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Quick camera question for all you experts

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Commonwealth
Posts: 3729 - Karma: 11
Any precautions to take when taking your camera skiing, as far as temperature goes? I'm talking blistery VT days. What should I do to protect the lense? Body?

I suppose I could search, but that totally wouldn't increase my post count.
Apr 27 2009 2:42PM
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CS_Films
Posts: 468 - Karma: 466
The cold temps up here may mess with your camera but it wont break it. The only thing you need to worry about is tempature swings. aka inside to outside. Mainly when you are out in the cold when you go inside and the camera warms up water will condensate all over the camera. The two ways to combat this is when u are outside put the camera in an airtight bag so water in the air cant get to it. Or warm the camera up verry slowely.
Apr 27 2009 2:48PM
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Snowcase
Posts: 11456 - Karma: 634
Whatever you do, NEVER turn the camera on until it is completely warmed up. I always wait half an hour at LEAST. It's not worth the risk. Tell your idiot friends that the film isn't going anywhere and they can very well finger their buttholes to it later.
Apr 27 2009 2:55PM
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Commonwealth
Posts: 3729 - Karma: 11
Sorry, I should have specified. I'm going to use my sister's Nikon D40, I will not be filming. I assume that what you say still holds true though, right?
Apr 27 2009 3:17PM
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freezed
Posts: 12973 - Karma: 500
yeah, when you bring it inside after being out in the cold, leave it off and in the camera bag. let it warm up slowly. also, if you don't already, get a UV filter for the lens, just for protection.
Apr 27 2009 3:31PM
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Snowcase
Posts: 11456 - Karma: 634
Anything electronic. Ipod's, phone's, camera's, etc.
Apr 27 2009 4:27PM
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miroz
Posts: 10333 - Karma: 3,945

For sure.  Condensation fucks shit up, at least it has for me in the past.  I'd recommend not bringing your cam inside until you're done filming.  Maybe only film after lunch, or eat outside.  Personally, I don't take chances with condensation, and I usually just forget about my camera for a couple hours after bringing it in.

Its just the water inside the camera on the cold parts.  It'll go with time, but you don't want to have those parts functioning with water inside. 

At least for video, you'll know if you're fucked because it'll drop frames. 

Good luck!

Apr 27 2009 6:25PM
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horner
Posts: 2439 - Karma: 1,578
If you're going to be bringing your camera inside after a day of shooting in cold weather do one of the following.

1.  Have a bag that you can put the camera in outside so both the bag and camera are at the same temperature.  Then, let the bag and camera slowly acclimate inside before removing the camera.

2.  Or, bring a towel, wrap your camera up in it outside, then bring it inside.  Don't unwrap it for at least a half hour depending on how cold it is outside.  I do this a lot, it works well.  The towel does a good job of insulating the camera and letting it warm up at a good pace.
Apr 27 2009 8:10PM
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Commonwealth
Posts: 3729 - Karma: 11
Thanks for the info guys. I figured that it was bad for the camera, I just wasn't sure if the lens or anything would get fucked.

I'm a total newb to photography, but I know what I like in pictures and hopefully I'll have some fun shootin' my boys with it!
Apr 27 2009 9:38PM
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niels043
Posts: 814 - Karma: 185
not much you really have to worry about, condinsation is a pain but as long as you put you cold camera in your cold car at the mountain when you're done that's usually fine.
don't drop it on ice, and if you happen to shear the lens off the body or just drop it in the snow without a lens on it, pack it with snow, keep the camera outside and clean every snow flake to insure your camera doesn't rust from the inside out.

i've never been in cold enough weather to slow my camera down or affect the electronics and i ski in vt. EOS digitals perform extremely well in all conditions. i've shot in brick windy -20 to hot summer days at the beach prolly at or above 100.
Apr 28 2009 9:43PM
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D_War
Posts: 266 - Karma: 34
its kinda off topic from what everyone else is saying, but the cold is also ganna drain your battery so keep it in your coat for a longer battery life.
Apr 28 2009 10:02PM
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benk
Posts: 1342 - Karma: 988
putting it in your coat will only warm it up, cool it down everytime you shoot with it. It gets a lot of condensation on it (especially the moisture from your body). The batteries are lithium and not affected very much by the cold. If thats your worry than keep an extra battery in your pocket.
Apr 29 2009 12:57AM
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Bentley@DOSMedia
Posts: 1410 - Karma: 1,827
saran wrap your camera.
Do it all the time and it keeps condensation (even snow when its snowing) off the camera.
Oh and the cold will really kill your battery life significantly, so just prepare for that too.
Apr 29 2009 12:02PM
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horner
Posts: 2439 - Karma: 1,578
just curious, but how do you still have access to all the cameras functions? focus? iris? zoom?
Apr 29 2009 2:29PM
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