Do you need full metal barrel?


Because it's NOT THEIR gear. It belongs to the magazine/website/news agency/newspaper they work for.

even so
they are able to abuse their cameras to get the shot for their work

imagine if it's a plastic body
imagine them not getting the shot because they don't want to spoil the company's property and need to baby the gears loaned to him
 

how does plastic compare to mag alloy in extreme temperatures and weather?

I would image that the photographer will get some sort of froze-bite if using metal-built lenses in extremely cold temperature, like in Arctic or antarctic. Need a layer of customised Lens Coat perhaps?
 

I would image that the photographer will get some sort of froze-bite if using metal-built lenses in extremely cold temperature, like in Arctic or antarctic. Need a layer of customised Lens Coat perhaps?
i don't see the logic in your statement. the photographer will get frostbite if he/she doesn't wear gloves or other form of proper hand protection against the cold weather. nothing to do with lens being magnesium or plastic.