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D90 performance in snow
#1
Hi everyone, I got some concerns on D90 performance in snow condition. I've asked Nikon support about it but they can't help as they don't have any experience with these. So I need so advice, tips and trick from whoever got experience on these situations. Thanks in advance! <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Smile' />



I just recently acquired a Nikon D90, and planning to go to snow mountain for photo shoot. The estimated



temperature would be -5 to -15 degrees. I have never brought DSLR to snow mountain so I got some questions :



1. People says condensation will occur once I change environment from cold (outdoor) to warm (indoor), which

makes the glass in the lens goes foggy. So, to resume shooting I need to wait until the condensation (no fog

or fuzzy lens any more)is over and then I can use it again.



>Will these over and over condensation damage my camera?

>Any ways to prevent this from happening?

>Or this occurences is just normal and once its gone I can resume shooting ?



2. People says Zipped bag will help, is that true ?



Notes: I won't be shooting in harsh condition, I will go out in nice and sunny weather, clear skies <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Smile' />



Thank you so much in advance!



Kind regards,



Hans
#2
[quote name='Hans' date='05 June 2010 - 02:49 AM' timestamp='1275698971' post='229']

Hi everyone, I got some concerns on D90 performance in snow condition. I've asked Nikon support about it but they can't help as they don't have any experience with these. So I need so advice, tips and trick from whoever got experience on these situations. Thanks in advance! <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Smile' />



I just recently acquired a Nikon D90, and planning to go to snow mountain for photo shoot. The estimated



temperature would be -5 to -15 degrees. I have never brought DSLR to snow mountain so I got some questions :



1. People says condensation will occur once I change environment from cold (outdoor) to warm (indoor), which

makes the glass in the lens goes foggy. So, to resume shooting I need to wait until the condensation (no fog

or fuzzy lens any more)is over and then I can use it again.



>Will these over and over condensation damage my camera?

>Any ways to prevent this from happening?

>Or this occurences is just normal and once its gone I can resume shooting ?



2. People says Zipped bag will help, is that true ?



Notes: I won't be shooting in harsh condition, I will go out in nice and sunny weather, clear skies <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Smile' />



Thank you so much in advance!



Kind regards,



Hans

[/quote]



The cold glass will make the water in the air condense onto it. If enough air can get in, this can even happen on the inside surface. This can potentially damage your camera and lenses: imagine what a nice cool drop of water can do to electronics and microgears. The niceness and sunniness of the weather makes no difference, only the difference in temperature and the indoor humidity. Thus the effect will be worse in humid homes, whether due to naturally humid areas (Denmark is more humid in winter than in summer, relatively speaking, while the Mid-West is the opposite) or running a humidifier.



Keeping a reasonably airtight bag around it will let the camera warm up without letting the water in and will protect it from this effect. Just put it on before going indoors. Doesn't need to be a ziplock, just anything sturdy enough to not easily get a hole from handling and jagged corners.
#3
[quote name='Hans' date='05 June 2010 - 01:49 AM' timestamp='1275698971' post='229']

Hi everyone, I got some concerns on D90 performance in snow condition. I've asked Nikon support about it but they can't help as they don't have any experience with these. So I need so advice, tips and trick from whoever got experience on these situations. Thanks in advance! <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Smile' />



I just recently acquired a Nikon D90, and planning to go to snow mountain for photo shoot. The estimated



temperature would be -5 to -15 degrees. I have never brought DSLR to snow mountain so I got some questions :



1. People says condensation will occur once I change environment from cold (outdoor) to warm (indoor), which

makes the glass in the lens goes foggy. So, to resume shooting I need to wait until the condensation (no fog

or fuzzy lens any more)is over and then I can use it again.



>Will these over and over condensation damage my camera?

>Any ways to prevent this from happening?

>Or this occurences is just normal and once its gone I can resume shooting ?



2. People says Zipped bag will help, is that true ?



Notes: I won't be shooting in harsh condition, I will go out in nice and sunny weather, clear skies <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Smile' />



Thank you so much in advance!



Kind regards,



Hans

[/quote]





Dear Hans,



I can confirm that zipped bags do work. As Lars said, doesn't have to be a Ziplock branded bag but be sure it's airtight else its pointless. I found zipped bags large enough to fit my Canon 40D with a 17-55 mounted on.

So, lifespan of your camera with regards to humidity if frequently used in the cold will depend mainly on how your bag performs. I suppose that if you can see that no fog builds up, then your camera is relatively safe and should endure that quite often.



