I searched UHH unsuccessfully for "freeze" or "freezing" before posting this question.

I consider myself to be a street photographer and never leave home without a camera. Camera portability and image quality are most important to me. In the days of film, I had multiple bodies and lenses and even a Rolleiflex, but moved past that decades ago. My largest body is the T2i and I use that only to photograph high school reunions. Otherwise, my daily carries are either the Canon S95 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100.

Although I'm very cavalier about using medicines or food way beyond their expiration dates (unless they fail the nose test), I'm reluctant to carry a camera when the mercury tumbles below the manufacturers' recommendations about minimum ambient usage temperatures. I don't know what damage or failure-to-operate situations would/could happen and whether any resulting damage might be permanent.

I've considered buying a "tough" camera that might be useful down to 14°F, but think that those pictures might be less than satisfactory. Furthermore, it gets colder than 14°F in Philadelphia, although some of you might laugh at such relatively mild conditions.

So, my question is how do others take pictures in frigid conditions and are my fears of camera damage valid?

Thank you.
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I searched UHH unsuccessfully for "freeze" or "freezing" before posting this question.

I consider myself to be a street photographer and never leave home without a camera. Camera portability and image quality are most important to me. In the days of film, I had multiple bodies and lenses and even a Rolleiflex, but moved past that decades ago. My largest body is the T2i and I use that only to photograph high school reunions. Otherwise, my daily carries are either the Canon S95 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100.

Although I'm very cavalier about using medicines or food way beyond their expiration dates (unless they fail the nose test), I'm reluctant to carry a camera when the mercury tumbles below the manufacturers' recommendations about minimum ambient usage temperatures. I don't know what damage or failure-to-operate situations would/could happen and whether any resulting damage might be permanent.

I've considered buying a "tough" camera that might be useful down to 14°F, but think that those pictures might be less than satisfactory. Furthermore, it gets colder than 14°F in Philadelphia, although some of you might laugh at such relatively mild conditions.

So, my question is how do others take pictures in frigid conditions and are my fears of camera damage valid?

Thank you.

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