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Nominations for the Best Cold Weather Camera.


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<p>I took a walk along the beach in the snow this morning and it occured to me how perfect a medium format camera my Rapid Omega 100 is for these conditions. All operations can be achieved without the removal of gloves:</p>

<ul>

<li>The focusing is achieved via the large knob on the right hand side</li>

<li>The rangefinder window is big and bright and easy to use with both eyes open</li>

<li>The bright line frames automatically compensate for parallax</li>

<li>The film wind on is another big, easy to hold knob and is achieved via a pull-push action</li>

<li>The grip on the left is plastic so it does not draw the warmth from your hands in the same way as holding a metal camera.</li>

<li>Nice big lockable shutter release button handily situated by the side of the handgrip</li>

<li>Combined with the leather strap over the back of the hand, the grip is very secure and comfortable. It is not too heavy to carry like this over quite long distances.</li>

<li>Aperture and speed settings are also easy to adjust withoiut the removal of gloves.</li>

<li>No batteries to fail. Keep your lightmeter in a warm pocket</li>

</ul>

<p>The only downside is that it is not the easiest camera to load and unload. However there are models with interchangeable backs. Mostly I load up one roll and try not to blast away but consider whether the shot is really worth taking however. One roll is usually enough so no problem for me.<br /> Any other contenders for ideal cold weather cameras out there, 35mm, medium format or larger?</p><div>00XnSQ-308399584.jpg.fbee1477d458642dbaac7e5d084df4c4.jpg</div>

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<p>Any mechanical camera whose functions (shutter, film advance) don't rely on batteries. I would bring an separate exposure meter and wear it in a shirt pocket where it could receive some body heat. I haven't gone hunting for a few years, but there are a lot of products (hand warmers, etc.) to provide heat.</p>
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<p>Someone should specify what kind of cold weather is in his/her mind. If it is -20oC then almost all properly CLAed mechanical cameras should be operational Minoltas SRT, Nikons F, FM, FE etc, you name it. The weak point is lithium battery. If the temperature of interests is below -20oC and especially is in the range of -40...-45oC then camera should be put inside the outwear closer to photografers body because film tends to harden. According many extremal tourists and mountain-climbers Smena 8M works at extreme low temperatures very well. <br>

Note. FED-Siberia is a fake</p>

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<p>I live in South Dakota, regularly photo at night throughout winter. In my mind a "cold night" is something like -25F to -50F. (Coldest it's been since I've lived here was -54F.) My nomination is a Nikon FM2n. Nothing seems to kill that camera. The film will break before the camera does. I use heavy Outdoor Research gloves in winter, but under them I wear Underarmour liners. The liners alone are thin enough to allow me to operate any of my cameras and still protect my hands for a "usuable" length of time. Coldest I've ever used a camera was -42F. It was a Nikon N90s. Ten shots per battery, LOL. My Bronica ETRSi 645 would have been a better choice as it can shoot without a battery and the 120 film is stronger than 35mm. OK, that's my suggestion afterall--a fully manual medium format camera such as a Hasselblad or Pentax 67 etc. Large knobs and the film better resists breaking when colder than -30F.</p>

<p>Kent in SD</p>

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<p>My main criterion (aside from the absence of batteries) for cold weather use is that you can easily adjust all the controls without removing your gloves.<br>

Nikon F/F2 I can agree with. Barnack Leicas not so much. The wind on would be OK but changing the shutter speeds would be fiddly and changing apertures on a 5cm Elmar or 3.5cm f3.5 Summaron could get challenging depending on the thickness of your gloves.<br>

Hasselblad and Pentax 67 would be good too especially if used with an L grip.<br>

Nikonos yes indeed: the all round camera for the climatic pessimist.<br>

And Tony, don't be too sure....global warming etc. We'll see snow on Sydney harbour bridge yet!</p><div>00XnkS-308643584.JPG.3c3ae34b69d45abeafb3db1e23564965.JPG</div>

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<p>In medium format the Mamiya 330s and 220f are my subzero cameras of choice. I've taken numerous hour long night exposures with these guys while I stayed warm in the truck listening to Sirius Radio Classics. Big knobs, no batteries, and most important a flat film plane on and off the film reels like the Rapid Omega. Other TLRs take a 90 degree bend in the film winding path. I'll also use the Rapid Omega in extreme cold but you really have to hold the camera tight and pull hard to wind the film.</p>
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<p>Nikon Fm2n. Mine have worked flawlessly in -15 degree weather, using a hand held meter. I've also used F2's, OM-1's Leica M3, M4, M6 and Nikon F's. The OM controls were harder to work with gloves for me, and reloading film to anything with a detachable baseplate in the cold is difficult.</p>
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<p>David L. mentions the Nikonos II or III. As an owner of a II, I tend to agree since it is waterproof as well as being cold resistant . I used it on an extremely cold and snowing cross-country ski trip in Yellowstone and it worked flawlessly. That is after the film was loaded. Changing the film, which involves removing the lens and prying apart the two halves of the camera requires bare hands and fingers that have not gone numb from the cold. So, it's best to confine yourself to one roll of film per outing.</p>
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  • 2 weeks later...

<p>My vote goes for the Nikon FM2 and FM as I have used them in -35 C weather for hours and also at -25 C near open sea where there is also a lot of moisture. Other cameras I could trust are the Pentax Spotmatic(first version), Mamiya 330S and Mamiyas press cameras. also the first two nikons f series are good to go. From oldies, I have used Makinas III and Contax II in very cold weather as well. I heard that Contax II was popular with warphotogs in cold winter time and it still performs incredibly well without any problems.</p>

<p>Jani</p>

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