Something else I don't see you mention about shooting in cold condition is battery life. Batteries tend to underperform in cold condition. It's very noticeable so you should make sure you've got several of them and that you keep them stored in a small pouch close to your body. Then you just cycle between "warm batteries".



These were just two basic tips I had experience with but something I don't know is the impact of cold on shutter & mirror box components durability. I suppose -10°c to -15°c is not so extreme?



Greetings,

S.
#4
If you take a cold camera into a warm area, it will fog up. And you'll have to wait. But you can have a plastic bag over it (and suck the air out of it before closing it shut), then take it inside, and the condensation will be on the plastic bag, not the camera.



Leave the camera out in the cold (if you're camping in a tent of course, maybe not if you're in a cabin or house), and only take the battery with you inside, unless you're leaving that too outside. It's not really necessary to make the camera warm and cold all the time if it can be in the cold throughout the trip.



For the cold itself, no worries, I'm sure the camera can handle much lower temperatures than that without a hitch.
#5
[quote name='Alexander (former netrex)' date='05 June 2010 - 04:00 PM' timestamp='1275746418' post='245']

If you take a cold camera into a warm area, it will fog up. And you'll have to wait. But you can have a plastic bag over it (and suck the air out of it before closing it shut), then take it inside, and the condensation will be on the plastic bag, not the camera.



Leave the camera out in the cold (if you're camping in a tent of course, maybe not if you're in a cabin or house), and only take the battery with you inside, unless you're leaving that too outside. It's not really necessary to make the camera warm and cold all the time if it can be in the cold throughout the trip.



For the cold itself, no worries, I'm sure the camera can handle much lower temperatures than that without a hitch.

[/quote]



You don't even need to suck the air out, though it probably doesn't hurt. It's the moisture in the air outside the bag that's a problem.



-Lars
#6
Ahh I see... Thanks a lot guys!



@larsc: Thanks! I can now go buy an airtight bag for my camera <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Smile' />



@Sylvain: Thanks! I'll keep in mind about the battery! <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Big Grin' />



@Alexander: Yeah you're true its not necessary to always bring the camera inside <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Tongue' /> Thanks!



Thanks a bunch guys <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Smile' /> this really helps me hehehe.. Have a good day!
#7
[quote name='larsrc' date='05 June 2010 - 08:22 AM' timestamp='1275718933' post='236']

The cold glass will make the water in the air condense onto it. If enough air can get in, this can even happen on the inside surface. This can potentially damage your camera and lenses: imagine what a nice cool drop of water can do to electronics and microgears. The niceness and sunniness of the weather makes no difference, only the difference in temperature and the indoor humidity. Thus the effect will be worse in humid homes, whether due to naturally humid areas (Denmark is more humid in winter than in summer, relatively speaking, while the Mid-West is the opposite) or running a humidifier.



Keeping a reasonably airtight bag around it will let the camera warm up without letting the water in and will protect it from this effect. Just put it on before going indoors. Doesn't need to be a ziplock, just anything sturdy enough to not easily get a hole from handling and jagged corners.

[/quote]



Theoretically the condensed water should not be so much of a problem as it should be purer than e.g. groundwater that is "polluted" with lime and minerals. Pure water does not conduct electricity. If the water leaves no stains, I think it should not be so much harm, but the camera should better not be turned on while it may be wet.

I've seen a pic once from a D90 that was left outside and was almost completely frozen, but worked nicely again (according to that guy) after the ice has thawed off.
#8
Ahhh i see... but by thawing the ice, wouldn't it change the ice to liquid ? therefore causing a disruption in the electric circuitry ?



One more thing to ask, after I put into the airtight bag (the camera), the condensation will occur outside the bag. After that happens is it all right to take out the camera straight away once I'm inside? or wait awhile till the temperature inside the airtight bag adapt a bit to the warm temperature inside the room?



Thanks in advance!



Regards,



Hans
#9
[quote name='Hans' date='09 June 2010 - 02:26 AM' timestamp='1276046765' post='358']

One more thing to ask, after I put into the airtight bag (the camera), the condensation will occur outside the bag. After that happens is it all right to take out the camera straight away once I'm inside? or wait awhile till the temperature inside the airtight bag adapt a bit to the warm temperature inside the room?[/quote]



You'll have to wait until the camera has warmed up significantly.



-- Markus
Editor
opticallimits.com

  


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