georgevedwards Loc: Essex, Maryland.

I was recently reading a article on cold weather photography. I love taking pictures of snow scenes and ice on frozen bodies of water but have found that in subfreezing temperatures the battery on my Nikon D5200 goes dead pretty quick. Once I had checked it when I left home, after arriving on the scene through a steady blast of wind the camera didn't even function on the first shot! Another photographer said you can hold a cold dead batter in your hands to get some life into it...I took it out and held it in a fist in my pocket and lo and behold I got a few shots until it went dead again, but I had to repeat this maneuver about 10 times.
The article said you can get a battery umbilical cord attachment so you can keep the battery warm in a pocket while photographing. I have been unable to find one online. Anyone know anything about this!

TucsonCoyote Loc: Tucson AZ

Yes, seems rather hard to find what you are looking for, for a Nikon!
You could try using the power grip they make, which gives you an added one or two batteries.
If you are crafty it should be easy to build your own remote power pack you talk about.....or pay some young geek to do that for you !

Leitz Loc: Solms

I'm not familiar with the D5200, but if an AC adapter is available for it, you might run the wire to a battery in your pocket.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

The batteries are cheap. When shooting in cold weather simply carry a spare in your pocket to keep it warm and swap them out regularly to keep the cold from sapping all their energy so quickly. I have done exactly this for years!

lorenww Loc: St. Petersburg

http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Nikon-Products/Product/Power-Packs/EP-5A-Power-Supply-Connector.html

With some creative wiring, this will be what you want.
Google for,
EP-5A Power Supply Connector

For better prices.

georgevedwards Loc: Essex, Maryland.

Hmm, that sounds like a good idea...so far no umbilical cord in sight. On second thought part of the problem was having to exchange every few minutes, I know the fully charged battery I had started with went dead in sub-20 degree steady wind while I was setting up my tripod, etc. before I could get a shot off. Makes me wonder how all those snow scenes you see are possible. I had the problem in past but just had not really realized what was happening...I thought maybe it was the camera itself. The suggestion of attaching a battery pack is interesting but the ones I saw by Nikon were a small fortune, and may just turn a little battery problem into a bigger battery problem, it is still exposed to the cold. I think what is really needed besides/plus the umbilical cord is an actual battery warmer for the pocket, after all it was holding it in my hand in my pocket which accelerated the warming process. Meanwhile while my battery was coming alive from hand warmth the rest of my body was dying standing still there in that blast of wind, waiting each time a couple of minutes just to get a few more shots. My nose hurt, my fingers and toes went numb. Right now I am thinking "Never again!" I did catch some colds/flu last year during all that and I was down for months.

georgevedwards Loc: Essex, Maryland.

Yes, I saw that in my search, when I get an AC outlet in my pocket I will be in business! Any suggestions on how to accomplish that? Creative wiring sounds almost good but as far as I can see not workable...am I missing something?

georgevedwards Loc: Essex, Maryland.

Batteries are DC current, AC adaptors are AC current. Direct Current flows in one direction (I think) (Edison invented it and stood by it till his dying day, he electrocuted animals with AC to show its dangers, so people would go with his DC. Our hero.) The solution would be a DC to AC transformer for batteries...ok get out the google...ok I found it! No, that is a creatively wired device that plugs into a cigarette lighter...searching...searching...

georgevedwards Loc: Essex, Maryland.

I am a young geek! No, wait a minute...I am an old geek. Doesn't work.

georgevedwards Loc: Essex, Maryland.

The "umbilical cord" origingally mentioned it the article would have an insert shaped to fit in the space for the battery in the camera, It would be the same shape as the battery...and then an "extension cord' would run externally to another "battery holder" in your pocket with the actual battery in it, sort of like a battery charger where you place the battery. On the other hand, I think even in the article it mentioned something about the problem of getting the wire to run out of an open battery "door" on the camera, awkward at best. Now I am wondering if the camera will function with the battery door hanging open. Right now I feel like I just discovered that "Elephant in the room nobody talks about"

Leitz Loc: Solms

The EP-5A Power Connector IS an insert shaped like the battery, and at least on the Df there is a notch for the cord so the battery door can close.

georgevedwards Loc: Essex, Maryland.

You are right! It is made that way, so the camera door can close...but...connects to an AC adapter. I will buy one and connect it to the AC outlet I have in my pocket...lol

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

Nikon does not have an external battery exactly. What they have is a battery looking object with a tail that goes into the battery compartment and then connects to a transformer for house current. This is the EP5a, EP5b, and EP6 battery adapter all of which plug into the EH5b ac adapter. Nikon recommends, that for cold weather, you carry extra batteries in your inside coat pockets (next to your body) and put them in as needed and remove the one that is in the camera and place it next to the body (human) to warm back up. You can also get the 12 volt to 100 converters (like used to jump start a car with the 110, usb and cigarette (12 volt accessory) outlets and carry it to a blind or other spot to plug into while shooting. I use one of these to recharge my speedlight batteries on location.

Leitz Loc: Solms

So simply wire an appropriate battery for your D5200 to the EP-5A, and keep the battery in your pocket.

ottopj Loc: Annapolis, MD USA

And, keep it with a pocket/hand warmer kept in your pocket.