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BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: Caring for Cameras and Equipment

Photography Question 

Michael McCullough 		 

Digital Performance in Cold Weather


I have a question about digital SLR camera performance in sub zero winter conditions. Just how well will these wonders perform in very cold weather extremes?


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January 28, 2004

 

Jon Close 		  Mostly fine. No moving parts (except the lens), no film to get brittle. Only problem is that battery life drops precipitously with the temperature.


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January 28, 2004

 

x 		  Does film get brittle in the cold? I keep mine in the freezer. I hope that's okay. :)


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January 28, 2004

 

Davin Edridge 		  Hello All,

I believe that it depends upon how cold you mean? Compact Flash and Smart Media have extremes which they will not go beyond.

Smart Media - according to the Fuji S2 Manual - should not be used below 0*C. I believe that compact Flash and microdrives will suffer a similar fate. I also believe that the LCDs are limited to operating in certain temperatures as well - should be in your manual, or on the camera manufacturers Web site.

I have seen examples of work done in the Antartic. The photographer used a manual camera and film - (no camera LCDs etc - batteries only operated the exposure meter in the camera). He mentioned that one of the biggest problems was using the camera through the mittens - or the possibility of frost-bite if removing the mittens. He also mentioned that the film was brittle and he damaged the odd roll of film trying to load it into the camera, and as already mentioned batteries do not last long.

As far as keeping your film in the freezer (or the fridge)- it is ok as long as you let it come to room temperature before using it. This stops condensation entering the camera and the possible tearing of the film due to the brittleness if trying to load it when brittle.

Regards,


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January 28, 2004

 

Mike Fitzgerald 		 
 
 
I use a Fujifinepix 3800, and yes the manual gives an operating range of 0-30 c. 0 c corresponds to 32 in the f scale. By experience , living in northern ontario , and having not purchased me cam till dec of the year. Winter pics are the only pics i've shot. I don't think any of the hundreds i've snapped showed any effects from the temperature. And some were taken at at temperatures exceeding -20 c. A good example is in this months contest for you to view. Appropriatly called 20 below. I should note the cam never spend 2 hours emersed in those temps. Nor would the photographer!but sometimes it was over an hour in the outer pocket of a parka. And often it was exposed for periods longer then half an hour. So I guess try to keep it warm best you can, but I havent seen any adverse effects even the lcd display functioned for the 15 minutes I was on the shore of a wind swept lake bracketing a series of shots and varied compositions. More of a concern may be effects of condesation of the electronics and lenses when the camera shifts from those cold temps to a warm moist environment. the point being, to play with a $400 fuji cam this way, while I can afford to do so, take the chance, I don't believe I would however try the same experimentation with a camera with higher price tags. Just couldn't afford to take any chances!


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February 09, 2004

 

Dan Throckmorton 		  Actually digital cameras perform better at lower tempratures. Digital "noise" is drastically reduced at extreemly low tempratures. The batteries are your weak link. Try keeping them in your pocket or a heated vehicle until you are ready to shoot. The biggest problem for your digital camera is condensation that could damage fragile electronics. I allways try to let my equipment aclimate by leaveng it in the bag (Tamrac backpack in my case) so it can slowly change temprature before taking it out for use, keeping batteries warm seperately. Hope these tips help.


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February 10, 2004

 

Nicole C. West 		  Okay, I'm thrown off by the talk of batteries loosing life in the cold. I have always been told the best place to store my unused batteries is in the freezer, and so I do. Am I shortening their life span? Where is the best place to store them?


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February 11, 2004

 

Jon Close 		  Storage and use are two different things. Refrigerating/freezing batteries increases their storage life by slowing down the chemical reactions that expend the charge. But at the same time, cold increases the internal resisitance of the battery, making it unable to deliver that charge.

When working in the cold, the battery will appear to quickly lose its charge and be unable to power the device. But it doesn't need recharging so much as it just needs to be warmed up.


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February 11, 2004

 

Wing Wong 		  Another factor you will want to consider is condensation. Digital cameras are even more sensative to condensation than electronic film cameras. The condensation can cause internal corrosion and/or shorts.

The battery issue can be worked around by bringing extra batteries. Go with CF cards as opposed to hard drive based storage. So no microdrives and such. The only other concern would be the various rubber and rubberized plastic parts of some digital cameras. The extreme code may render them brittle and/or cracking.


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February 11, 2004

 

Bob Duerr 		  Good evening Mike:

I just came back from Fairbanks, AK
last March... The nite time temps were
- 10 degrees.

I was using the Oly c-700 with Smart Media memory card and metel-Nickel batteries. I had no problems at all.

If concerned about temps u may keep your
camera in your coat until u are ready to
shoot.

Hope this helps to relieve the fear of
the camera not working...


Bob

busmanbob@juno.com


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April 10, 2004

 
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