D700 and lenses in winter

camerahead · 27th November 2008

Hi, I was wondering if anyone has experience with their Nikon SLRs and lenses in cold, snowy climates. I will be going to New Zealand next year and was hoping to use my gear in for landscape photography. I have a D700 and a few prime and zoom lenses. Temperatures are likely to be -10 to -20 degress celsius.

I know that the batteries die really fast in the cold so I'll be bringing spares and keeping them in a warm place.

Does the camera die in extreme cold? I was also worried that the lubricants in the lenses also freeze up and the lenses also die! I can't imagine lugging all my stuff there just to find all my equipment dead in the cold...

Really appreciate any advice you may have.

Terence

blue_quartz · 27th November 2008

This was asked before by lots of people, including myself.

Generally nope, wouldn't die that fast... I going Sweden early next year, will be even colder I guess! Will report my findings then, haha!

camerahead · 27th November 2008

Hi BQ, thanks for the quick reply. I did a quick search on the archive and found the discussion about 2 weeks ago very useful indeed!

Thanks for your advice and have a good trip to Sweden!

pisduck · 27th November 2008

-10 to -20??? are u worried about yourself rather than the camera?

kind of curious, have u thought about what sort of gloves you will be wearing or do u shoot at -20 bare hands?

I am sure people in Norway and Sweden take pictures all the time so most modern DSLRs should work at such temperatures.

ernest_ted · 27th November 2008

just made sure u have a spare batt and keep it warm in pocket.

batt drains faster in cold weather.

Below is an article in Nikon club.

Battery Life in Cold Weather Author: kkcharles82
Ever heard of the saying that cold weather affects battery life. This is not a myth but a fact due to the slowing of chemical reactions in our portable chemical based power sources (i.e. batteries) in cold climate or weather. In the cold, you can expect your battery life to be cut as much as in half. The worst case is your battery will "drain" as it becomes colder with time without you even using it. What can you do about it?

The solution is to have multiple batteries, or at least 2. Keep unused batteries close to your body, or within thermal clothing to keep them relatively warm. Once you take one out, it's temperature starts to drop, so does the capacity start to "reduce" as the chemical reactions slows down. When the battery is "depleted" simply swap in another warm battery and start to shoot. The return the cold battery into your jacket or pants pocket to warm up. Soon you will find that the capacity of the cold battery starts returning as it warms up.

Hence, simply following the steps as below,

1) Keep unused batteries near your body
2) Use one battery at a time
3) Swap the battery when it becomes too cold, or it becomes "depleted" due to cold

Warning! DO NOT keep batteries with hand warmers as they can become unacceptably warm and damage them. Some hand warmers have been known to go as high as 40 degrees celcius or higher, that will

engta · 27th November 2008

Originally Posted by camerahead

Hi, I was wondering if anyone has experience with their Nikon SLRs and lenses in cold, snowy climates. I will be going to New Zealand next year and was hoping to use my gear in for landscape photography. I have a D700 and a few prime and zoom lenses. Temperatures are likely to be -10 to -20 degress celsius.

I know that the batteries die really fast in the cold so I'll be bringing spares and keeping them in a warm place.

Does the camera die in extreme cold? I was also worried that the lubricants in the lenses also freeze up and the lenses also die! I can't imagine lugging all my stuff there just to find all my equipment dead in the cold...

Really appreciate any advice you may have.

Terence

wow! -10 to -20 degrees celsius! Which part of New Zealand are you going? South part?

I brought my Nikon D70s to Seoul last yr, temperature around -5 degrees and no issue.. here in Melbourne, have been using the same camera during winter too.. well, not as cold as -10 degrees, but below 10 degrees and no issue too.. but yeah, the battery do die faster in cold weather, so good to bring extra or charger... can charge in hotel maybe, if you got the correct adaptor

K S Kong · 27th November 2008

I have been to NZ 6 times, including winter time to Mt Cook. Actually the temperature is not too cold about 5ºC at night (South Island). My Nikon fr D100, D200 to D3 and the battery all operates normally, so long as charge the battery every night (Winter time About 4.30pm the day was dark, so you got the long night to charge you battery). More importantly do not let the lens gate mist...

Enjoy.

You certainly like there..., next year May I will go again.

Dfive · 27th November 2008

Dont worry too much but your top LCD may pack up before your Batt.... will come back to normal again. Batt's are lithium so should be good at these temps.

