cold weather condensation

[PhotoGirl]

When taking your camera outside in cold weather and then bringing it back inside (warmer environment) I read that it can cause condensation (inside the camera?on the lens?), how can you avoid damaging your camera? will it affect the film? thanks.

[mjs1973]

The best way to avoid condensation is to put the camera, and lenses in your camera bag, and seal it up BEFORE taking it into the warmer area. Once inside, just let the bag sit for a while to warm up. If you can't wait for an hour or two for it to warm up, seal your gear inside a ziplock bag and then set it someplace where it will warm up faster, next to a heat register, by the fireplace...

Condensation can also for on the film, but I'm not sure how it will affect the film. To avoid it, I would put your used film, back in the little plastic container it came in, and same with the new fill if you took it out of the plastic container. Then I would follow the same procedure as I mentioned above for your other gear.

[another view]

Michael has it pretty well covered here. Only thing I would add is that it depends on how cold it is. The colder it gets, the more careful you need to be. I don't do too much when it's in the 40's, but below zero I do it by the book.

[PhotoGirl]

I've always worried about that, so thank you for the replies!