wallbanger Posted December 22, 2004 Share Posted December 22, 2004 Yes I was looking forward to putting my canon digital to a baptism of fire in cold temps. I went out at -35c. I had put the camera in the fridge first of all. Anyrate it lasted about 15 minutes and it was done. I had alternative batteries but that was no magic bullet either. I found the auto focus would now work either. I also brought along my 10d and that never fared any better. Has anyone gone out in lower temps say -10c and experienced problems.This is my first year of using digital in the winter months so any data would be interesting to hear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anna yu Posted December 23, 2004 Share Posted December 23, 2004 My 10D gave some error messages when I had it out last winter, about -10 to -15C. It was the 50/1.4 lens, never had any problem with other lenses. Otherwise no problem, been out on long hikes, down to -20 with the 10D with no problem. Only frozen fingers. Haven't tried the 1DM2 yet at these temps, not so cold yet over here. /Anna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce neufeld Posted December 23, 2004 Share Posted December 23, 2004 I think the short answer is that the camera simply wasn't designed for cold temps, per the manual. I've worked in much colder temps with full manual bodies quite a bit, Nikon F1's, FM2's etc. The only issue there was the film tended to shatter if I used a fast winder. Slow and easy was the rule. No problem though, since the winders tended to die before the camera got too cold. I usually just pre-cooled the lenses and let the bodies stay warmer until the last minute. Don't think I'd try that with an $8000 digital body though. YMMV (your mileage may vary) I see you moved from England to Canada. I made the move from Canada to Florida a decade ago, so for me the point is moot. Enjoy the cold!<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_chilton2 Posted December 23, 2004 Share Posted December 23, 2004 Glen, your post seems to infer that you expected the camera to work reasonably well in those conditions. I think your expectations were too high. Canon give the lower operating temperature for the camera as 0 degrees c. I've used mine at -10c and it worked ok but -35c is pushing it a bit, wouldn't you agree? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alois_lazecky1 Posted December 23, 2004 Share Posted December 23, 2004 Hi Glen ! I had no problem with my 20D at -30C it was me who gave up after 20 minutes. Contact Pros at news agency, I'm sure that they will fix you up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PuppyDigs Posted December 23, 2004 Share Posted December 23, 2004 Heck, I'm no good at -35c too. I don't think I could walk or talk, let alone find the frickin' shutter button. Sometimes the light’s all shining on me. Other times I can barely see. - Robert Hunter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
candice Posted December 23, 2004 Share Posted December 23, 2004 lol Im not good at 35F LOL I have a mark II but I couldnt help you at all with cold. Its a hot SoCAL Chirstmas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yakim_peled1 Posted December 23, 2004 Share Posted December 23, 2004 In such temperatures I stay at home :-) Happy shooting, Yakim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lotsawa Posted December 23, 2004 Share Posted December 23, 2004 For those things I still keep an old Canon EF with two or three FD primes like the FD 28/2.8 and a FD 50/1.4. That combo will cost about 120-150$. The EF works even fine without batteries (you need a manual light meter though). Never tried it at such extreme temperatures though, but there's a good chance it will work. Here is the part of the EF manual (which says that the -20C limit is mainly due to the batteries, but as said, it works without for shutter speeds 1/1000-1/2s and B):<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallbanger Posted December 23, 2004 Author Share Posted December 23, 2004 I am just trying to see what temps I can shoot at with these eos digital cameras. I like the cold weather shoooting. The photographs usually portray the mood of the cold. Plus you know no other photographers are going to be out there so they have some uniqness about them. I just sold all my cold weather film camera nikon fe 2 and dont want to get a film camera again to shoot in cold weather. But I have got the response I wanted from this question so satisfied in a way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chip l. Posted December 23, 2004 Share Posted December 23, 2004 An article I saw recently mentioned keeping spare batteries under your coat and swap them out at regular intervals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chip l. Posted December 23, 2004 Share Posted December 23, 2004 To follow-up. Does anyone know of an external power pack that could be put under the coat to keep the batteries warm and tether it to the camera? I know my Bronica ETRsi had this option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christopher. Posted