Camera in extreme cold

Mateomateo · Dec 29, 2014

So Ive been on holiday in Canada taking photos with a Canon 70D, and what was going to be a quick walk in a snowy forest became a 3 hour treck in -25C, and did not have protection for my camera, it was just on my shoulder the whole time. Just wondering what kind of damage could have happened to the camera, the camera seems fine, it takes photos, nothing to be alarmed by, but was just wondering if any damage could happen to the camera o lens, the camera felt like an ice cube when i got in the car.

cheers and happy holidays!

jsecordphoto · Dec 29, 2014

I've spent many cold winter nights out photographing the stars, no worries. Don't let it warm back up too quickly and you're good. The first time I spent hours out photographing in -10 temps I was really worried when there was a thick layer of frost on my camera, but no issues.

Jan178 · Dec 30, 2014

Let it freeze and don´t let it warm up until back home. Biggest thread is moisture, and it condensates on the surface (also inner surfaces) when the cold camera is brought to warm. It would be good to let it get warm in your camera bag. Just take memory card out so you can start looking the frames right away with hot chocolate... :1247:

Second problem is batteries, you want to keep spare ones warm. I keep my batteries in inner pockets of what i´m wearing. When they freeze, i switch them and let the other ones warm back up. Although i use NiMH batteries, lithiums freeze as well.

Another "minor" annoyance comes to mind, focusing might get tacky too when the mechanism gets cold. Old manuals can take force when turning the ring, as the lubrication freezes, but plastic lenses... Well, haven´t broke anything yet, but i´m more careful with those.

I live in arctic circle, -30C is not unusual and with those precautions i´m good to go!