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D300 lowest operating temperature

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mlewan

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According to the specs for the D300, the lowest operating temperature is 0 degrees Centigrade (32 degrees Fahrenheit). What does that actually mean?

Is there a risk that the camera breaks if you try to use it at for example -5?

If one takes it out from a warm house or a warm car, will it continue working for some time, before it stops working/breaks?

I had the opportunity to take a cable car up to Klein Matterhorn earlier this week, but the top temperature was said to be -12 degrees, so I decided against it - partly because I cared about my camera (but also because I cared about myself and my not very warm clothes).

--
http://photophindings.blogspot.com/
 
Fahrenheit. I've shot eagles around -11 Fahrenheit for all day without any problem. The only issue is with the condensation on the lens when you take the lens back to the heated car from cold outside... So people keep the camera in trunk until done with shooting.
mlewan said:
According to the specs for the D300, the lowest operating temperature
is 0 degrees Centigrade (32 degrees Fahrenheit). What does that
actually mean?

Is there a risk that the camera breaks if you try to use it at for
example -5?

If one takes it out from a warm house or a warm car, will it continue
working for some time, before it stops working/breaks?

I had the opportunity to take a cable car up to Klein Matterhorn
earlier this week, but the top temperature was said to be -12
degrees, so I decided against it - partly because I cared about my
camera (but also because I cared about myself and my not very warm
clothes).

--
http://photophindings.blogspot.com/
Click to expand...
--
Thanks
Jemini Joseph

http://www.wildbirdimages.com

 
I would have thought that the lubricants inside would become more viscous, which would slow down camera operations. Also, the battery performance might drop significantly, so that you can't get many shots before the battery appears to run down. I don't think you would risk camera damage even at -30C. Nikon just don't want claims from people complaining that their camera doesn't work as well in cold weather.

I've used my D200 well below freezing, and I didn't notice any negative effects at all. I wasn't outside for more than an hour though, so I can't say what would have happened if I'd been out all day.

Amy
 
Interesting link you posted there Klass, Danke.

Ian
 
My old D70 survived several weeks skiing in the Alpes, at sub zero C temperatures, so I'd hope my D300 could survive at least similar.

Good advice on condensation - while I originally tried to tuck the camera into my jacket to keep it warm, this soon causes the viewfinder to fog. Instead I use it and then put it straight into a backpack. When I got back to the chalet, I "acclimatised" it slowly to the humidity and temperature by leaving it in the bag and making sure it was left in a dry, and not overly warm area while it came back to room temperature.

Other good advice I've been given is to keep a spare battery tucked somewhere warm and keep swapping the warm battery for the cold one on a regular basis.

Cheers - BT
--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigtom
 
You cannot keep your hand out of glouse for more than 2 minutes. It's so challenging and fun...

At this temperature the river freezes all the way except below the Dams. So Eagles concentrate in that area and you can see them a lot...
GlennA said:
(-11) degrees Fahrenheit = -23.8888889 degrees Celsius

according to google ;)
--
Glenn

http://KerenOwens.com
Click to expand...
--
Thanks
Jemini Joseph

http://www.wildbirdimages.com

 
mlewan said:
According to the specs for the D300, the lowest operating temperature
is 0 degrees Centigrade (32 degrees Fahrenheit). What does that
actually mean?
Click to expand...
I think it really means that Nikon doesn't guarantee optimal performance outside the operating range.
Member said:
Is there a risk that the camera breaks if you try to use it at for
example -5?
Click to expand...
Nah, I wouldn't expect any problems in "normal" sub-zero (Centigrade) temperatures. Once you go down to minus forty (Centigrade or Fahrenheit, doesn't matter) things may get risky; below that, I'd say you'd be on your own. But taking "winter wonderland" pictures should not be any problem.
Member said:
If one takes it out from a warm house or a warm car, will it continue
working for some time, before it stops working/breaks?
Click to expand...
As others mentioned, the big issue with temperature changes is humidity. We were in Topeka (Kansas, USA) last year, and it was 30 degrees (Centigrade) outside. When we went into the rainforest exhibit in the zoo, though, it took a while before the lenses of my D70 were clear. The camera wasn't hurt, but that kind of thing you want to be careful with.

Eric
--
http://www.lumenssolutions.com/photography/
 
you need to watch condensation when returning into a warm room. I put the camera and lens in a sealed plastic bag before bringing them inside. Let them warm up an hour or two before taking them out.
 
breivogel said:
you need to watch condensation when returning into a warm room. I put
the camera and lens in a sealed plastic bag before bringing them
inside. Let them warm up an hour or two before taking them out.
Click to expand...
-- probably true, It is so dry this time of year, I never had any condensation issues... that was more of a problem in hot humid climates, like my trips to Philippines, coming out of an air conditioned room into swealtering heat and humidity.

some new workshops coming up...

http://www.rayswildlife.com/workshops.html

 
December in the Antarctic is early summer - no way it was -70. The article references the winter for that temperature.

That said I've had my D200 out at well below freezing. I keep an extra battery in an inside pocket.

Larry
 
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