Camera for the arctic
Discussion
I will be shortly heading to the north of Sweden to undertake a snow shoe trek. Currently the weather is -22 degrees centigrade.
I'm trying to work out what a good camera option is without spending more than, say £450.
My phone is likely to die rapidly in those sort of temperatures added to which there will be no mains electricity over night to recharge (and certainly no internet).
The other consideration is that we have to carry all of our equipment for the 6 days so it can't be too bulky.
Any suggestions?
I'm trying to work out what a good camera option is without spending more than, say £450.
My phone is likely to die rapidly in those sort of temperatures added to which there will be no mains electricity over night to recharge (and certainly no internet).
The other consideration is that we have to carry all of our equipment for the 6 days so it can't be too bulky.
Any suggestions?
This is a really tricky one!
My first instinct would be a Nikon d3 with a 24-70 and 3 or 4 spare batteries. Pro spec work horse, good value second hand, you could get one for around your £450.
It’s a heavy beast though! Rated down to -20
https://ebay.us/m/WDBLWk
My first instinct would be a Nikon d3 with a 24-70 and 3 or 4 spare batteries. Pro spec work horse, good value second hand, you could get one for around your £450.
It’s a heavy beast though! Rated down to -20
https://ebay.us/m/WDBLWk
We went to Finnish Lapland for a week in 2018. My not very coherent thoughts...
Similar sort of temperatures, -15 - -25 kind of range. | used a Nikon D800 (mainly with a 24-70 2.8 and Olympus OMD EM5 ii with primes. Both were absolutely fine in terms of continuing to work as normal. I guess the DSLR sort of seems old fashioned 7 years later but the battery life was a massive winner compared to the mirrorless Olympus. And they're cheap now if you just bought something for the trip and wanted to move it on later. Not a lot of light around in winter so full frame with a 2.8 zoom is not a bad idea at all. You can go faster with primes but changing lenses when it's that cold is a pain. Same goes for batteries, filters etc. In fact filters can be a challenge generally as you can find they get stuck if they've been fitted in the warm indoors...
I guess it's also worth mentioning that in my opinion, although I love mirrorless now, for actual IQ of still images, I don't think the game has moved on much at all. So as per the poster above's D3 suggestion, a full frame DSLR might be a very good idea, I didn't do the armpit thing but having a few spare batteries in an inside pocket is a good idea. A grip with batteries in would be useful if you don't mind the bulk of them (or a D3 with it built in as above). If you're using older batteries, check they're still healthy. Most cameras will tell you somewhere in the menu. Nothing will expose a bad battery like cold temperatures.
Despite saying all of that in praise of an older DSLR, it's perhaps also worth mentioning that I took a lot of photos with the Olympus because of its incredible IBIS system. When you can't or won't use a tripod, having 5+ stops of stability available doesn't half make up a big difference in terms of sensor size. Using a tripod in the cold isn't always much fun! It's perhaps where a modern full frame mirrorless body would be ideal but that comes at a cost and battery life is always compromised by having to power a screen the whole time.
Similar sort of temperatures, -15 - -25 kind of range. | used a Nikon D800 (mainly with a 24-70 2.8 and Olympus OMD EM5 ii with primes. Both were absolutely fine in terms of continuing to work as normal. I guess the DSLR sort of seems old fashioned 7 years later but the battery life was a massive winner compared to the mirrorless Olympus. And they're cheap now if you just bought something for the trip and wanted to move it on later. Not a lot of light around in winter so full frame with a 2.8 zoom is not a bad idea at all. You can go faster with primes but changing lenses when it's that cold is a pain. Same goes for batteries, filters etc. In fact filters can be a challenge generally as you can find they get stuck if they've been fitted in the warm indoors...
I guess it's also worth mentioning that in my opinion, although I love mirrorless now, for actual IQ of still images, I don't think the game has moved on much at all. So as per the poster above's D3 suggestion, a full frame DSLR might be a very good idea, I didn't do the armpit thing but having a few spare batteries in an inside pocket is a good idea. A grip with batteries in would be useful if you don't mind the bulk of them (or a D3 with it built in as above). If you're using older batteries, check they're still healthy. Most cameras will tell you somewhere in the menu. Nothing will expose a bad battery like cold temperatures.
Despite saying all of that in praise of an older DSLR, it's perhaps also worth mentioning that I took a lot of photos with the Olympus because of its incredible IBIS system. When you can't or won't use a tripod, having 5+ stops of stability available doesn't half make up a big difference in terms of sensor size. Using a tripod in the cold isn't always much fun! It's perhaps where a modern full frame mirrorless body would be ideal but that comes at a cost and battery life is always compromised by having to power a screen the whole time.
Itsallicanafford said:
My first instinct would be a Nikon d3 with a 24-70 and 3 or 4 spare batteries. Pro spec work horse, good value second hand, you could get one for around your £450.
