Real life operating temperatures

[nightfly]

I was wondering if any of you had any experience of what the real operating temperatures for a digital camera are.

Already before I saw Paul's surprise pictures, I had planned to take my S200 and test it on the snowy landscape. What has held me back is the cold. Temperatures right now are between -25C (-13F) at night and -18C (0F) around noon.

The manual states the operating temp between 0C (32F) and 40C (104F). I don't think that 0C is because of condensation when you get back into the house because that would always occur (to some extent) when it's warmer inside than outside.

So, do you think I could take the camera out into, say, -15C (5F), or would that just be an incalculable risk?

Andreas

 

[rolleiman]

I ran my F100 at about -15C lots last winter and never thought about it. I keep it in my inside jacket pocket and usually make quick work of the shot but that's cause the fingers get cold. A friend has used his G9/10 for skiing for years and never had a problem.

If you left the cam in your car overnight it might be a bit grumpy waking up; best to put it in an inside pocket of your coat [while wearing the coat!] for a while first.

 

[Kim Letkeman]

So, do you think I could take the camera out into, say, -15C (5F), or would that just be an incalculable risk?

Guess you didn't read my most recent test ...

http://kimletkeman.blogspot.com/2009/12/panasonic-zs3-versus-fuji-f70exr-round_18.html

Shot numerous images with the ZS3 and F70EXR in bitter -18C or colder ... on a point where the wind whipped across, freezing exposed skin in short order.

Kept the cams in my inner coat pockets between shots ...

--
http://letkeman.net/Photos
http://kimletkeman.blogspot.com

 

[depscribe]

keep the camera warm -- under your coat when you're not shooting -- and all will be well. more important is to take a zip-lock bag with you. before you come inside, put the camera in the bag and seal it closed. then let it warm up to room temperature before unzipping it. that keeps condensation from getting into all kinds of inconvenient places.

 

[buckshot]

nightfly

I like to take my cam with me ...all the time. That means it has to sit and wait in the car. I always have it in a bag but these two cams have been in a 120f car with the windows closed for 8 hours ... or in the winter have gone all night at -20f and shot that morning. The S7000 lasted 20,000 shots when the sensor went (known issue) and the S9100 lives on but the on switch gets very hard to move ... then works normally ... oh and dropped them both multiple times!! I know the models I have owned "took it" and kept ticking I am sure yours will too
--
JB
I am not a photographer, I’m just a guy that takes pictures.
http://www.buckshot.BuckshotsPhotos.photoshare.co.nz

http://www.fujimugs.com/mugshots/show_member.php?country=&act=&hasmug=&challenge=&cat=&sortby=&sortdir=&thumb=&srch=&member=1341

 

[rolleiman]

keep the camera warm -- under your coat when you're not shooting -- and all will be well. more important is to take a zip-lock bag with you. before you come inside, put the camera in the bag and seal it closed. then let it warm up to room temperature before unzipping it. that keeps condensation from getting into all kinds of inconvenient places.

This is good advice for places where the indoor humidity is high. Getting that indoor humidity to happen in cold and dry places is a major challenge. When it is minus 15C outside the indoor humidity is often so low it won't get condensation to speak of anyway. Also, the air in the camera is expanding as it warms so the camera will exhale preventing condensation from entering. External condensation will just re evaporate.

But the plastic bag is insurance and good practice in humid areas. Overkill out here in cactus country.

 

[Gary N W]

Hi Andreas,

I have both the S602z Pro and S9100 that I have taken into very very cold areas of the high sierras. Both have held up really well without any problems. Where I have run into problems with any other camera is one's using the Li-ion batteries which are proprietary and just do not hold up to the temps for me at least. I use the plain ole AA NiMH battery type cams by preference and FYI I use them wrapped in bubble wrap in the very cold weather I am in most of the time when I am in the sierras. These two particular cams for me are almost indestructable. On the other hand I do have them lubed and cleaned and adjusted about every two years which has proven out to me to work better for tough treks in the very cold or very hot summers of the high sierras. Good luck!

Best, Gary N W SFO

 

[depscribe]

| But the plastic bag is insurance and good practice in humid areas. Overkill out here in
| cactus country.

it's true the air tends toward being dry in the winter, ceretis paribus, but i never had the plastic bag trick do any harm, even in very dry conditions, so i figure that making a habit of it is a good thing.

(for real fun, deal with big mirror lenses in cold weather -- then we have issues like pre-chilling for focus stability, stuff like that. can be a real hoot!)

 

[tdkd13]

Now I see why the results are rarely anything like a photo, take the bubble wrap off at least just to shoot, I bet that will help a lot.
Ted

I have both the S602z Pro and S9100 that I have taken into very very cold areas of the high sierras. ... FYI I use them wrapped in bubble wrap most of the time when I am in the sierras. >
Best, Gary N W SFO

--
http://photobucket.com/albums/y260/tdkd13/

 

[nightfly]

Thank you all very much for all the help and information. Now I can get out and shoot some winter pics, snowfall and sunshine permitting, without having to think about the health of my camera all the time.

I shall leave a note on the kitchen table so that my widow-to-be has somebody to blame, should I freeze to death in the attempt to bring you some pictures. This is all your fault..!

Thanks again!
Andreas

 

[nightfly]

Just by coincidence I found this page which I think not only provides good tips on the subject but has a lot of interesting stuff, especially for beginners.
http://digital-photography-school.com/photography-in-extreme-cold

Andreas

 

[Gary N W]

hahahahaha you guys are gettin funny! Andreas if you have your camera protected and you are not protected from the elements you could wrap yourself in a little bubble wrap, too. That way there is 100% protection for both. lmao

Best, Gary N W SF)

 

[tdkd13]

The bubble wrap would help if he fell down as well.
Ted

hahahahaha you guys are gettin funny! Andreas if you have your camera protected and you are not protected from the elements you could wrap yourself in a little bubble wrap, too. That way there is 100% protection for both. lmao

Best, Gary N W SF)

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http://photobucket.com/albums/y260/tdkd13/

 

[Kim Letkeman]

The bubble wrap would help if he fell down as well.

Or encountered a bear with a plastic allergy ...

--
http://letkeman.net/Photos
http://kimletkeman.blogspot.com

 

[Shogun1]

Can't say for a Fuji camera, but a couple years back I used an Olympus C-750UZ in minus 17 F and when the camera was exposed for a period of time (outside of my jacket) my photos turned out blue. First thought it was the white balance, fooled with that setting and the photos were still blue. Warmed the camera up and the colors returned to normal. Actually one photo of early morning sunlight coming through a tree was pretty striking.

Bill

 

[nightfly]

Well, Gary and Ted, it wasn't me who came up with the bubble wrap idea... When I'm out in cold weather I usually look like that Michelin guy. So don't be worried about me. I am rather worried about you when you have to resort to bubble wrap to get protection. I had thought that the US is a reasonably developed country and protective clothing is already invented. Well, you learn something new every day...

About the bears, Kim... I don't know about the Canadian bears but the only thing ours are allergic to are spherical or cone shaped pieces of lead thrown at them at high velocity...

Happy wrapping!
Andreas