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Hi everyone
I need some advice on shooting in cold and hot conditions

If i were to use my camera(D2X) in a snowy wintery environmrnt for a long period of time and happen to walk inside a heated room like a cafe or store, does condensation form inside the camera, how can i avoid this?

If I am in a heated room and go into the cold does condensation form,if so how can i avoid this or take steps minimize condensation

thankyou in advance

wendellt wrote:Hi everyone
I need some advice on shotoing in boring conditions

If i were to use my camera(D2X) in a snowy wintery environmrnt for a long period of time and happen to walk inside a heated room like a cafe or store, does condensation form inside the camera, how can i avoid this?

If I am in a heated room and go into the cold does condensation form,if so how can i avoid this or take steps minimize condensation

thankyou in advance

Do as you did when you changed lens at the mini meet which msot members seen!
Get or design a fur leather jacket for it when you're out the cold.

let the gear reach the ambient temperature before taking cap off...

do not do what I did with my P&S in canada and walk into a bakery from -10 outside and take the cap off...

With temperature extremes the advice is : slowly....

I have had the d70 down to -7 and had no problems.... but I am always very carefull bringing it inside...

MHD wrote:let the gear reach the ambient temperature before taking cap off...

do not do what I did with my P&S in canada and walk into a bakery from -10 outside and take the cap off...

With temperature extremes the advice is : slowly....

I have had the d70 down to -7 and had no problems.... but I am always very carefull bringing it inside...

i heard form someone if your out in the snow wrap your camera up in a towel then enter a warm room then place camera back in bag

i don't know if this is sound advice, did it in tasmania still got condensation inside my kit lens

I need my camera to last for more than a month in these wintery conditions and I wil lbe going in warm places and outside int he cold many many times.

going from outside to inside I left my cam in the bag (air outside at those temps is VERY dry..) (Nova II AW) and I had no probs... the bags offer enough insulation that temperature changes are slow...

the problem will occur when a cold cam comes in conatct with warm wet air... as the ability of air to hold water depends on temperature... so when the warm air is cooled by cam surfaces... well you know...

As for what elements get condensation... well that depends on the environmental sealing of the lens and the seals on the cam...

so with d2x + decent glass you should only get condensiation in the front element so no big deal...

Where you going??

Wendell,

Be patient and allow the gear to acclimatise as has been suggested.

Furthermore, I have no real idea of what damage can be done to the sensor and the filter in front of it by a build up of condensation so I would err on the side of extreme caution.

If it gets really, really cold and your nose runs don't snot into the open camera lens mount.

Sheetshooter wrote:
If it gets really, really cold and your nose runs don't snot into the open camera lens mount.

I have similar trouble when i visit the tropics.

The relative humidity will be a major factor in how much condensation you will get. High humidity will be potentially hazardous to your camera.

You will just have to be patient when transitting between climes.

Wendell I read somewhere that when in cold climates as rest have mentioned acclimatisation is the key. One guy shot landscapes in Canada said he used an eskyleft outside on porch open. When he came into the cabin he would place camera in esky close lid and bring inside with him and place in coldest part of cabin that is not near any heating. Then next day he would take esky outside for awhile, again acclimatise and remove camera and start shooting. Seems like a lot of trouble but hell what's the price of keeping condensation out of lens
cheers
marco

Pack or hire yourself a transportable temperature control van or trailer.

MHD wrote:going from outside to inside I left my cam in the bag (air outside at those temps is VERY dry..) (Nova II AW) and I had no probs... the bags offer enough insulation that temperature changes are slow...

the problem will occur when a cold cam comes in conatct with warm wet air... as the ability of air to hold water depends on temperature... so when the warm air is cooled by cam surfaces... well you know...

As for what elements get condensation... well that depends on the environmental sealing of the lens and the seals on the cam...

so with d2x + decent glass you should only get condensiation in the front element so no big deal...

Where you going??

hi Scott

got a problem then leavign for paris tonight, it wil be winter there plan to shoot as much as i can in and out, I did not get my 28-70 f2.8 so I wil lbe using the 12-24DX it has no environmental sealing, so i am screwed
the only other lens that has a rubber ring on the mount point is the 70-200 VR and I plan not to use a wider angle lens more

do you think i can sticky tape seal the 12-24DX on tot he D2X?

thanks for the advice

Who told you that?
Is the kit lens 18-70 with "environmental sealing" ?

Wendell - just remember that the lenses we use in Australia are sold world wide so this business about environmental seals is absolute rubbish.

