so, how bad is the cold?

[bc_steve]

My camera is sitting in the truck right now. I tend to forget it at home when I do bring it in, and then don't have it when I want it...

 

[KmH]

The cold thickens lubricants in the camera and seriously shortens how many shots you can get from a charged battery until the battery is warmed up again.

Another issue with cold temperatures is cold air holds less moisture.
Relative humidity, the % of humidity in weather forecasts, is a function of temperature.
100% humidity at 100°F has a lot more moisture in the air than 100% humidity at 20°F.
Very low absolute humidity is hard on shutter curtains and seals. Cold air at 100% humidity has a lower absolute humidity than warm air.

Dew point is another factor.
Relative humidity of 100% indicates the dew point is equal to the current temperature and that the air is maximally saturated with water.

 

[Garbz]

When you hit -40F or -40C start to worry.

 

[amolitor]

When you hit -40F or -40C start to worry.

Either one, eh?

 

[tirediron]

Mehh... I don't worry about it. My gear often sits in the truck for days at a time through the winter (of course that's a Victoria winter, but the temperature does occasionally go below the '0' mark) with no ill effects, other than the sluggish batteries.

 

[bc_steve]

I think -40°F = -40°C? Well I hope not to see either any time soon!

Good to hear. A battery is easily replaceable. Lenses would be my main concern since I hope to keep them for a long time.

 

[bc_steve]

From a couple of years ago in Alberta. That was the lowest temp the truck would tell us about. Beyond that it was an error.

 

[vimwiz]

The cold thickens lubricants in the camera and seriously shortens how many shots you can get from a charged battery until the battery is warmed up again.

This, I usually shoot a film camera which takes regular AA (like a torch or remote control) batteries for the winder, and I get significant less done when they are cold. Like down from 20 rolls (normal 10-25 degrees) to 10 rolls (around 0) , or even 5 rolls or less( around -10).

 

[Garbz]

Either one, eh?

This is the one time when I'm going to say "Same diff" when I actually mean it.

From a couple of years ago in Alberta. That was the lowest temp the truck would tell us about. Beyond that it was an error.

Funny Alberta was the only time I've ever been in -40. That's also where I got the experience that the camera doesn't like it much. I thought Australia was harsh with half the country catching fire and the other half flooding every summer, but daaaaaamn.