taking images in a very cold place - tips.
Discussion
Taking my D70s with me whilst I do a course in the arctic circle in a few weeks.
As a bonus Im hoping to see and take some pics of the Northern lights. So got my mini tripod, spare battery. Ive done fireworks etc in the uk with reasonably good results -(earnt a couple of $ on bigstock) but not shot in the very cold. -20 to -30 or more. Northern lights tend to be best seen around midnight ! so cold.
Any tips. Clearly allow time for the camera/lens to adjust to the temputure change, keep the battery warm, be gentle with the tripod - metal britleness, any other tips please?
As a bonus Im hoping to see and take some pics of the Northern lights. So got my mini tripod, spare battery. Ive done fireworks etc in the uk with reasonably good results -(earnt a couple of $ on bigstock) but not shot in the very cold. -20 to -30 or more. Northern lights tend to be best seen around midnight ! so cold.
Any tips. Clearly allow time for the camera/lens to adjust to the temputure change, keep the battery warm, be gentle with the tripod - metal britleness, any other tips please?
Talking to an Aunt of mine recently who has turned into a bit of an aurora chaser, apparently this year is not expected to be a good one for seeing the Northern Lights - although next year should be. So don't get your hopes up too high.
As far as taking photo's in the extreme cold goes I've no real experience but I would think that 2 or 3 batteries kept inside your coat and then rotated as you need to use them would be the best plan.
As far as taking photo's in the extreme cold goes I've no real experience but I would think that 2 or 3 batteries kept inside your coat and then rotated as you need to use them would be the best plan.
Big issues will probably be battery life and LCD's, not sure what battery the D70s uses but I have had problems with a D70 in cold temps (-20C), the top LCD also stopped working on mine . . .
You need to be most careful when taking the camera back indoors as that's when you will have real condensation problems, when I do this I put the camera/lens in a plastic bag when outside then in my camera bag and leave the camera alone for a couple of hours in the bag indoors . . . that gives it time to equalise with room temp . . . you really need to keep condensation out of the camera and lens if at all possible.
Also if you have any metal on the camera or kit, make sure you don't get anything stuck to it . . . I got my finger stuck to the pentaprism of my D2x in the deep cold of Canada a few years ago . . . took gloves off, touched camera, finger froze onto it . . . Id had the camera out for a few hours at -20 or less and left it out so the snow wouldn't stick to it . . . then forgot that it's made of metal ;-) . . .
Fd
You need to be most careful when taking the camera back indoors as that's when you will have real condensation problems, when I do this I put the camera/lens in a plastic bag when outside then in my camera bag and leave the camera alone for a couple of hours in the bag indoors . . . that gives it time to equalise with room temp . . . you really need to keep condensation out of the camera and lens if at all possible.
Also if you have any metal on the camera or kit, make sure you don't get anything stuck to it . . . I got my finger stuck to the pentaprism of my D2x in the deep cold of Canada a few years ago . . . took gloves off, touched camera, finger froze onto it . . . Id had the camera out for a few hours at -20 or less and left it out so the snow wouldn't stick to it . . . then forgot that it's made of metal ;-) . . .
Fd
Battery life is usually the biggest issue. Don't know what battery technology the D70 has but they are generally a lot better than they used to be. My old D1X batteries were terrible when it got a bit chilly, but I think they were Ni-Cads or Ni-MH. Lithiums are a lot more forgiving at low temperatures.
There will be plenty of good tips here I'm sure, but if I was planning a trip like that I'd probably call Nikon and ask their advice as well.
There will be plenty of good tips here I'm sure, but if I was planning a trip like that I'd probably call Nikon and ask their advice as well.
Been going to Finland for last 4years using Canon gear 30d never had a battery issue except get a good pair fine gloves /torch/ goodtripod and wrap up well as the Nothern lights is a waiting game but fantastic sight when it happens can last for hours ... now got a 1dsmk3 to join the 30d so hope we get to see some although heard this year sighting to be poor ... Have you seen the Joanna Lumney bbc programme on n/l worth the watching G
Hi.
Some good advice already, I've happily taken pictures down to -47 with a Canon 20D, battery life is the main issue but at -20 I don't think it's going to be a problem. Some good advice would be to have a thin pair of gloves on inside a thicker pair, then when you need to adjust something or do something fiddly then you are still wearing some protection, hard to get your hands warm again once they are cold.
Enjoy the auroras, they are an incredible thing to see.
Mat.
Some good advice already, I've happily taken pictures down to -47 with a Canon 20D, battery life is the main issue but at -20 I don't think it's going to be a problem. Some good advice would be to have a thin pair of gloves on inside a thicker pair, then when you need to adjust something or do something fiddly then you are still wearing some protection, hard to get your hands warm again once they are cold.
Enjoy the auroras, they are an incredible thing to see.
Mat.
External battery pack?
