Is it safe to use my camera in 20 degree weather?

SensePhoto · Jan 20, 2011

I was asked to film a couple of my friends at the autocross, it's an all day event and weather is in mid twenties. Do I have to do something special to prepare my camera? Am I going to ruin it due to condensation?

I'll be using canon 60d with 50mm prime and 18-135mm kit lens (both have uv filters) and rode videomic

Here's a picture of the set up

ghache · Jan 20, 2011

You shouldnt have any problem.

I did a shoot the other day at around -15-20 Celcius for almost 3 hours and camera was fine.

Light Artisan · Jan 20, 2011

20?! I would hope so, I take mine out when it's much colder than that... my general rule of thumb is 10 and above, but that's more for my tolerance. I've shot in sub zero temps many times.

The most important thing is to let it warm back up slowly.

Big Mike · Jan 20, 2011

Make sure to have extra batteries and keep them warm.

And yes, beware of condensation when you bring the camera back into a warm environment. The best thing to do, is isolate your gear from the warm air, until it's had a chance to warm up. A zip-lock bag would be best but at the very least, leave it zipped up in your camera bag while it warms up.

ghache · Jan 20, 2011

put the camera back in the bag and leave it in the car for a while. on you way back heat the car so everything gets warmer a bit and then get your bag in the house. let it sit for a while and you shouldnt have any condensation problem LOL

SensePhoto · Jan 20, 2011

Thank you guys definitely some good advice here

Lodd · Jan 20, 2011

Are you guys kidding me!? we've had out warmest day since the middle of december (14f) and i was walking around without gloves shooting like nothing.

And i januari it was between -20 and -27c (-4 to -16f) and i was out making snow in a local skislope. My camera followed me during a four hour pass in this temps without any issus.

I guess you'd have to be a viking to do such things tho :lmao:

EDIT:
here's the evidence (this images is from last year tho (decemer 2009)
But the temperature was as cold that year.

SensePhoto · Jan 20, 2011

Lodd said:
Are you guys kidding me!? we've had out warmest day since the middle of december (14f) and i was walking around without gloves shooting like nothing.

And i januari it was between -20 and -27c (-4 to -16f) and i was out making snow in a local skislope. My camera followed me during a four hour pass in this temps without any issus.

I guess you'd have to be a viking to do such things tho :lmao:

EDIT:
here's the evidence (this images is from last year tho (decemer 2009)
But the temperature was as cold that year.

lol thats sick. I guess the main reason why i ask is because when i was deciding on what camera to go with i was considering 7D over 60D and 7D is "weather proof" (thats one of their selling points at least) so having a non weather proof camera and putting in over 2 grand in entire camera equipment i just wanted to be on the safe side :mrgreen:

Lodd · Jan 21, 2011

The D300 is weathersealed aswell. But as the other guys sais. it's when you takes your camera back in that is the problem.
If you keep your lens attached there won't be any problem. hopefully. :lol:

Sw1tchFX · Jan 21, 2011

You shouldn't have a problem, if anything happens your battery will crap out sooner and any lubricated parts will get a little gummy. The 18-135 i'm sure doesn't have much oil in it, considering how much plastic is in it.

i was shooting in 11F weather a few weeks ago and the only thing that happened to my gear is that 2 of my batteries died after about 50 shots (granted they were some long exposures and one of them was part dead already), and my tripod, lens hoods, and bag frosted and my ballhead got really stiff from the oil expanding.

Garbz · Jan 21, 2011

I was able to use a D200 in -50 deg (C or F it's about the same) for about an hour. One battery was in my pocket on my inside set of pants, and the other in the battery. These died within 10-15 minutes in the camera, but came back to life in my pocket.

Within 30min autofocus failed in the lens for various focal distances. The focusing ring was incredibly stiff, but could still be moved by hand. The LCD on the top of my camera became useless. The crystals froze and didn't change so I had to look through the viewfinder to see what the settings were in the internal LCD.

The back LCD also showed signs of stress. The highlight blink feature no longer blinked black and white as much as subtly drifted between shades of middle grey. Switching from one image to the next took about 1-2 seconds for the LCD to reach a stable colour value. This was pretty bad but didn't seem to get any worse.

