Contax T3 battery drain & shooting in cold weather

<p>Hi,<br>

I really don't know what to do.<br /> <br /> I just got a silver T3 from Japan on ebay that seems to be in a excellent condition. It came with a quality brand battery that I presumed was full. After one night of shooting in cold weather -10C(14F) the indicator showed it was empty. Next morning I put the camera on and it got stuck with the lens open, the battery really was empty now.<br /> <br /> I started reading about circuit problems that drain the battery very quickly, that some T3s have. I know that some T2s have problems with the battery indicator without it affecting taking pictures. Also the T3 user manual states that with one battery you can take approximately 12 rolls of 24-exposure film in normal room temp. with flash 50% of the time.<br /> <br /> I bought a new quality brand battery and was the second day in cold weather -10C to -15C(14F to 5F). I had it in my outside pocket of my jacket so it was a bit exposed to the cold. I could take only 4 frames and the battery was empty. After a night in room temp. the battery is full again.<br /> <br /> Now I really don't know Is there a problem with my T3 or is it the cold weather. Should I send this T3 back to the seller in Japan or keep it? I'm a bit confused. Could you tell can T3/CR2 batteries operate in cold weather(-10C) if you are for example keeping the camera in your hand for a long time or do you have keep putting it warm inside your pocket once in a while? Is it possible to take pictures "normally" with T3 in cold weather?<br /> <br /> Could some T3 owners share their experiences in taking pictures in cold weather? Thank You.</p>

<p>More likely it's your battery than the cold weather. I've had mine in Northern Sweden (see pix). It works perfectly fine. Of course, battery life is shorter in cold weather, but not so short as to be just one roll.<br>

Change your battery and bring spares.</p><div></div>

<p>while batteries definitely do suffer significant loss of power when very cold like that, the camera itself may have some sort of internal low-voltage adjustment trigger point that is possibly set a bit too high. Only a repair person would know for sure and if there was such an adjustment.</p>

<p><a href="/photodb/user?user_id=827079">Wai-Leong Lee</a>, So with one battery you have been able to shoot for how long in those arctic conditions? For example in that dog sled picture could you shoot the whole day through without changing batteries or without the battery indicator showing empty?</p>

<p>In southern Finland in the winter time the conditions can be pretty much the same. I just tested with a new battery, 30min in just -7C (19F) and the camera almost all the time inside my jacket and I could take only 3 frames. But when I come back home and let the my T3 warm up the battery indicator is full once I turn the camera on. The battery is quality brand CR2 lithium which I have read should perform well in cold weather. Mysterious. </p>

<p>Yes. I can shoot a whole day. Of course, that doesn't tell you how many rolls but certainly my T3 doesn't die after three shots.</p>

<p> </p>

<p><a href="/photodb/user?user_id=827079">Wai-Leong Lee</a>, Thank you for your answers. I think there is a circuit problem after all.</p>

<p>Can I still ask you couple of questions, actually quite many, so I can compare the answers to my T3's performance:</p>

<p>When you say you could shoot for the whole day, Did you keep the camera exposed to the cold for a long time for example when you were composing for a picture? Was the battery indicator blinking and showing that the camera was affected by the cold? Can you remember approximately when did you have to change a new battery, after the trip to Sweden? About How many rolls can you usually shoot with one battery? Just to give an idea how should my T3 perform. Thank you very much for sharing your experiences.</p>

<p>Frankly if you can get only three shots, there's obviously something wrong, it could be the camera, you can get it checked.</p>

<p>To answer your questions:<br>

Did you keep the camera exposed to the cold for a long time for example when you were composing for a picture?<br>

=>Yes. It's not a good idea to keep the camera warm after each shot, the lens can fog.<br>

Was the battery indicator blinking and showing that the camera was affected by the cold?<br>

=> No. It goes to half gradually and then to empty, that's about 8 rolls.<br>

Can you remember approximately when did you have to change a new battery, after the trip to Sweden?<br>

I was in Sweden for 15 days. 7 days in Kiruna and Northern Sweden, where I went on overnight trips via dog sled, went on snowmobiles, snowshoeing etc. Then down to Stockholm and Visby before crossing my way to Denmark.<br>

About how many rolls can you usually shoot with one battery?<br>

=> I shot 15 rolls in 15 days. Used two batteries. That's for cold weather.</p>

<p>I have a black titanium Contax T3 since it came out, never experience any battery drain problem.<br>

Your battery is simple frozen dead.</p>