December 23, 2004 Share Posted December 23, 2004 i was out shooting w/ my drebel in the blistering, breezy and humid 65 degree weather this morning in Tampa Bay and no problems. Must be a 1D thing ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theoldmoose Posted December 23, 2004 Share Posted December 23, 2004 Aside from the more obvious battery problems at cold temperatures, it's a shame that the camera manufacturers don't budget a bit of the cost of those multi-thousand dollar 'pro' cameras they make, for decently spec'ed plastics, lubricants, and electronics. The automotive industry licked this problem a long time ago. If you look through any electronics catalog for automotive spec'ed parts, you'll see that they are designed to work through temperature ranges that typically far exceed what a human would find comfortable. Aside from -40C being the usual at the low end (and I have personally operated a vehicle at -50C), underhood electronics must also work at temperatures far exceeding the boiling point. Of course, such items cost more than consumer parts, but they get designed into every modern vehicle, because they have to. An auto that quits working at -10C is just not an option. What's really mysterious (to me) is Canon's statements about the operating/storage temperature range for their high-end cameras, as well as the anecdotal evidence I see posted. They must be sharing a good many inferior consumer-rated parts with their non-pro line to have such poor temperature specs. And Canon isn't the only one to pull this sleight of hand. Aside from the big sensor, just what are we paying for in a 'pro' camera, if it isn't the ability work in all kinds of extreme environments? For all the folks that argued long and hard that the Digital Rebel was of an inferior build, and therefore, was not a 'serious' camera, I would ask, "Where's the beef?" Show me a 'pro' digital camera that is spec'ed to work in 'pro' temperatures, and I'll be satisfied that the extra cost is well spent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
awindsor Posted December 23, 2004 Share Posted December 23, 2004 I would say 15 minutes continuous exposure is pretty good going. I would suggest keeping in inside your jacket (that inside the outer thermal layer) and removing it only to shoot. The good news is that the colder the sensor the less noise there is. An alternative to opening your jacket is an insulated bag with some handwarmers in it. I would stick with the battery ones for safety but that is up to you. Actually I think the majority of Antartic photography is now digital and mostly with unmodified cameras (many P&S). It was some Antartic gallery where I picked up the gem about handwarmers. Incidentally the remote release is a wonderful thing for triggering the camera in the cold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damian_tinsley Posted December 23, 2004 Share Posted December 23, 2004 Unless you count chattering teeth ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon_kull Posted December 23, 2004 Share Posted December 23, 2004 interesting, while traveling in china i met a german "test team", from an independent testing lab. they had the 1DMKII with them and we chated. they told me the main problme is the sensor. it simply cant take these temperatures. (don't ask me in detail i'm not a technician) they have some other guys in the same company who went with a bunch of cameras (new nikon, kodac etc) to all parts of the world for testingvand it defenetley failed in greenland and the sahara. besides that i envy these guys, for obvious reasons, i guess these new digital slr's are not ready yet to withstand this extrem conditions, sure if your are a national geograhic photographer who has like 6 backup cameras, all in heated boxes and 2 assistants who take care of them like newborn babies, sure you can use them min rotation but i guess that's not the issue here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
santa1 Posted December 24, 2004 Share Posted December 24, 2004 I have shot for four hours at a time at -20F. That's the coldest I've been out with my MKII so far. I don't know about autofocus becaues I'm shooting northern lights at night and it's all at infinity, manual, but I have no problem with that temperature. I'll be disappointed if the MKII can't shoot at -35F or -40F (which is the same at -40C). Even my little Sony f717 had no problem at those temps. That blurb above that cautions people to keep their camera in their coat is nonsense. That will just cause condensation. Once the camera is cold, keep it cold. It works or it doesn't. My spare BATTERIES I keep warm (heat back in my backpack is what i use to keep them warm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon_kull Posted December 24, 2004 Share Posted December 24, 2004 santa, especially you should get it if it's sarcastic or not! of course it's nonsense keeping it in a coat....but thanks for pointing it out :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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