At about the 45min mark the mirror return made a noticably different and much slower slapping noise. Also i accidentally sighed while taking a photo instantly frosting over the lens. I had a filter on so that was removed and I was good to go again.

An hour in I was taking photos and my shutter jammed and the LCD only just managed to change enough digits for me to make out [ERR]. I smacked my camera around a bit till I heard a click and then cycled the power and was good to go again. Except 4 shots later it jammed again. I tried putting my camera under my coat (god it was cold), and I heard the shutter release when I cycled the power after ten min. Yay good to go again. Then I pulled the camera out of my coat and it instantly frosted over bright white. Lens ring buttons everything wasn't moving and I called it quits.

Camera recovered sitting in the car under the heater within the hour.

So most cameras will easily handle +20F despite what manufacturer says.

3bayjunkie · Jan 22, 2011

Lodd said:
Are you guys kidding me!? we've had out warmest day since the middle of december (14f) and i was walking around without gloves shooting like nothing.

And i januari it was between -20 and -27c (-4 to -16f) and i was out making snow in a local skislope. My camera followed me during a four hour pass in this temps without any issus.

I guess you'd have to be a viking to do such things tho :lmao:

EDIT:
here's the evidence (this images is from last year tho (decemer 2009)
But the temperature was as cold that year.

Wow where are you living. I am in the Fairbanks Alaska area and it gets pretty cold too. it was -38 the other day when I checked. I sure wish it was above 0 haha!

Lodd · Jan 22, 2011

3bayjunkie said:
Lodd said:

Are you guys kidding me!? we've had out warmest day since the middle of december (14f) and i was walking around without gloves shooting like nothing.

And i januari it was between -20 and -27c (-4 to -16f) and i was out making snow in a local skislope. My camera followed me during a four hour pass in this temps without any issus.

I guess you'd have to be a viking to do such things tho :lmao:

EDIT:
here's the evidence (this images is from last year tho (decemer 2009)
But the temperature was as cold that year.

Click to expand...

Wow where are you living. I am in the Fairbanks Alaska area and it gets pretty cold too. it was -38 the other day when I checked. I sure wish it was above 0 haha!

Hahaha! -38c feels waaaay to cold (i guess it is) but i'm living in Värmland in Sweden (the middle of the country) The last two winters have been really cold.

Sw1tchFX · Jan 23, 2011

Garbz said:
I was able to use a D200 in -50 deg (C or F it's about the same) for about an hour. One battery was in my pocket on my inside set of pants, and the other in the battery. These died within 10-15 minutes in the camera, but came back to life in my pocket.

Within 30min autofocus failed in the lens for various focal distances. The focusing ring was incredibly stiff, but could still be moved by hand. The LCD on the top of my camera became useless. The crystals froze and didn't change so I had to look through the viewfinder to see what the settings were in the internal LCD.

The back LCD also showed signs of stress. The highlight blink feature no longer blinked black and white as much as subtly drifted between shades of middle grey. Switching from one image to the next took about 1-2 seconds for the LCD to reach a stable colour value. This was pretty bad but didn't seem to get any worse.

At about the 45min mark the mirror return made a noticably different and much slower slapping noise. Also i accidentally sighed while taking a photo instantly frosting over the lens. I had a filter on so that was removed and I was good to go again.

An hour in I was taking photos and my shutter jammed and the LCD only just managed to change enough digits for me to make out [ERR]. I smacked my camera around a bit till I heard a click and then cycled the power and was good to go again. Except 4 shots later it jammed again. I tried putting my camera under my coat (god it was cold), and I heard the shutter release when I cycled the power after ten min. Yay good to go again. Then I pulled the camera out of my coat and it instantly frosted over bright white. Lens ring buttons everything wasn't moving and I called it quits.

Camera recovered sitting in the car under the heater within the hour.

So most cameras will easily handle +20F despite what manufacturer says.

That's effin' crazy

Marc-Etienne · Jan 23, 2011

And I thought I was crazy to go shoot in -21C (-6F) temperature today!!(-32C (-26F) with windshield)... Hopefully my camera will make it... Can't be worst than Garbz...-50!!! Thermometer read that low?!?!