Any tips on cold weather photography?

Question

I love photographing landscapes, but on cold winter mornings my camera jams and the batteries die right in the middle of my shoot. It is very frustrating. Any Tips?

Answer 1

Adorama has a current article on this at http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?article=011607&op=academy
Not the best article but it gives you some general pointers.

Answer 2

Condensation occurs coming from cold to hot. Your film will be fine from your pocket or at room temp, BUT it can get brittle in bitter cold and break. If you have a slow speed rewind, use it.

Keep an extra set of batteries in your pocket next to you where they will stay warm. Switch them when the cold ones get sluggish.

Put your camera in a Ziploc bag while you're still outside. If you can, leave it in the garage or cooler room a while and allow it to come to room temperature before removing the bag, This will make the condensation on the outside of the plastic bag instead of on your camera and lens.

Try www.nyip.com and look in their archives for a good article on cold weather photography. Don't forget to dress yourself warmly, with gloves and boots. I have a pair of gloves with the fingertips cut off for working the camera controls. If it's really cold, I put a pair of fold-back mittens on top. You can get stuff like that at outdoor or hunting stores.

Answer 3

Let your camera reach surrounding temps. before shooting. Keep your film in the frig so its cold too and won't have condensation on it when you load it into the camera. Bring several sets of batteries. All camera adjustments need to be done slowly because the lube will be stiff. Use a cable trip so the heat from your hands won't fog the lens. Good Luck.

Answer 4

Always carry extra batteries and (seriously)stuff the extras and the pack when unused in your crotch. I do alot of backpacking and climbing and such with my cameras, and this seems to help alot with batteries, as to the lens and such, they never come in my tent and are always exposed to the outside temp in the winter. ill also watch my film alittle more to and will do manual advances since ive had cold film snap a couple times with a motor on.

Answer 5

1. Take extra batteries and keep them next to your body to keep them warm.
2. Cut fingertips out of gloves to work the controls and keep hands semi-warm.
3. If using film, try to keep film and equipment at constant temperature to avoid condensation.
4. If possible, have a backup camera/memory card.

Answer 6

You have to watch the temperature chage. In other words you can't expect to get the camera from warm to cold without condesation.