Taking SLR Skiing...
Discussion
I will be off skiing in the new year, and want to take my camera with me, as I no longer have a compact of any use and really want to take some nice snaps
(I have 350D and 3 lenses, one L)
now, a few Questions, how will something like an SLR fair in the cold conditions, compacts previously taken have had no problems, but they have far less substancial moving parts
Is there some kind of Tough/armoured camera bags available, as I really dont want to have a stack, and destroy a Thousand odd pounds of camera at the same time!
Cheers for any help!
(I have 350D and 3 lenses, one L)
now, a few Questions, how will something like an SLR fair in the cold conditions, compacts previously taken have had no problems, but they have far less substancial moving parts
Is there some kind of Tough/armoured camera bags available, as I really dont want to have a stack, and destroy a Thousand odd pounds of camera at the same time!
Cheers for any help!
i have often considered this, but i snowboard, and as im most of the time face planted in powder, i have had to decide against it, and a compact in the inside pocket is about the limit, unless you go up in a gondola and waste precious slope time getting snaps of other people or the scenery.
big risk of breakage and much expence in my book.
big risk of breakage and much expence in my book.
I really wouldn't. I suppose you could take a padded camera rucksack, and stop every so often to take it out and take pictures. It might be worth it if you're going for "mountain views" to be enlarged later.
But an IXUS/Coolpix or even a good old 35mm compact is probably a better bet, and won't hurt so much when you fall on it
But an IXUS/Coolpix or even a good old 35mm compact is probably a better bet, and won't hurt so much when you fall on it
I would probably take it, but only actually take it on the slopes for 1 morning (day 4 or something, when people are relaxed) and have a photo session. I would spend that time doing far less crazy boarding myself but egging people on to get some good pics.
Not worth carting one around while you are actually properly boarding - it would just get in the way/get broken.
All this is assuming you are fine with leaving your DSLR in the chalet/room. i.e. you are not slumming it.
Not worth carting one around while you are actually properly boarding - it would just get in the way/get broken.
All this is assuming you are fine with leaving your DSLR in the chalet/room. i.e. you are not slumming it.
Snowboarding! I'm a Skier me!
hmm, I'm thinking of getting proper insurance cover for the camera before I go anyway, when skiing I always wear a backpack with my bladder in, so it shouldnt interfere with that too much, I'm more worried about the cold killing it!
I'm sure I have seen backpacks(not necessarily camera bags) with a solid outer shell, but cant find any now!
hmm, I'm thinking of getting proper insurance cover for the camera before I go anyway, when skiing I always wear a backpack with my bladder in, so it shouldnt interfere with that too much, I'm more worried about the cold killing it!
I'm sure I have seen backpacks(not necessarily camera bags) with a solid outer shell, but cant find any now!
JD said:
Snowboarding! I'm a Skier me!
hmm, I'm thinking of getting proper insurance cover for the camera before I go anyway, when skiing I always wear a backpack with my bladder in, so it shouldnt interfere with that too much, I'm more worried about the cold killing it!
I'm sure I have seen backpacks(not necessarily camera bags) with a solid outer shell, but cant find any now!
You'll need spare batteries as their performance will be terrible in the cold (as bad as only 20% of normal).hmm, I'm thinking of getting proper insurance cover for the camera before I go anyway, when skiing I always wear a backpack with my bladder in, so it shouldnt interfere with that too much, I'm more worried about the cold killing it!
I'm sure I have seen backpacks(not necessarily camera bags) with a solid outer shell, but cant find any now!
You can get waterproofed backpacks (e.g. Lowepro AWs).
Will be a real pain though. I took my video camera up last year, and just stopping, getting it out, taking off the gloves, brushing off snow, skiing ahead of person I wanted to film etc really got in the way of the skiing. Can't say I recommend it.
Had to take my whole camera bag (big Lowepro) with two 5Ds, 5 lenses etc out skiing last year for the day, whilst having a lesson from a retired (but only mid 20s!) french ladies ski team instructor. I'm not a terrbily good skiier, but managed to keep up and not fall over, I don't think it's a problem, just don't try anything silly.
