Using D70s in arctic conditions?

[PJLarge]

Hi Folks

I'm off to Lapland in a couple of weeks, temps there are expected to be in the -20*c range. What do you reckon about using the camera in those sort of conditions? Anything to bear in mind?

Cheers

Phil.

[superlightr]

ummm embarrassed to say - but the wife just said

" have you read the manuel?"


- clearly she knows nothing about photography... and has been duly chastised for even suggesting it.

Doh.

[PJLarge]

No true techie ever read the manual Besides...there's the small matter of me not knowing exactly where I left it, so I'm off to a bit of a non starter there. It seems like it's not the best idea using the camera in those sort of conditions, but it's too amazing a place not to take it...

Phil.

[superlightr]

I will have a look in mine.....

[superlightr]

it talks about Storage on page 193 ie dont store the d70s below -10c

p 196 avoid sudden changes in temp - to prevent place the camera in a carrying device or plastic bag before exposing it to sudden changes

Batteries - capacity tends to decrease - keep a spare in a warm place !?!



I think it will be fine, just avoid 'sudden' temp changes

[Captain Beaky]

There was a thread on this a couple of months ago. Hope it helps.

Well, it was about a Canon 20D but they're all the same aren't they ? (ducks and runs for cover...)

[PJLarge]

Thanks, Superlightr.

I downloaded the manual from the Nikon website last night and predictably found my own manual an hour later In addition to the info you gave, in the specifications on page 204 it also mentions 'operating range' which is from 0*c to 40*c so now I'm thoroughly confused...

The link to the other thread was handy, it sounds like we're going to the same area.

Phil.

[GetCarter]

Captain Beaky said:

Well, it was about a Canon 20D but they're all the same aren't they ? (ducks and runs for cover...)

Actually even Nikons are very different from each other - the pro models will work in much lower temps. [/smug]

[fergusd]

Couple of days ago I was walking up the hills for 2-3 hours in what we measured to be -5C ambient (goosedown gear has no equal when it's cold and dry) . . . I had the camera exposed all day (better to let it get cold - then the snow through the wind doesn't stick to it or melt on it) . . . anyway no difference in performance over that period and I shot about 150 exposures . . . biggest issue was re-warming the camera, even putting it in it's case in the car it was getting lots of condensation, I ended up putting it away wrapped in a poly bag in the boot - even an hour later at home it was too cold to bring into the house . . .

So presuming you can keep your batteries warm enough . . . I recon the biggest issue is re-warming and condensation . . . I suspect the big difference between cameras is the specification of the battery - the D2X has a) a huge battery (in comparison to by D70) and b) a very costly battery (whether the cost is the penalty of it being for a D2X or increased performance I dunno) . . .

Lots of people recommend keeping the cam in a poly bag all the time - I recon that's probably a good idea . . .

Fd

[elderly]

My old Pentax 6x7 got over the 'cold' battery problem
by having an accessory which was like an extention lead -
which one end plugged into where the battery was in the base
of the camera and the other end housed the battery which
you kept in your pocket or somewhere warm on your body.
Maybe Nikon do such an accessory?

[chris.mapey]

I'd recommend a second battery to be kept in a pocket, and swapped regularly.
As mentioned above - watch the condensation when coming back to civilization

Chris

[gopher]

I was up in the Brecon Beacons yesterday and whilst I don't know what the tempreture was I do know that at ground level it was -5, I imagine at 900+ ft it was likely at least -10.

Just kept the d50 in my bag until I started taking pics and then left it uncovered around my neck. Everything seemed fine, no excess battery use and everthing still working fine, it was very dry which I suppose will help.

it was well worth the effort of taking it as well, just sorting through them now.

[406tm]

This store have rain covers

http://stores.ebay.com/active-19

I use a padded one I got from ebay but it is a bit bulky

HTH

Dave

406TM

[polar_ben]

Should be fine - as others have said, keep it in an airtight bag if you're transferring it to warm/cold places quickly (ie heading indoors after a day in the snow). Ortlieb map cases are great for this.

I've used a Pentax *ist digital SLR (with Energizer lithium AA batteries) down to -30ish and a Minolta Dimage F300 (ditto batteries) down to -48.

>> Edited by polar_ben on Thursday 29th December 22:42

[-DeaDLocK-]

Used my D70 in Krakow during -15 to -20 Celcius temps in the beginning of this year and it was fine.

1) Refrain from sudden changes in temperature. Keep it exposed.

2) Battery life decreases. Make contingencies.

3) If it's really cold, your LCD screen may function really slowly or not work altogether. Don't worry - you can still shoot, and once warmed up it will work as normal again.