Taking pics in frigid weather

[Fireball]

I would love to get outside and take pics in this icy/snowy weather, but how do I keep my camera from freezing up? I'm getting tired of keeping my camera in my coat and trying to pull it in and out to take photos. And then there's the fogging up of the lens that I'm constantly battling. Any tips?

[ClintDMc]

Well the main thing that needs to be done if you are planning on taking pictures during cold weather, and that is to not warm your camera up. You need to give your camera and glass time to reach equilibrium with the air temp. that will keep your elements from fogging up.

[Fireball]

So sit it outside for awhile or what?

[Hanky]

Thats what I do, the camera sits in the garage for a while.

[danchez]

yeah, I put mine in a garbage bag and place it on the back porch for a while.

[Orogeny]

You only need to worry about fogging when you bring your camera in from cold air to warm, humid air. Just like here in Houston in the summer, if you bring your camera or if you wear glasses and go from a nice, air conditioned place to the hot, humid outdoors, you will get fog.

You get fogging on your lens because you are keeping it in a warm, relatively humid place - inside your coat. Don't do that.

Carry a 1-gallon ziploc bag with you and before you enter a warm building from outside, place your equipment in the bag, seal it and bring it inside with you. Because the air inside the bag is just as dry as the outside air is, you won't get any fogging. Once the equipment comes to room temperature, you can take it out of the bag.

Tim

[Fireball]

Great tips everyone. Thanks! Gonna get outside and take a few shots.

[mrsrice22]

So what do you do during the summer when it's hot/humid and you go inside to cold/dry?

[Hanky]

Here is one from today,temp. was 19 and I forgot to mention leave the battery inside.mittens | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[Hanky]

Never mind I thought the picture would show here not the link.

[Orogeny]

Originally Posted by mrsrice22

So what do you do during the summer when it's hot/humid and you go inside to cold/dry?

Nothing because that is not a problem. Condensation occurs when warm and humid air meets cool surfaces, not the other way around.

[ovimo]

Tim is right. It is very dangerous to keep the camera and the lens warm inside the jacket and get it out only for the shot. Condensation might appear even INSIDE the lens if it's not well sealed and INSIDE the camera. That might cause the electronics to fry. Not very good.

Both the camera and the lens should be able to handle low temperatures if they are kept away from sudden variations.

On the other hand, if you will be in the cold for a while, you might want to keep the battery warm...

I also discovered that ziploc bags can have a myriad "off-label" applications...

[humminboid]

YO, Fireball!

YOU first! Extremities...head, feet, hands protected. Hat; we lose 60% of our body heat from the head. Knit watch caps work fine, and me wife bought me a balclava. (terrorist ski mask) All my jackets have hoods.
Feet: wool socks inside loose-fitting footwear. Too tight, cuts off circulation, and cold feets or worse occurs. Running shoes are fine, but not waterproof.

Gloves: whatever you like...I use either lined chopper mitts with military wool gloves and/or fingerless gloves/mittens.

A thermos of your favorite warm beverage is a goodness, and does wonders for your core temp.

Don't wear cotton if you are likely to get sweaty or it is raining. 50 degrees and cotton clothing can cause the onset of hypothermia.

Camera: Extra batteries, kept in an interior pocket of the heavy coat. Change often. I shot for about 2 1/2 hours at the American Bobsled Championships... 7000 ft, temps ~ 24 deg. F. , camera outside my jacket, and it didn't miss a beat.

As mentioned: Large Zip-lock bags...put camera and lens(es) inside before you enter a building, exhaust as much air as you can, seal, give them time to warm up.

Have fun, and be well, not that the the cold weather you guys are experiencing will last too long.