Smokey66 Loc: Hanover, ON, CA

I'm aware of the need to bag ones camera and acclimatize the camera when returning indoors from the cold outdoors, but what precautions should I take when taking my camera gear from a warm house to a very cold outdoors?

ricardo7 Loc: Washington, DC - Santiago, Chile

The same thing, just the other way around.

fuminous Loc: Luling, LA... for now...

I don't recall any camera problems going from warm to cold during my years in Alaska (-70 has its own problem without temperature changes- espescailly with film) However "very cold" is a relative term. When there's no open water, there isn't any moisture to cause mischief. On the other hand, when temperature is near or below freezing, snow or blown ice may melt on your camera to re-freeze. In that circumstance, keep it covered in a bag- don't stick it under your coat- lots of moisture under there and you'll soon have an iced up- or at least wet, camera. Granted, I'm referring to extreme conditions- but that's my experience.

Smokey66 Loc: Hanover, ON, CA

So take camera gear, bagged, outdoors and let acclimatize about an hour before taking any pics? I presume I should remove battery and memory cards beforehand?

fuminous Loc: Luling, LA... for now...

I've never removed batteries or cards- again, my experience has been in "dry cold" environments. Does anyone wearing glasses, hearing aids, or carrying a cell phone, take such precautions? Going cold to warm is an entirely different kettle of fish- we all agree- but there's no condensation on an object warmer than its surroundings. As far as batteries and cards go, the camera itself acts a a heat sink/insulator to slow down the temperature change on internal parts/pieces.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Key words: "dry cold." Otherwise,remove cards,batteries and "bag" and acclimate according to several sources that I've seen.

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

No point to doing that. It is not the same as going from a cold environment to a warm environment.

The problem with a transition into warm air is the warm air can hold more moisture than cold air, so if the camera is cold and warm air comes into contact with it the air is cooled and can no longer hold the moisture. It condenses, right on the camera. Cold air is also more dense and if circulation is possible the entire room full of moist air can potentially condense onto the camera!

A warm camera exposed to cold air just gets cold. It is true that the warm air inside the camera may have moisture in it, and as it cools there may be some condensation on the internal parts of the camera. But there is a relatively small amount of air, and therefore a small amount of moisture too. And there really is not much you can do about it anyway! (For long term storage in a moist environment, do seal the camera and have a desiccant in the container. That will prevent the air inside the camera from slowly becoming as moist as the environment.)

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

For moving from warm to cold??? It just isn't necessary except when the items will be allowed to get cold and then be returned to a warm environment. The precautions are for the cold to warm transition, not the other way around.

Also there is no point in removing cards and batteries or other accessories unless they are needed for some other reason.

For example, it is often said that cameras should be put into ZipLoc seal bags before bringing them inside from the cold. Bad idea! You can't open the bag and get at the card or battery without letting all kinds of warm moist air into the bag. So until the whole camera gets warm the card and battery are not available.

The best way is to use a kitchen size plastic trash bag to hold the camera. There's no problem with reaching an arm down into the bag to get at things, and it won't allow warm air to contact the camera. The card or battery can easily be removed (and warmed up separately if need be).

Also, note that "dry cold" is redundant! Cold air cannot hold as much moisture as warm air...

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

When I got out in the cold,at some point I return to warmth. True enough,my glasses don't fog up going out,but they surely do when I come back in!

Warm internal parts can certainly provide at least minute amounts of moisture when cooled to significantly lower temperatures.

I put my camera in a cooler area,unheated porch,before and after going into much cooler outside areas. If I couldn't do this,I would go with the group that removes and bags. Could be overkill,but I'll err on the side of caution. :) By the way,dry cold is not redundant. In New England,even when it's cold,we very often have some humidity,just less than normal. Obviously the colder,the less the humidity.

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Not just overkill, a total waste of time! Really. It has no benefit as you go from warm to cold.

That is similar to advice to slowly warm up the camera. Taking all day to cool it off or all day to warm it up makes no difference at all.

The only thing that counts is if warm air is cooled to below the Dew Point, which causes condensation. No moisture? No warm air? Then no condensation. And if you have moist warm air the only help is to keep it from contact with a cold camera while it warms.


And therefore obviously the redundancy. The colder the air the less moisture, the dryer it is.

Interestingly warm the air does not equate necessarily to wetter. It can potentially hold more moisture but absent adding water it will remain dry. That can be significant for cameras too. The air inside a camera is not necessarily moist. Another time when that is important is if we put a cold camera into a warm car or truck. The air in the vehicle is heated outside air, and cannot have significant moisture unless it is otherwise added. That happens if, for example, people who are sweating or breathing hard from skiing or some other exercise get into the car. Watch the windows... if they are fogging up, the camera will too.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

I go out many mornings when it is -5 or so F. No problem with the camera, although if I notice the battery meter getting too low I will stick the battery in my pocket and put a warm one in the camera. My biggest temperature related problem is my finger tips! Before I go back in the house I just stick everything back in my camera bag and leave it closed till it warms up.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

How lucky we are to have an expert who can explain everything to us unknowing and time wasting people. Thank you for your share.

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

Considering Ap lives in Barrow, Ak. you can bet your sweet bippy he knows cold and cameras.

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

I just go out with my gear. Coming back in the camera goes into a baggy and in a duffle bag before it goes in.:)
Erv

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

While the coldest for me is usually about zero, my backpack seems prevent any issues.