Cold weather -- body/lens hazard or tolerable?

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12-14-2009, 03:32 AM
JesseY

Cold weather -- body/lens hazard or tolerable?

I'll be taking a trip to Europe this holiday and the weather seems pretty nasty. It'll be 20-25F the entire week I'm there (no rain/snow though).

The only thing mentioned in my 50D's manual is a warning about moving from cold to warm environments (condensation) and the working temperature range of 32-104F.

Has anyone had success in freezing temperatures without breaking equipment?
12-14-2009, 06:28 AM
Sheiky

Re: Cold weather -- body/lens hazard or tolerable?

Hey man,

I live in the Netherlands myself and currently the temperature is at freezingpoint during the day and freezing slightly at night.The weather mught be nasty, but your equipment can handle it believe me. It is your hands you might be more afraid of :P Look for a pair of gloves which aren't to thick but also not to thin. Then you'll be just fine. Yes the only thing you need to worry about is condensation and maybe your batteries will run out a bit faster than normal. When you go from outside (very cold) to perhaps inside (warm) you just leave your equipment in your bag for like half an hour. Then they will adapt in an easy way to the warmer inside so you don't have to worry about condensation.

Have fun in Europe I will say!
12-14-2009, 07:24 AM
Bill W

Re: Cold weather -- body/lens hazard or tolerable?

Jessie;

I live along the coast in norhtern Massachusetts and photograph the Bald Eagles that return each winter. This means photographing out in the extreme cold of January and February, i.e. on most days lower than the 20-25F predicted for your trip.

This will be my 3rd winter pursuing the BEs w/my 40D and 100-400....I haven't had 1 issue w/my equipment.

My only preparation is appropriate clothing for myself and 2 fully charged batteries....keeping 1 in a pocket nearest my body. The part that impressses me the most is that I haven't had to replace the battery (sometimes subjected to the cold for up 6 hours) in the camera because of the cold.

Enjoy

Bill
12-14-2009, 07:59 AM
bob williams

Re: Cold weather -- body/lens hazard or tolerable?

Last year I was out shooting in 20 degree (F) weather and did have some problems with Error 99 code when the camera (50 D)got to cold, but it quickly resolved once warmed up again.No damage was evident and I am still using the camera and lens now.
12-15-2009, 02:17 PM
JesseY

Re: Cold weather -- body/lens hazard or tolerable?

Thanks for the info everyone, it sounds like things should be ok. Bob, I'll watch out for that error and it's good to know that things are still in working order even after that event.
12-15-2009, 03:27 PM
jimr

Re: Cold weather -- body/lens hazard or tolerable?

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We had temperatures of -40 and colder with a wind chills into the -55
range. At that point your fingers will no longer work.

If it is
really cold you might have to warm up your camera (or keep it warm). In a
small group of 5 guys we went on a sunny -20 day... the camera's stored in
backpacks did not work; the only one that worked was the one strapped around
the guys neck and stored inside his jacket. After the trip the 'frozen'
camera worked just fine.<o:p></o:p>

So if you’re out and about keep the camera from freezing. In mild
temperatures it can be as simple as the heat from your hands... in other cases
you need cuddled up to your skin while the rest of your body freezes.<o:p></o:p>
<p class="MsoNormal"]<o:p></o:p>