Cold weather digital camera.

[hrgolden]

Is it possible to operate a digital camera or below 32 degrees F?

I'm interested in cold weather outdoor photography for skiing and snowshoeing and read that the digitals can't go below 32 F. Should I go with a film camera for this?

From beginner Hugh.

[zrfraser]

SLR or compact?

If its compact then just keep it in your coat pocket, SLR keep it in the bag and whip it out when you need to. I have heard of people using them in the Artic, they said it wasn't easy, but doable.

[mjs1973]

I take my DRebel outside in the winter all the time with temps well below freezing, and have never had a problem with it's performance. If things got supper cold (below zero) I would be a little more carefull but I wouldn't let it keep me from shooting.

Battery life is what is really affected by the cold weather. The cold will drain your power in a hurry. To combat that, I keep an extra battery in an inside pocket to keep it warm. I also hold onto the battery grip of my camera, to help keep the batteries I'm using a littl warmer. Those disposible hand warmers work great for keeping batteries warm too. I even attach them to the battery grip on my camera when I know I'm going to be out in the cold for a few hours.

If temps get REAL cold, LCD screans may not work properly, but I haven't had any problems with that.

[J!m]

Battery life is what is really affected by the cold weather. The cold will drain your power in a hurry. To combat that, I keep an extra battery in an inside pocket to keep it warm. I also hold onto the battery grip of my camera, to help keep the batteries I'm using a littl warmer. Those disposible hand warmers work great for keeping batteries warm too. I even attach them to the battery grip on my camera when I know I'm going to be out in the cold for a few hours.

Good advise. The battery is always the problem, also with an electronic film camera. I used several NiMh batteries and rotated them into the (film) camera during -40 shooting. Another caution with film and low temps is the good possibility of static discharge on the film itself, due to zero humidity conditions.

If temps get REAL cold, LCD screans may not work properly, but I haven't had any problems with that.

In addition to the LCD display, the sensor within the camera can have extreme problems in the very cold conditions (-20 and below). Keeping it warm until needed is good advise if it is possible to do; however taking a warm camera into a sub zero environment can also cause problems with fogging (if there is enough humidity- a big problem if the camera comes from within an overcoat).

My old F-1 needed to have all the lubricants removed from it before use in extreme cold. The EOS-1v does not have any temperature limitations (Canon's words) other than the batery issue discussed earlier. I have another trip planned this February: up to the artic circle. I'm sure I'll have the oppurtunity to see several digital cameras fail, and perhaps the failure of the "no temperature limit" EOS-1v too... Time will tell.

Old, and still good advise: ALWAYS have a spare. Regardless of if its a battery, or a second body. I always ran with at least two bodies and three battery packs at all times, sometimes more. It has saved my butt several times!