COLD Weather performance of Medium Format Camera.

I am saving for an affordable medium format camera. Looking at maybe

Koni, Kowa, or Fuji Rangefinder. Someday, in the future maybe a Rollei

600X or a Hassie. But, what about their cold weather performance?

Anybody ever tried these cameras in a below freezing temperature, yet?

How about a Bronica? Ever had a shutter frozen? How are the image

quality?

Below freezing down to about 10F any camera should be fine except for reduced battery life. When at ambient temperature, Fuji Rangefinders work fine down to at least 0F. Rollei TLR's start to get stiff at around 0F, but still work down to -20; Mamiya 645's lose battery power after about 45 minutes at 0F, but start working again when they warm up -- I suspect all cameras with battery-powered shutters are about the same. Fully manual cameras kept under your coat work down to below -40 (I've never tried one at less than -50); used on a tripod and therefore cold-soaked, 0 to -10F is likely to be your limit unless you have special lubrication (Alaska Photo Repair in Fairbanks does a good job of this).

My guess is, before the shutter breaks, the film will be so brittle that it won't advance properly. But these would be extremely cold climates.

 

Most cameras should operate below freezing temperatures..! Rollei's operating temperature (6008i & 6001) is I think from -20 to 60 degree Centigrade! Pretty awesome range.

I have used my lovely GW690 along with modern Minolta 35mm body this winter. No problems at all. Minolta gave me false 'battery dead' indication once, but did not fail, too. Temperatures well down to -15C, and it was inconvenient to shoot in gloves, introducing some camera shake. That was the only issue with image quality.

I've used Bronicas in down to -10C with no observable

problems.

At -10C my Bronica GS-1 was fine except that the battery power drained quickly. If I were going to do that regularly, I'd invest in one of those small extension battery packs that you keep inside your jacket and connect to the camera by insulated wire.

My RB67 and Iskra 2 worked fine at -10F in northern Wisconsin. The RB magazine squeaked though when advancing the film. If your camera choice has a battery it probably won't "cold soak" at those temperatures.

I was shooting in about 5 degrees below zero for around 2 hours with an RB 67. One thing I noticed was that the film back advance lever became quite stiff. The second problem that I encountered was that I had forgotten to use mirror lockup on about 5 photos. I was using a shutter speed of about 1/60th, and what happened was that the mirror had slowed down so much that the exposure was ending before the mirror had fully flipped up. Once the mirror was locked up though, the exposures were dead on.

I think it depends on the camera. The only time I've had any difficulty was shooting in Minnesota with the temp around -20F. My Mamiya 6 was frozen stiff, both film advance and especially the focus mechanism in the lens. My Leica R, however, performed just fine. Seems to depend on the lubrication used.

I used my Contax 645 in around freezing tempature, and the camera works fine except the battery life is much much reduced. I would buy a battery pack that you can keep inside your clothing around your chest, and plug into the camera to solve this battery issue. I am going to buy one myself.

I've used a P67 in -10F conditions for close to a full day without difficulty.

rapid battery drain will be a problem so if you're using something without batteries like an older TLR (or can go into manual mode) you're ahead of the game. and you can minimize the other problems (freezing the film or the shutter mechanism) by carrying the camera inside your coat, next to your body until you're ready to shoot.

I use an RB67-Pro-S so it doesn't have batteries to worry about but....

 

No matter what camera you are using, film will become stiff at freezing temps and will have problems winding. This can cause damage to gears and motors if you are forcing stiff film through the transports of any camera, mechanical or not. You should also never let your camera freeze simply to avoid condensation in your lenses when thawing.

 

Leave your camera under your coat till ready to shoot so it's never out for more than 15 minutes at a time, it won't freeze up that way.

 

I go winter camping upstate NY in minus temps for days at a time. I keep it under my coat when in use, in my pack with a fueled hand warmer, at night I keep it in my sleeping bag with me. Film can be left out and warmed in your pocket as long as it's a sealed package. Exposed film can be left to freeze till I get home. I let it warm to room temperature in my pack over night. It's my excuse not to unpack as soon as I get home, hot shower is first!

I just come home from seeing "The Day After Tomorrow" and I think I realized why you were asking this question...

The only cold weather problems I've had have involved leaf shutters that hadn't had a CLA in a long time and froze up in the cold. I've sent them in for a CLA with normal lubrication afterward, and no problems since.

My Pentax 645NII worked properly even at minus 25° Celsius!! for more than 5 hours. Then I gave up. In this respect it is on par with 35 mm equipment. If you use AA-Lithium batteries you will be safe.

Greetings

Peter

I've used my Rolleiflex (MX-EVS) in some -20 to -30 C. No problems, except that film advancing starts to become very stiff. Similarly, I haven't had problems with my highly automated Nikon or my fully manual view camera, although some mechanical parts tend to get tight at very low temperatures.

Hasselblad 500 series is great in cold weather. I have consistently used 500 series Hasselbalds in -20C for three decades. NASA used these in the space missions by having Hasselblad service degrease the lenses and used kerosene. Terrestial environs are not quite that severe and the standard lenses work fine. I have used these lenses and bodies in more severe cold, -40C without problem. In such cold I leave the cameras in the cold and do not warm them up. SO I leave them outside to avoid condensation. Avoid cameras with fabric shutters adn bellows. I can also load several backs with film so I avoid film handling in severe cold.

I don't see any Kowa responses above - I've used mine in the teens (F) without a problem. No batteries to worry about (separate light meter). It's clean, all-mechanical without any thick lubricants, so there should be no problems at even much lower temperatures.

My Rolleiflex 3.5F got really stiff ... first to go was the winding mechanism, then the shutter ... last winter while shooting in the open fields at about -5 degrees F (excluding windchill factor). What really terrified me was when I noticed a patch of glue in between the glass of the taking lenses, could've been there before but the cold made it even more obvious! The GX and Mamiya C330f performed without a hitch under the same condition (same day).

oops, wrong units ... -5 C actually.

have also worked below zero F without problems Kowa Super 66

 

Mike

I took my Hassleblad 503 and a Canon EOS out to Greenland a few years ago ( shameless plug - http://www.treacletart.co.uk/chris-hawkins/greenland/ and http://www.pushdtp.com/greenland/ ). Both worked well in the cold but dry conditions. Both gave me great results and were a pleasure to use.

 

The Blad was great as it has no batteries to worry about and lived out on the sled most of the time, the Canon lived in the tent. I was a little careful with film loading as mentioned, as well as loading out of the bright summer light. I did also take special cold weather batteries for the EOS and the lightmeter, these held out wonderfully.

 

If I were to go out again, maybe a Mamiya 7 would be better as its less trouble to carry but gives great images.

 

Feel free to give me a shout if you have any questions.

 

Have fun

 

Chris