I think they were the official camera of one of the Olympic Games, a good PR scoop.Personally I would contact Polar Ben and ask what he uses, because he will know more than all of us put together.
Olympus do the Tough series of compact cameras that are designed to operate in all sorts of conditions, they're up to the TG-7 now (£450) which is rated freezeproof down to -10C.
https://explore.omsystem.com/gb/en/tough
I'm sure the TG-5 or TG-6 would be just as capable, I have a TG-2 which has served me well.
https://explore.omsystem.com/gb/en/tough
I'm sure the TG-5 or TG-6 would be just as capable, I have a TG-2 which has served me well.
MesoForm said:
Olympus do the Tough series of compact cameras that are designed to operate in all sorts of conditions, they're up to the TG-7 now (£450) which is rated freezeproof down to -10C.
https://explore.omsystem.com/gb/en/tough
I'm sure the TG-5 or TG-6 would be just as capable, I have a TG-2 which has served me well.
I have a tg6 and thought of it as a possibility. Only down to -10, but it's so small and light you could tuck it under your armpit! There are probably more conveient places. Optically no better than a high end phone though - but with a much better set of controls and optical zoom.https://explore.omsystem.com/gb/en/tough
I'm sure the TG-5 or TG-6 would be just as capable, I have a TG-2 which has served me well.
As another poster said an Rx100 is worth a thoght - barely any bigger than a TGx so easy to keep warm, and much superior optically than the TGs. Both those options have very small controls, so not ideal with cold hands or gloves.
Edited by bcr5784 on Monday 19th January 08:21
I’d definitely be looking for a suitable, used compact, and a couple of spare batteries.
The issue I’d see is suitable gloves that enable at least shutter button pressing. At -20c, after being outside for a couple of hours, you might not want to pop a finger out very often.
A touch screen would be all but unusable if wearing suitable gloves/mittens.
The issue I’d see is suitable gloves that enable at least shutter button pressing. At -20c, after being outside for a couple of hours, you might not want to pop a finger out very often.
A touch screen would be all but unusable if wearing suitable gloves/mittens.
I’m no expert, but would fogging of the optics be a big issue? I think the camera would need to be close to the external ambient temperature to stop this being an ussue, so if for example you go from say the warmth of your armpit to the -20, all the internals would fog and render it useless. I think a good quality padded camera holster bag worn externally and a camera suited to the ambient temps would help to stop this. Spare Batteries you can certainly keep on your person.
Depends on where you are going to keep the device when out and about and also what you are going to do with it when you go indoors.
Cameras with moving parts will tend to suffer as any humidity that gets inside when indoors will freeze in a couple of mins and can stop the moving bits from moving.
Going from a warm house which will have relatively high humidity out to -20°C with low humidity can cause such issues. Not always but it can.
I'd tend to go for a phone and battery bank as already mentioned but you will need to make sure you can mess with the aperture or your snow will all be grey as I am sure you are aware.
Whatever you take, I'd avoid keeping it in your armpit or too close to your body as it will be very humid there, especially if exercising like snow shoeing. Keep it in the outer layers but not on the outside worked for me. Your fingers will be fine even in -40°C for taking pics, the issue is where you take off your gloves for taking a picture,forget, and touch bare metal, avoid that.
Cameras with moving parts will tend to suffer as any humidity that gets inside when indoors will freeze in a couple of mins and can stop the moving bits from moving.
Going from a warm house which will have relatively high humidity out to -20°C with low humidity can cause such issues. Not always but it can.
I'd tend to go for a phone and battery bank as already mentioned but you will need to make sure you can mess with the aperture or your snow will all be grey as I am sure you are aware.
Whatever you take, I'd avoid keeping it in your armpit or too close to your body as it will be very humid there, especially if exercising like snow shoeing. Keep it in the outer layers but not on the outside worked for me. Your fingers will be fine even in -40°C for taking pics, the issue is where you take off your gloves for taking a picture,forget, and touch bare metal, avoid that.
Itsallicanafford said:
I m no expert, but would fogging of the optics be a big issue? I think the camera would need to be close to the external ambient temperature to stop this being an ussue, so if for example you go from say the warmth of your armpit to the -20, all the internals would fog and render it useless. I think a good quality padded camera holster bag worn externally and a camera suited to the ambient temps would help to stop this. Spare Batteries you can certainly keep on your person.
The TG cameras have (according to Olympus ) an antifog mechanism. Works fine under water but I've never tested how effective it is at very low temperatures.Gnits said:
Your fingers will be fine even in -40°C for taking pics, the issue is where you take off your gloves for taking a picture,forget, and touch bare metal, avoid that.
Not a camera, but I bought these for a trip to the Japanese alps.https://otexoutdoors.com.au/collections/gloves
I can’t remember where in the UK I bought them from, but they were very effective.
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