waterproof housings and battery warmers.

Also as mentioned, condensation. Having a weather sealed body/lens combination etc is definitely a plus but your glass/viewfinder/LCD will steam up almost instantly when you take the camera from the cold outside to a warm area such as a building, car etc since the water vapour in the air quickly condenses on the cameras much colder, dryer surfaces.

Like the above posts have mentioned, seal the camera in a zip lock back or similar before you take it out of the cold, make sure it is FULLY SEALED and the condensation will form on the bag instead, after a while once the camera has come up to the room temperature you can safely remove it from the bag. Dehumidified and air conditioned environments are not as harsh since much of the water vapour is already removed from the air.
 
i havent read all of teh thread my my 2p is:

i was told by an AA man just before a road trip to norway that when the temperature gets down to zero degrees a battery will lose a 3rd of its life
 
Well it's not that it actually "loses" life, because if you warmed it back up again it would appear to "gain" it's life back. It's due to the fact that the chemical reaction going on inside the battery, which releases electrical current, is dependent on temperature. In that it slows down as the temp drops, as a lot of chemical reactions do. So at a colder temp the battery will appear to have a shorter life. Hence the advice to have spare batteries in your pocket, keeping warm.

I suppose this is a completely moot point in terms of a car battery though, as you can't exactly stick it in our pocket to warm it up ha ha! So the AA man is right as far as everyone (except pedants like me) are concerned!
 
Ohara, thanks for the advice. The plastic bag trick seems pretty watertight to me (pun absolutely intended). I think I'll give it a try and I imagine it'll work perfectly. Then again I'm not gonna fret over it as from other posts on here a little condensation is not gonna do any lasting damage. It's even been used to creative effect ha ha!
 
A friend of mine went to Alaska (has a pic showing the temp at -41F)and was given a tip by the locals to keep a disposable hand warmer in his pocket with his spare batteries. Had no problems swapping between the batteries as each one got too cold to function.
 
ohara said:
Condensation and battery drain are the 2 main problems you will face in the cold.

If you ever watch any TV program which is filmed in the extreme cold (for example Ice Road Truckers where they regularly drive in temperatures of -20 degrees) you will notice that they almost exclusively use the GoPro HD cameras on the outside of the trucks, since they have fully sealed waterproof housings and battery warmers.
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True they've bought nearly 300 gopro hd's but mostly it's because of cost. Theres a good chance a few will die, fall off, get damaged by the environment or because of their small size and mounting opportunities. It's really easy to mount a tiny camera. However it's an interesting development in the broadcast/film world. We constantly hear about DSLRs being used for video, but these small cameras are making huge inroads too. They're heavily used in Motorsport, in fact I know of at least two series that insist this are fitted to the cars to provide footage for tv as part of the sponsorship.


There was a report of a cold temp trip just after the 5d mk2 came out that reported several failures. Perhaps it was that the camera was new, perhaps it was the lack of weatherproofing and the way it was used.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/antarctica-2009-worked.shtml
 
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