Using film in the cold

Crotal Bell

Crotal Bell

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I've got some Ilford HP for my old Canon 1000f and was thinking of starting my little B&W SLR project over the next few days.

I did a bit of precautionary research and it seems that film is more sensitive to the cold, not to mention my old Canon body and kit lens which I'm sure will be more vulnerable than my DSLR.

I'm going to load the film in the house before leaving and keep it in the shoulder bag when not shooting, and from what I've read, I should avoid taking the camera from the cold straight to a warm room to avoid condensation.

If anyone has any more tips for using film in an older SLR at this time of the year then I would be grateful for any advice.
 
If it is very cold (-20 or so) film becomes very brittle so keep the camera under your coat between shots. I also wouldn't change lenses if there is more than a light frost.
 
You will be fine, in the past I have skied in the European Alps with both film SLRs and various compact cameras usually with the camera under my jacket whilst actually skiing but bringing them out to use in temperatures down to -20 deg. C . The one problem I had was with an Olympus XA whose SR76 (?) silver oxide button cells died, it could have been due to the cold or it could have been due to old age, who knows but back then it was possible to visit the local shop and buy new batteries and film in resort so the problem as quickly sorted.
 
Been out in -20c lots of time with no problems... well my beard and eyebrows iced up and the battery in my Nikon digital died, but film no worries.
 
swanseamale47 said:
Been out in -20c lots of time with no problems... well my beard and eyebrows iced up and the battery in my Nikon digital died, but film no worries.
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Me too before digital the only issue is batteries and cold to warm condensation then back to cold and the condensation freezes. When we were in tents for days at a time we used to leave the camera bag outside so there was no chance of condensation. I'd be talking down to 20 below zero in Northern Norway in Winter. The point about brittleness of film is really only at those temperatures so mo motordrives and smooth slow wind on and rewind.
 
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Thanks for all then helpful comments folks, I'll crack on in the English cold without too many worries :banana:
 
The only film photography related problem that I’ve ever experienced due to cold temperatures has been the affects on the tog, ( i.e me!) ….. Frozen to the core, inoperable fingers , numb feet.:LOL:

The kit by contrast has functioned just fine.

Upon returning home , the gear has remained in its kit bag if a distinct difference in temperature from the outside until it has had chance to ‘acclimatize ´ otherwise the gear gets spread out to air ( usually overnight)

I have had condensation form on lenses.
I found it best to simply leave alone to sort itself out .
It’s always dispersed of its own accord with no detrimental effects.
 
swanseamale47 said:
Been out in -20c lots of time with no problems... well my beard and eyebrows iced up and the battery in my Nikon digital died, but film no worries.
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Memories of taking my lid off after a 100mile ride in -5°C and pulling out half a dozen beard hairs that had frozen to the chin piece...
 
Like the others, I've used film cameras in the snow, in the UK, Norway, Switzerland and the Italian Alps with no problems (apart from frozen fingers).
 
Asha said:
The only film photography related problem that I’ve ever experienced due to cold temperatures has been the affects on the tog, ( i.e me!) ….. Frozen to the core, inoperable fingers , numb feet.:LOL:

The kit by contrast has functioned just fine.

Upon returning home , the gear has remained in its kit bag if a distinct difference in temperature from the outside until it has had chance to ‘acclimatize ´ otherwise the gear gets spread out to air ( usually overnight)

I have had condensation form on lenses.
I found it best to simply leave alone to sort itself out .
It’s always dispersed of its own accord with no detrimental effects.
Click to expand...
The "Tog" ? Is that a nickname for photographers? ( I hope so, I like it)

Good to knopw about the condensation, I get it in my 12-60mm lens and it did concern me in case it would cause a long term problem.
 
Putting the camera in a zip-loc bag before you come inside is helpful to reduce effects of condensation, leave it in there overnight.
 
When I bring a camera in to the house, from very cold conditions, always detach the lens......but have no scientific reason why you should (or not) do this, it's just what I do and never had any problems with condensation which could lead to fungus.
 
excalibur2 said:
When I bring a camera in to the house, from very cold conditions, always detach the lens......but have no scientific reason why you should (or not) do this, it's just what I do and never had any problems with condensation which could lead to fungus.
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That doesn't make any sense to me Brian, all you're doing is presenting the inside of the cold camera to warm air which can't be good. Condensation on the inside is a bad thing, on the outside if the camera has good weather sealing less so but the wisest approach is to make the outside surface something other than the camera (camera bag zipped up, zip-loc bag etc) until the whole thing has warmed ro room temperature. If one doesn't have time for that then leave the kit in the cold until you next use it.
 
Topsy said:
That doesn't make any sense to me Brian, all you're doing is presenting the inside of the cold camera to warm air which can't be good. Condensation on the inside is a bad thing, on the outside if the camera has good weather sealing less so but the wisest approach is to make the outside surface something other than the camera (camera bag zipped up, zip-loc bag etc) until the whole thing has warmed ro room temperature. If one doesn't have time for that then leave the kit in the cold until you next use it.
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Yep you could be absolutely right and I supposed the corect way to prevent condensation on anything is to introduce cold then heat gradually, it's just my thinking that if any condensation did form in the camera/lens, the quickest way is to take the lens off to dry...but that's just me o_O
 
excalibur2 said:
Yep you could be absolutely right and I supposed the corect way to prevent condensation on anything is to introduce cold then heat gradually, it's just my thinking that if any condensation did form in the camera/lens, the quickest way is to take the lens off to dry...but that's just me o_O
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That is logical if you already have condensation but it's best not to let the condensation into the camera in the first place.
 
Topsy said:
That is logical if you already have condensation but it's best not to let the condensation into the camera in the first place.
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Well I probably get away with the problem of condensation forming from bringing the camera in from the cold and taking the lens off is in my room warm with low humidity (where all my gear is kept) and maybe I've been lucky. ...anyway works for me, but best to take advice from previous posts.
 
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