Antarctica?
Sep 16, 2018 21:10:30 #
orchidalan
Loc: Arroyo Grande, CA
In November I am going to go to the Antarctic. Can anyone tell me if I will have a problem with my lenses clouding up do to temperature change when going from inside to outside (where temperature could be still below 0). If there will be a problem can you give some suggestions to help. Seems like when I went to shoot the Northern Lights I had a little problem but a ziploc bag help to be an insulation help. I will be useing a Canon 77D with a Sigma 150-600mm lens and a Canon 18-200mm.
Thanks
Thanks
Sep 16, 2018 21:27:25 #
orchidalan wrote:
In November I am going to go to the Antarctic. Ca... (show quote)
The problem comes when you take a cold camera into a warmer environment.
A ziplock bag will work, but is not really the best solution. Best would be to use kitchen size plastic trash bags.
Just place the camera into the bag before entering a warm environment. A single twist, or even merely grasping the top of the bag by hand to carry it will be sufficient. It is best to squeeze all the air out of the bag though, because air is good insulation and will slow down warming the camera up enough that it can be removed from the bag. Just a few degrees above freezing is sufficient.
Sep 16, 2018 21:49:30 #
golfercat
Loc: Southern Calif
orchidalan wrote:
In November I am going to go to the Antarctic. Ca... (show quote)
I suspect you will have difficulty photographing the northern lights from Antarcia since you will be on the southern end of the planet. Just my 2 bits
Sep 16, 2018 21:57:15 #
golfercat wrote:
I suspect you will have difficulty photographing the northern lights from Antarcia since you will be on the southern end of the planet. Just my 2 bits
There was no suggestion about Northern Lights in Antarctica.
However he might just get a chance to photograph Aurora. It certainly does exist at the South Pole, but it is called Aurora Australis as opposed to Aurora Borealis.
Sep 16, 2018 23:02:35 #
orchidalan
Loc: Arroyo Grande, CA
Thanks, I guess I might not have been clear. I had already been up in Alaska to shoot the Northern Lights. This trip will be scenery and wild life.
Sep 16, 2018 23:05:09 #
orchidalan
Loc: Arroyo Grande, CA
Woudn't the air in the bag be a good thing to slow the temperature change slower? Thanks for your suggestions...they are good and welcomed
Sep 17, 2018 00:07:34 #
orchidalan wrote:
Woudn't the air in the bag be a good thing to slow the temperature change slower? Thanks for your suggestions...they are good and welcomed
The speed at which the camera warms up only makes it easier for you, and does not affect the camera at all. The need is to prevent warm moist air from coming into direct contact with a cold camera. If it does the cold camera will cool the air and the moisture will condense as water directly on the camera.
The plastic bag keeps that warm air off the camera, and must continue doing so until the camera gets warm enough. Air in the bag already, from outside, is not moist. It is just as dry as the camera. But it is a good insulator and slows down the warming of the camera.
The camera merely needs to be above the dew point temperature of the warm moist inside air. If there is little or no air in the bag, and if the bag is placed were there is relatively good circulation, it will allow the camera to warm up in a very few minutes. But if the is no air circulation around the outside of the bag (for example if the bag is placed in a box or if it is wrapped with insulation such as a coat or blanket) it might take hours before the camera can be accessed.
Sep 17, 2018 06:20:42 #
Your warm cabin will undoubtedly have very dry air, and so entering it from the outside with your gear will probably not be a problem.
Sep 17, 2018 06:24:34 #
Bri
Loc: NZ
I have never had a problem in Antarctica with the GH3. Even at 77S.
I do leave the camera in the bag for a while(while having a warm drink)when returning indoors.
Have a wonderful time.
I do leave the camera in the bag for a while(while having a warm drink)when returning indoors.
Have a wonderful time.
Sep 17, 2018 07:30:02 #
I went to Antarctica in November of 2016 on a ship from Ushuaia, Argentina. We visited the Peninsula and a couple of the South Shetland Islands. I brought a Canon T4i and an Olympus TG4 and didn't have an issue with the temperatures (and didn't hear about other folks having problems). Of course, November is the beginning of Summer down there and the Peninsula is called the "Banana Belt" of Antarctica. The air temperatures were mostly around freezing, but with wind chill felt a lot colder. It was a fantastic experience and I hope you have as good a time as I did.
Sep 17, 2018 08:32:34 #
Avoid rapid changes in temperature when you come in from going ashore....I just left my camera in an overboard dry bag until everything came to about room temperature. I also found the Ruggard Parka cold and rain protector very helpful when out in the cold weather while on land excursion and while taking photos from the bow of the ship.
Sep 17, 2018 09:03:11 #
orchidalan wrote:
In November I am going to go to the Antarctic. Ca... (show quote)
Listen to Apaflo. He lives about as far north as it gets. He knows how to deal with cold weather better than anyone else on this site.
Sep 17, 2018 09:34:44 #
You will be there in Summer. When I went in February the temps were plus or minus 3 degrees from freezing. I never used any method to mitigate temperature changes with my Nikon gear and never had an issue.
Sep 17, 2018 09:36:40 #
Dikdik
Loc: Winnipeg, Canada
sb wrote:
entering it from the outside with your gear will probably not be a problem.
Condensation is a real problem. The warm air holds much more moisture than the cold air. Try setting a pot in the freezer and bring it into a warm room in the house; you will notice condensation on the pot when you bring it in. Used to do that with my Nikon F2 all the time. It gets cool in Winnipeg in the winter (coldest city of its size in the world, even colder than Moscow).
Dik
Sep 17, 2018 10:03:42 #
I was in Antarctica earlier this year (January). The outside temp was mostly in the 30s. On some days it snowed, some days were cloudy and some days very sunny. Your biggest concern is keeping your camera dry since getting to shore will involve hopping on a zodiac with a lot of splashing. I highly recommend a dry bag! On the sunny days … I suggest you become comfortable adjusting White Balance … it can be VERY bright. Antarctica is a stunning place … you'll love it.
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