PS Cameras worked fine, but make sure you have fuly charged batteries, and maybe keep some spares warm inside your clothes if you plan on shooting a lot
PS Cameras worked fine, but make sure you have fuly charged batteries, and maybe keep some spares warm inside your clothes if you plan on shooting a lot
Edited by dcw@pr on Friday 21st December 11:48
DanH said:
You'll need spare batteries as their performance will be terrible in the cold (as bad as only 20% of normal).
Good tip is to keep the batteries inside your clothes near your body so they stay warm, and just pop them in the camera when you're taking the shots.Also, if you take a cold camera into a warm room, you'll get condensation forming, so it's better to leave it in the bag for a while which allows it to warm up slowly.
I was on a stag do in Feb this year, and took the 300D which I had at the time out with me.
No real issues, other than the fact that the cold really hammers the batteries – so make sure you take plenty with you.
People are pretty good, and SLRs seem to be an unusual sight on the slopes, and I was quite surprised how many people asked me to take their photos…
Apologies for the small sizes, but you get the idea.
No real issues, other than the fact that the cold really hammers the batteries – so make sure you take plenty with you.
People are pretty good, and SLRs seem to be an unusual sight on the slopes, and I was quite surprised how many people asked me to take their photos…
Apologies for the small sizes, but you get the idea.
I have shot with my old 350d in - temps no problem. Battery life is shortened but not considerably. Not read all replies but something to consider is upping the exposure compensation by +1 or +2 stops when taking shots in snow. By default the camera will expose for 18% grey. Brilliant white is 2 stops higher and white is one stop higher (as a guide).
I'd set the camera in av mode and set bias +1 and try with that - though the 350d does have some built in programs I am not sure any are for snow
I'd set the camera in av mode and set bias +1 and try with that - though the 350d does have some built in programs I am not sure any are for snow
Podie said:
Amanda Huggnkiss said:
Podie said:
Fair point Amanda... I took the other route and bought ND4 filters for my lenses instead.
Or there is that but if you are out the last thing you want is to be fiddling with filters through sausage finger gloves Amanda Huggnkiss said:
Podie said:
Amanda Huggnkiss said:
Podie said:
Fair point Amanda... I took the other route and bought ND4 filters for my lenses instead.
Or there is that but if you are out the last thing you want is to be fiddling with filters through sausage finger gloves 
Excllent, this is all great info!
Podie... ND4, is that simply because in a snow environement, it is so bright? and 2 steps + Ev will only allow very very short exposure at a higher aperture?
so you've turned it down, and thus enabled to get some slower shutter speeds?
whats the comparison stops wise between a Hoya circular polariser and an ND4?
did you ever find ND4 tooo dark?
Podie... ND4, is that simply because in a snow environement, it is so bright? and 2 steps + Ev will only allow very very short exposure at a higher aperture?
so you've turned it down, and thus enabled to get some slower shutter speeds?
whats the comparison stops wise between a Hoya circular polariser and an ND4?
did you ever find ND4 tooo dark?
Assuming you use automatic metering (means not M mode) the camera's going to look out of the lens and assume that the world is 18% grey. But up an alp, it's not, it's a lot brighter than that.
The ND4 filter is a bit of a red herring, because it won't change the 18% grey assumption of the metering system. But it will help keep the shutter speeds longer, or the aperture wider. This would help if you want to record movement (not super-sharp no-blur shots) or if you want to minimize depth of field (keep the background out of focus).
Any type of polarizer cuts out some of the glare from snow or water, but you need a circular one on a Canon SLR because otherwise it'll confuse the electronics.
So I'd say you need a polarizing filter, try reducing exposure by 1.5 stops, then take a few pics and look at the histograms to see if everythings too far to the left or right.
Oh, and it's going to hurt when you fall on it
The ND4 filter is a bit of a red herring, because it won't change the 18% grey assumption of the metering system. But it will help keep the shutter speeds longer, or the aperture wider. This would help if you want to record movement (not super-sharp no-blur shots) or if you want to minimize depth of field (keep the background out of focus).
Any type of polarizer cuts out some of the glare from snow or water, but you need a circular one on a Canon SLR because otherwise it'll confuse the electronics.
So I'd say you need a polarizing filter, try reducing exposure by 1.5 stops, then take a few pics and look at the histograms to see if everythings too far to the left or right.
Oh, and it's going to hurt when you fall on it
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