Hand warmers in camera bag (Page 3): Hopefully I won't go into panic mode this winter as I did last year, and will just wait for the batteries to warm up. Thanks for sharing your...

Xmsmn Loc: Minnesota

gwong1 wrote:

Xmsmn, I was shooting Snowy Owls last January in Upper Michigan. ... Yes it was very cold (I live in Florida) and we used minimal heat in the car we were traveling in. Hoping this helps. Gary

Hopefully I won't go into panic mode this winter as I did last year, and will just wait for the batteries to warm up. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Mark

Xmsmn Loc: Minnesota

tcthome wrote:

I turn off or down the car heat & open the windows when I get near the spot I know to be photographed or there might be some animals around so the temp & humidity difference is narrower.

And since my wife says I always have the car too warm, that should be an easy sell! Thanks for the idea.
Mark

Xmsmn Loc: Minnesota

Arca wrote:

XMSMN br br I wonder if you could try using batte... (show quote)

My experience with electric socks, although a while ago, was that they were HOT or NOT. But it is something to consider. Thanks for the idea.
Mark

Xmsmn Loc: Minnesota

Pix59 wrote:

Wouldn’t the hand warmer in the camera bag make your lens fog up, when you first bring it out?

As I've heard it said about places like Arizona, it's a "dry heat" so it's not so bad (yeah, right). I guess I won't know until I've tried it. Thanks for thinking about that.
Mark

Xmsmn Loc: Minnesota

John_F wrote:

I would suspect that much of camera malfunction in the cold might be from condensation freezing. Inside where it is warm it is a bit humid and that means water that will freeze. Start collecting those those packets of desiccants, dry them and store in sealed plastic bag. Put your camera in the bag overnight or more. Thrn put the whole affair into your camera bag. There are fancier ways to do the equivalent of my idea.

I've already been collecting them and keep them in a ziplock in my camera bag. I'm not sure one can restore those little disposable packs as well as those designed for restoring. Seems like everything from just seting them on a heater vent, to baking them in the over, has been suggested in a Google search. Maybe I'll just have to keep buying new stuff to collect more.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Mark

Xmsmn Loc: Minnesota

RiJoRi wrote:

Did A. A. even _need_ batteries for his large-format camera?? :D

:-)

Jack 13088 Loc: Central NY

CHG_CANON wrote:

Did Ansel Adams use hand warmers?

I think he used a hot water bottle to keep his batteries warm.

Harry0 Loc: Gardena, Cal

Xmsmn wrote:

Is there any value in using disposable hand warmer... (show quote)

I keep the batteries in an inside pocket. Along with my flask of tea, honey and lemon.
Went to Crater Lake @ this time of year, and always had good batteries and a warm drink.
Got in trouble, tho.
Sis-in-law questioned me about those handwarmers-
I had them in my hoody's side pockets under the leather over coat.
I mentioned "core" heat- if my mass centers are warm, it helps keep my extremities comfy.
She asked me about her choices. I suggested her rear jeans pockets.
She's still kinda upset.

Xmsmn Loc: Minnesota

Harry0 wrote:

I keep the batteries in an inside pocket. Along with my flask of tea, honey and lemon.
Went to Crater Lake @ this time of year, and always had good batteries and a warm drink.
She asked me about her choices. I suggested her rear jeans pockets.
She's still kinda upset.

Living in the infamous undisclosed location now?
Much as I like the idea of a warm drink with me to keep me and the batteries warm, I’d probably spend more time draining the tea than I would taking photos. A bodywarmer patch would probably be better for me. Thanks for your comments.
Mark

Xmsmn Loc: Minnesota

Xmsmn wrote:

Is there any value in using disposable hand warmers in your camera bag to slow the battery drain or to protect camera and/or lenses during cold weather? .

So with all the input I’ve received (thanks again to all), here’s my design until I need a bigger camera bag or until I learn that this just foolish. Using ziplock snack-size bags, double-sided tape and 2 handwarmers, I’ve created a handwarmer “sandwich” for my bag. Ziplock taped to the bottom with heater in it, same for the foldover top of the bag. When I head out in the coldest weather, I’ll activate the warmers and put 1 in each ziplock leaving the ziplocks mostly unsealed to allow for air to keep them working. 1 battery in the camera, spares in my shirt pocket. See picture, go ahead and laugh, Covid made me do it. And yes, I’ll bag the camera when I take it in. Will post followup in Spring unless Covid gets me first.

Camera bag with ziplocks taped in place.

steve33 Loc: Yarmouth MA

Xmsmn wrote:

So with all the input I’ve received (thanks again ... (show quote)

The habdwarmers that I have used need oxygen to work. The zip loks might prevent them from warming

Xmsmn Loc: Minnesota

steve33 wrote:

The habdwarmers that I have used need oxygen to work. The zip loks might prevent them from warming

Same here, was planning on leaving ziplocks unzipped once the warmers are activated. Likely the bottom one will be oxygen-starved but for 75 cents in the cost of the supplies, heck why not try?

tims.ak Loc: Butte, Alaska

Xmsmn wrote:

I've already been collecting them and keep them in a ziplock in my camera bag. I'm not sure one can restore those little disposable packs as well as those designed for restoring. Seems like everything from just seting them on a heater vent, to baking them in the over, has been suggested in a Google search. Maybe I'll just have to keep buying new stuff to collect more.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Mark

Desiccant packs are super cheap and available in endless sizes and shapes. You can reactivate them in the sun. You can get plastic refillable containers and bake the color changing desiccant in the oven to restore it. I like the bead type, if container opens its easy the put back in. They're available and inexpensive on line from endless sources and shapes.

Xmsmn Loc: Minnesota

tims.ak wrote:

Desiccant packs are super cheap and available in endless sizes and shapes. You can reactivate them in the sun. You can get plastic refillable containers and bake the color changing desiccant in the oven to restore it. I like the bead type, if container opens its easy the put back in. They're available and inexpensive on line from endless sources and shapes.

Thanks for sharing your experience with this stuff. Cheap enough to replace often. I bought a pack of 5 a while back but like many things they’re now in such a secure location I can’t find them.