Don't see why this wouldn't work: as battery life in the cold seems to be the biggest worry, I notice that the D70 can operate with an external AC adapter (EH-5). As this is basically a transformer which will turn 110-240v into a DC power source at the same voltage as the internal battery, and it connects via a socket on the camera body, if you got hold of the equivalent plug to connect to the camera, it would be a fairly straightforward job to make your own DC battery pack delivering the same voltage, and keep that inside your nice warm jacket, with the cable running to the camera. In this way your batteries would stay warm. You'd also have the opportunity of making a battery pack with a much higher capacity (maH) than the standard battery, so it'd last a lot longer.
As far as I know, so long as the voltage is the same, it should work well.
Happy to be corrected though....
Don't see why this wouldn't work: as battery life in the cold seems to be the biggest worry, I notice that the D70 can operate with an external AC adapter (EH-5). As this is basically a transformer which will turn 110-240v into a DC power source at the same voltage as the internal battery, and it connects via a socket on the camera body, if you got hold of the equivalent plug to connect to the camera, it would be a fairly straightforward job to make your own DC battery pack delivering the same voltage, and keep that inside your nice warm jacket, with the cable running to the camera. In this way your batteries would stay warm. You'd also have the opportunity of making a battery pack with a much higher capacity (maH) than the standard battery, so it'd last a lot longer.
As far as I know, so long as the voltage is the same, it should work well.
Happy to be corrected though....
[quote=C&C]External battery pack?
Don't see why this wouldn't work: as battery life in the cold seems to be the biggest worry, I notice that the D70 can operate with an external AC adapter (EH-5). As this is basically a transformer which will turn 110-240v into a DC power source at the same voltage as the internal battery, and it connects via a socket on the camera body, if you got hold of the equivalent plug to connect to the camera, it would be a fairly straightforward job to make your own DC battery pack delivering the same voltage, and keep that inside your nice warm jacket, with the cable running to the camera. In this way your batteries would stay warm. You'd also have the opportunity of making a battery pack with a much higher capacity (maH) than the standard battery, so it'd last a lot longer.
As far as I know, so long as the voltage is the same, it should work well.
Happy to be corrected though....
[/quote]
Good idea. But
sorry - its really is out in the wilds with no electricity. Its a survival course. Huts then Lappish tipi then snow shelters.
Im already up to a max weight limit with survival stuff, the D70s is a luxury I can just about squeeze in and a mini tripod to use on the long nights.
Don't see why this wouldn't work: as battery life in the cold seems to be the biggest worry, I notice that the D70 can operate with an external AC adapter (EH-5). As this is basically a transformer which will turn 110-240v into a DC power source at the same voltage as the internal battery, and it connects via a socket on the camera body, if you got hold of the equivalent plug to connect to the camera, it would be a fairly straightforward job to make your own DC battery pack delivering the same voltage, and keep that inside your nice warm jacket, with the cable running to the camera. In this way your batteries would stay warm. You'd also have the opportunity of making a battery pack with a much higher capacity (maH) than the standard battery, so it'd last a lot longer.
As far as I know, so long as the voltage is the same, it should work well.
Happy to be corrected though....
[/quote]
Good idea. But
sorry - its really is out in the wilds with no electricity. Its a survival course. Huts then Lappish tipi then snow shelters.
Im already up to a max weight limit with survival stuff, the D70s is a luxury I can just about squeeze in and a mini tripod to use on the long nights.
fergusd said:
Also if you have any metal on the camera or kit, make sure you don't get anything stuck to it . . . I got my finger stuck to the pentaprism of my D2x in the deep cold of Canada a few years ago . . . took gloves off, touched camera, finger froze onto it . . . Id had the camera out for a few hours at -20 or less and left it out so the snow wouldn't stick to it . . . then forgot that it's made of metal ;-) . . .
Fd
Fergus in CanadaFd
Don't worry about battery life, I used a D300 all day at -10C to -20C and it was fine, my mate was trying to keep his camera warm all the time and probably caused more condensation than anything else.
The main thing to worry about is your hands and feet getting cold, I live in Canada at the moment and when I go out shooting just taking your gloves off for a few minutes can get cold and painful very quickly indeed, wrap up warm!
And as above, when bringing the camera back indoors, leave it in your case/bag for a few hours so it can warm up gently.
The main thing to worry about is your hands and feet getting cold, I live in Canada at the moment and when I go out shooting just taking your gloves off for a few minutes can get cold and painful very quickly indeed, wrap up warm!
And as above, when bringing the camera back indoors, leave it in your case/bag for a few hours so it can warm up gently.
superlightr said:
Sure appreciate those tips.
Battery life as said earlier will be a real problem. Maybe keep the camera under your jacket next to your warm tummy? And as Fergus said, don't stick to the metal, "Ouch!"
Also, your biggest problem may be cold hands. Working in this country at - 2/-4 degrees centigrade for three hours whilst holding a tripod and camera was one of the most painful experiences of my life. The bones in my hands felt like they were frozen.
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