How do I protect my camera from the cold?

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Permalink Reply by Jeanette's OzPix on November 29, 2007 at 8:29am

Here's something I read a while ago. I did a search after a friend of mine had his camera ruined by cold weather.
http://cameras.about.com/od/cameratips/a/protect.htm
Shame we discovered this AFTER the event!! :-(

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Permalink Reply by randy epperson on November 29, 2007 at 8:29am

What I have heard is that while your camera is still outside, place it in a plastic bag. This way when you bring it into a warm, humid house the condensation will form on the outside of the bag and not on the camera. I've tried that a couple of times and it seems to work. I have also put my camera in my camera bag while outside and when I brought the bag inside I left it in a cool area of the house for a couple of hours. This too seems to work.

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Permalink Reply by Photographyvirgin on November 29, 2007 at 10:08am

Thanks Jeanette and Randy - some great advise:)

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Permalink Reply by Sticks on November 30, 2007 at 1:09am

Tough one Photographyvirgin! It is quite cold right now here in Alberta too (-20c). I usually leave my camera in my truck all day in hopes of getting some great shots of snow capped trees, ice fog etc. I have a bit of a different situation though in that my job allows me to keep my truck running most of the day (not great on the environment but good for my butt and my gear). I try and make sure that my camera bag is zipped tight, thinking that the cold or heat cannot get directly to the gear. If you have a cold camera, keep it under your coat or in your bag when you enter a warm building and let it very gradually acclimatize to the new environment. It might take as much as a half an hour or more but you don't want to risk condensation damage.

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Permalink Reply by Photographyvirgin on November 30, 2007 at 2:22am

- 20c! Well, luckily fore me, we don't have that weather here...yet! But it's still damn cold, and it would be so unfortunate if it ruined my camera - or prevented me from getting out there and shooting during the winter. So I'm really happy for your good advise on how to keep my klicker free from condensation!

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Permalink Reply by kombizz on December 5, 2007 at 10:18pm

Usually I put it in a sealed plastic with few gells in it. Then the wrap the whole inside a warm blanket.
That's all

http://www.kombizz.photopoints.com

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Permalink Reply by Sadonna Lingnau on December 13, 2007 at 2:01am

Thank you for all the helpful tips on how to keep my camera warm. I have heard about puting your camera in a ziplock bag and use it that way. The only thing I have a question on is do you zip it up where the front of the lens is sticking out or just put the whole thing in the back and shot from there. I know it sounds stupid but since I have not actually seen this done I am really unsure on how to do it.

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Permalink Reply by randy epperson on December 13, 2007 at 6:10am

Sadonna, other than to prevent the rapid battery depletion, there really isn't a need to keep your camera warm while shooting outdoors. That said, I try to keep my camera in the bag or under my jacket, until I actually shoot. On the other hand, when shooting outdoors in wet conditions, I have heard that putting the camera in a plastic bag, placing the lens in the opening of the bag, and taking a rubber band to seal the plastic around the very end of the lens, works. I suppose the plastic bag idea would also come in handy when shooting outdoors and it's snowing, sleeting, etc... .

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Permalink Reply by Sadonna Lingnau on December 13, 2007 at 7:01am

Okay thanks for letting me know. I have thought about trying the plastic bag idea when it rains but I to scared in fear I might get my camera wet. Maybe one day I will be brave and try it.

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