Digital camera in winter

[WolfVanZandt]

Well, I thought to myself, "Myself, I buy about six disposable cameras a year when I could get a digital camera and be done with it - what's wrong with this picture?" So I got a digital camera. Are there anythings that I should know about using it in cold weather? I just gotta figure that Sipsey is going to be cold this March.

Does it affect the batteries? Is there a problem with condensation? Anything else I should know?

[weathermansam]

The only problem I have is with the batteries.  If they get cold, then they think they're dead.  I usually keep them in an inside jacket pocket so they stay warmer.  I've never had an issue with the camera itself in cold weather before.

[JC785]

I have one of the Olympus stylus tough series cameras, they are  waterproof, freeze proof, drop proof, and pretty much hike proof. It takes pretty good pictures during the day, but at night the flash is a little weak, you just have to find the right setting for night pictures.

[Lostsheep]

Like said, just take the battery out at night and put it in the sleeping bag with you. First thing in the morning, it's going to act dead if you don't. Once it warms up, you'll be fine.

Also, when you wake, take the lens cover off and let it acclimate. It'll fog up briefly, but that'll be alright, just let it be, and you'll be fine.

[WolfVanZandt]

Thanks for the information.

Heh, i was just taking pictures of the snow today and found out that the internal memory will accommodate about 5 photos (at high resolution, anyway). I will most definitely have to get a memory card.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Barring a serious new ice age, you are never going to experience weather cold enough to instantly break a camera in Alabama.

Sam is absolutely right, the number one issue will be the batteries, because cold slows chemical reactions, and batteries are little contained chemical reactions. The good news is that it most batteries do pretty good down to the forties or so, and I've never run into a major cold issue with anything other than old batteries or alkalines. Just keep them in a pocket (lithium ion batteries should have a contact cover in your pocket) near your body if it is real cold.

Oh, and if it is a dSLR or even just has some air space like a viewfinder, be prepared for fogging and condensation. The biggie is to avoid sudden temperature changes.  

Now... When you start talking far below zero, the game changes considerably. Plastic breaks, solder cracks, shutters snap, etc... Just read some stories from folks who go on Antarctic birdwatching cruises. Some trips have a 1 in 3 camera failure rate.

The neat thing about digital cameras is that they tend to prefer a little cold for long exposures. Heat creates noise on the sensor which shows up as those colorful dots you see all the time on really cheasy sensors like those in most cell phone cameras. One of many reasons I avoid waterfall photography in the summer.

[MississippiRob]

Glad to see this thread. A friend and I a making a last minute trip to the Pinhoti tomorrow and the wife doesnt want me to take the new "good" digital camera because of the forcasted low temps. Maybe I can talk her into it now.

[WolfVanZandt]

Hmmm....now if I could figure out how to slow the exposure on this camera. I'm an atavistic throwback.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Many compact digital cameras lack basic exposure/aperture controls.

[weathermansam]

Mine has it, you just have to know where to go in the menu to adjust it. 

[WolfVanZandt]

I think I just have to get used to this thing.

[Uncle Wayne]

I have one of the Olympus stylus tough series cameras, they are  waterproof, freeze proof, drop proof, and pretty much hike proof. It takes pretty good pictures during the day, but at night the flash is a little weak, you just have to find the right setting for night pictures.

Agree.  These Olympus stylus cameras are very tough.  I have owned the film and digital type. The weak link is the proprietary (SP?) battery but they are rechargable and I have two that are 10 years old this May.

[Southlady]

I have two Olympus and swear by them. One is the small digital point a click. Yeah it has the menu but it's nothing like my SLR Olympus. You must keep the batteries warm for sure. But do get memory card. You don't want to have to worry with how many pictures you take it you find lots of interesting things to take pictures of.

[WolfVanZandt]

Yes, I ended up getting a memory card. Expensive little things but worth it.

I'm a little disappointed in the close up (macro) feature. I may just not know hhow to use it and will have to play with it a little. The directions are rather minimalistic.

[jamfan]

I too have one of the Olympus Stylus cameras - the 1030sw.   I pretty much love this camera, and my next camera will probably be another in the Stylus series.  The pictures aren't as great as my old Canon S1IS, but its small, compact, and can go through just about anything. 

Eventually the piece around the shutter broke off, and I'm not sure if its waterproof still.  I've been meaning to glue it back on.  I never had a problem with the battery, but the tip about keeping it close to your body is a good one.

[trailtigger]

At one time I had my own photo bus. I got out of it after a few years and regretfully sold my cameras. When I got into hiking I bought a kodak easy share and it performed very well, even in subfreezing temps, in fact I still have it(my wife does actually). I recently pruchased a canon powershot which is a little bulky but it takes great pics and has more bells and whistles than the easyshare.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Yes, I ended up getting a memory card. Expensive little things but worth it.

I'm a little disappointed in the close up (macro) feature. I may just not know hhow to use it and will have to play with it a little. The directions are rather minimalistic.

"Macro" mode on most point and shoot cameras is anything but what it is advertised as. I think my P&S gets about 1:16. Then again, macro photography is really painfully annoying, but rewarding. With a dedicated macro lens shooting at about one quarter life size, the focus distance is so small you typically have to hold your breath and focus by moving the camera, rather than the focus ring, and it gets worse as the magnification increases. "Macro" mode on most point and shoots just means closer focusing distance, like a foot or two, is possible.

[Southlady]

Some of the macros can be very tricky. And  there are times when it just won't function at all. I would suggest playing with it in the back yard a bit. You'll soon lean what the camera is capable of and what it isn't.

[WolfVanZandt]

Yeah, I guess so.

One day I'll be able to afford a camera with interchangeable lenses.

What I want the macro capability for is mineral specimens and wild flowers.

[Southlady]

We have a camera store down here that let's you put the camera on layaway and you pay on it for three or four months and then get it out at the end of your pay off. Way cool. I've having that option. It's how I bought my digital SLR. No I don't think you want to know how many SLR's I have.