Operating camera in low temperature conditions

Nashtok wrote:

OutsideTheMatrix wrote:

Brian Chichester wrote:

I agree that the camera would be fine at low temperature, it's the battery that suffers. No permanent damage but it loses charge much faster the colder it is.

The other issue is that when you bring the camera back indoors you may get condensation on it and in it. Generally this is not enough to cause trouble but if possible the equipment should be allowed to warm up to room temperature gradually.

Thanks- I have a garage that I go through before I re-enter my house so that can serve as a place of intermediate temperature- it is not as cold as the outside but not as warm as the inside of the house either. Sounds like a good place to keep it for 30-60 min before and after photographing sessions in the cold? Because sudden temperature drops from taking it outside from a warm house can also cause problems? I know I need to do that with my telescope to prevent condensation on its lens or I have to use a dew heater. Even worse if dew forms and then freezes because the temps are so low. That can cause some damage, no?

If I'm going to be out in cold weather, I'll bring along a few zipping freezer bags to put my camera body and lenses in while still out in the cold. Then you can bring everything in right away, wait for everything to warm up, then take it out of the bag. Easy-peasy!

Thanks.  I think I have a few of these bags already!  So you can use the camera and lenses right away when going from a warm house to the cold outdoors? Or do you have to wait for the camera and lenses temperatures to lower to match the outside temp?