Are the batteries in my digital camera ruined?

Question

My camera was left out in the car all night and it was 15 degrees. Now it says "change the battery pack" when I turn it on. Are the batteries ruined or can I try them when they warm up? Could it have ruined my memory cards? What's the likelihood of internal damage to the camera itself?

Answer 1

Low temperatures will kill the battery very quickly. My suggestion is to bring the battery indoors, let it warm up and then charge it fully.

Low temperatures should have little or no effect on your memory card.

You should warm your camera slowly to avoid the creation of condensation in your camera. I don't recommend that you turn a hair dryer on it, but rather bring it in to a porch/front hall where the temperature is warmer than the outside but still colder than your house/apartment. Allow it to sit for a few hours and then bring it in to warm it completely. This gradual warming will help prevent condensation from forming.

Condensation can be very problematic in the short and long term. Short term it may cause a short in your cameras internal circuitry. Long term it can introduce moisture inside your lens elements that can bring with it a fungus (living organisms) that actually attach to the lens glass and eat the protective coatings from the glass. Over time these fungi will actually etch the glass permanently and in some cases make the lens unusable.

Answer 2

your batterirs are ok and need to warm up.
the big issue about leaving things in your car are excessive heat or cold.
Heat of course melts things and will runi your lcd veiwing panel.

For cold the issue is when you bring it inside , the wamr air of the house on the cold camera can form condensation - water !!
especially on the inside of the camera as the warm air hits the camera body , cold air traopped inside will condensate.

Suggest that you leave the camera sit for a few days without batteries installed. dont turn it on
let it warm up and dry out properly.

The electronics can survie this punishement - its the lenses, motrs etc that suffer the most from this. no different than a regular camera , moisture will play havock with lenses and mechanical functions.


gotta remember ot keep that camera in the house !!

Answer 3

the air is dry - that is good
when you start to warm it up
have a fan on it or a hair dryer
the batteries just need charged
the memory card is fine
make sure no moisture in camera