Protecting camera in cold weather

K!LL!@N

Thanks for all the earlier help when I was looking for advice on choosing a camera.
We went with the D40.
Got a great deal on the two lens kit, got a free photo printer, free lessons, free dvds and a $50 gift card to the place we bought it.

Anyway, we're heading to the Nebraska and Iowa for Christmas and it's going to be really cold there.
I checked the temps today and it was -5C(windchill making it feel like -11C).
I'd heard that you can get condensation in the lenses and the camera body when you go from cold to hot etc.
What can I do to prevent this?
What precautions should I be taking?

Cheers,

Killian

Zzippy

Some good tips here

http://www.ritzcamera.com/static/articles/tips/winter-photo.html

Borderfox

If you are going indoors leave the camera indoors for a while to let it come up to room temp also do the same when going outside. Take the battery out and stick it in your pocket when you arent using the camera.

trooney

Keep in mind, apart from the condensation created with a temp differential, that electronic gadgetry doesn't really like the cold too much. Your batteries won't last anywhere near as long as you'd expect and your camera (or other gadgets) may possibly start giving system errors and suchlike. Nothing permanent. Will just happen while the temps are not beau! Best workaround is to have a slightly more mechanical back-up, if possible. Or a small p&s. One that can be kept next to your body to keep it a little warmer.

Thirdfox

Last year I went to Harbin in China for the ice festival (minus 15-25 degrees) with my D40. No problems at all... Just remember when moving from somewhere very cold to one that is very hot to keep the camera in a bag (plastic ziplock one preferably) for a few minutes and let the temperature slowly stabilise. Sudden temperature changes could result in moisture forming in your camera.

Batteries supposedly don't last as long but I still got 400-500 shots no problem (and I'm in colder weather than you!)

Finally, bring a blower!!! If you get snow on the camera just use it to blow it off...if the snow melts and water leaks into the body

Enjoy your holiday! I'm in Tunisia enjoying the sun right now

Stephen

Just chiming in to say I had no problems whatsoever using my D50 in temperatures of about -10 in New York in February. I was there when they had a freak blizzard that pretty much shut down the airport :eek:
That said I was using it pretty much only outdoors so it wouldn't have had any sudden temperature changes to deal with.