I've shot at -30 to -40 in the Himalayas 4 times now with no probs... YET!!

Don't breath on your lenses (glass) , use some form of glove (never touch bare metal with exposed skin) , carry two Batt (one in Cam one in chest pocket ) and you'll come home with stunning shots.... ENJOY.

27th November 2008	#1
camerahead New Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 11	D700 and lenses in winter Hi, I was wondering if anyone has experience with their Nikon SLRs and lenses in cold, snowy climates. I will be going to New Zealand next year and was hoping to use my gear in for landscape photography. I have a D700 and a few prime and zoom lenses. Temperatures are likely to be -10 to -20 degress celsius. I know that the batteries die really fast in the cold so I'll be bringing spares and keeping them in a warm place. Does the camera die in extreme cold? I was also worried that the lubricants in the lenses also freeze up and the lenses also die! I can't imagine lugging all my stuff there just to find all my equipment dead in the cold... Really appreciate any advice you may have. Terence

27th November 2008	#2
blue_quartz Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bukit Timah Posts: 299	Re: D700 and lenses in winter This was asked before by lots of people, including myself. Generally nope, wouldn't die that fast... I going Sweden early next year, will be even colder I guess! Will report my findings then, haha! __________________ ___BLUE_QUARTZ___ My Flickr photostream! \| Ricoh GX100 \| Nikon D90 + 18-105 + 85/1.8

27th November 2008	#3
camerahead New Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 11	Re: D700 and lenses in winter Hi BQ, thanks for the quick reply. I did a quick search on the archive and found the discussion about 2 weeks ago very useful indeed! Thanks for your advice and have a good trip to Sweden!

27th November 2008	#4
pisduck Deregistered Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 367	Re: D700 and lenses in winter -10 to -20??? are u worried about yourself rather than the camera? kind of curious, have u thought about what sort of gloves you will be wearing or do u shoot at -20 bare hands? I am sure people in Norway and Sweden take pictures all the time so most modern DSLRs should work at such temperatures.

27th November 2008	#5
ernest_ted Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Jurong Lake District - West Posts: 893	Re: D700 and lenses in winter just made sure u have a spare batt and keep it warm in pocket. batt drains faster in cold weather. Below is an article in Nikon club. Battery Life in Cold Weather Author: kkcharles82 Ever heard of the saying that cold weather affects battery life. This is not a myth but a fact due to the slowing of chemical reactions in our portable chemical based power sources (i.e. batteries) in cold climate or weather. In the cold, you can expect your battery life to be cut as much as in half. The worst case is your battery will "drain" as it becomes colder with time without you even using it. What can you do about it? The solution is to have multiple batteries, or at least 2. Keep unused batteries close to your body, or within thermal clothing to keep them relatively warm. Once you take one out, it's temperature starts to drop, so does the capacity start to "reduce" as the chemical reactions slows down. When the battery is "depleted" simply swap in another warm battery and start to shoot. The return the cold battery into your jacket or pants pocket to warm up. Soon you will find that the capacity of the cold battery starts returning as it warms up. Hence, simply following the steps as below, 1) Keep unused batteries near your body 2) Use one battery at a time 3) Swap the battery when it becomes too cold, or it becomes "depleted" due to cold Warning! DO NOT keep batteries with hand warmers as they can become unacceptably warm and damage them. Some hand warmers have been known to go as high as 40 degrees celcius or higher, that will

27th November 2008	#7
K S Kong Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 101	Re: D700 and lenses in winter I have been to NZ 6 times, including winter time to Mt Cook. Actually the temperature is not too cold about 5ºC at night (South Island). My Nikon fr D100, D200 to D3 and the battery all operates normally, so long as charge the battery every night (Winter time About 4.30pm the day was dark, so you got the long night to charge you battery). More importantly do not let the lens gate mist... Enjoy. You certainly like there..., next year May I will go again.

27th November 2008	#8
Dfive Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 57	Re: D700 and lenses in winter Dont worry too much but your top LCD may pack up before your Batt.... will come back to normal again. Batt's are lithium so should be good at these temps. I've shot at -30 to -40 in the Himalayas 4 times now with no probs... YET!! Don't breath on your lenses (glass) , use some form of glove (never touch bare metal with exposed skin) , carry two Batt (one in Cam one in chest pocket ) and you'll come home with stunning shots.... ENJOY.