Take some Zoloft and enjoy your holiday - everyone else manages to take pics (even those in Wales )

sirhc55 wrote:Wendell - just remember that the lenses we use in Australia are sold world wide so this business about environmental seals is absolute rubbish.

Take some Zoloft and enjoy your holiday - everyone else manages to take pics (even those in Wales )

No, not true! the lenses and cameras in North America and Eastern Europe are special made for the regions
eBay here all and buy new local gears overthere!

Sorry Birdie - I totally forgot about the specialised regions lens specifications - I remember now, all of the serial numbers start with ”W”

sirhc55 wrote:Sorry Birdie - I totally forgot about the specialised regions lens specifications - I remember now, all of the serial numbers start with ”W”

this is complex

well i plan to do my body of work, if by the end of the trip the D2X dies from condensation but i get my treasured pics that's a fair tradeoff for failing to plan. Images are more important to me than the health of gear i can always buy another cam but not experience.

Marco I will try the eski thing I may look like a twat in Paris carrying around an eski but hey i'm a outsider anyway, I might as well look the part

and Birdy i may buy a 28-70 f2.8 in France

I think using the sticky might cause more damage than the condensation...

Nah, I would just be carefull going from out to indoors...

both the /2.8 lenses you ahve there are IF so there should be very little air transfer... just throw them in your bag and zip it up when going indoors and you should be fine... unless you are going into a sauna or something like that...

wendellt wrote:and Birdy i may buy a 28-70 f2.8 in France

Yes, good luck and provided that you'll be ready with double the price you're paying here!
Photographics gears are "cheap not" in Paris.

and paris is not that cold...

the d2x will NOT die from condensation... moisture needs to get past the f-mount, then the mirror if it is to settle on the CCD... I would not be overly worried....

MHD wrote:and paris is not that cold...

the d2x will NOT die from condensation... moisture needs to get past the f-mount, then the mirror if it is to settle on the CCD... I would not be overly worried....

moisture is anywhere in the air, just low or high and all the lenses & cameras are never fully sealed, coz it required air to zoom even with IF lens.

Wendell - I have been from the tropics to below zero with my D1 and never had a problem. My advice - switch off the brain and take pics

sirhc55 wrote:Wendell - I have been from the tropics to below zero with my D1 and never had a problem. My advice - switch off the brain and take pics

Or ask Hilop, he also from Siberia, he can tell more with his experience.

Wendell,

another option that I have read about is to use a large Ziplock bag. Before you go inside, put the camera/lens in the ziplock, seal it trying to remove as much air as possible. When inside, leave your camera in the bag to get to room temperature.

The clincher here is to find one big enough for the D2X and lens

At least with this option, you don't have the esky to carry around

Bon voyage,

Andre

radar wrote:another option that I have read about is to use a large Ziplock bag. Before you go inside, put the camera/lens in the ziplock, seal it trying to remove as much air as possible. When inside, leave your camera in the bag to get to room temperature.

Yep.
A trap for young players though: don't put the wrapped camera deep within your camera bag if you're then going to use the camera inside. The camera bag is often a fairly good insulator, and you might find after a couple of hours inside that if you take the camera out it's still cold, and if you unseal the plastic wrapper you'll suddenly get condensation...

The clincher here is to find one big enough for the D2X and lens

Possibly more than one: they get worn out after a while. Even just a tied-off garbage bag can suffice.

Wendell, just forgitaboutit. You'll obsess too much over your gear and not enjoy using it. The D2X was designed to endure at least some rough treatment. You can be assured there are many people worldwide whom have demanded more from their gear than transitions from hot to cold temps and/or high to low humidity.

When I first got my D70, 3 weeks past before I obtained a bag for it. During which I used it everyday in the tropics, and it was the monsoon season so every afternoon it was pouring down and I don't believe in raincoats for myself, let alone my camera. If my D70 with none of the environmental sealing and greater build of the D2X can survive my treatment, the D2X can survive yours...

Worse case scenario - join me on the Canon side. The grass is greener.

Worse case scenario - join me on the Canon side. The grass is greener. Wink

Having a problem with your colour reproduction Chi?

Wendell
I have experianced sever condensation and it's not pretty. It makes your camera unusable for about 90 minutes because the viewfinder is totally fogged up. RADAR gave the best advice. Before going into a warm building from a severly cold environment....place the camera into a plastic bag...ziplock is best. have dessicated silicon inside plastic bag. expell as much air as possible from the bag before sealing it up. The condensation will now form on the outside of the bag and after about 15 minutes you can start using the camera again.

Bon Voyage!

great idea!

Wendell, I would agree with Andre and Matt with the bag. Also I would wear a big jacket and keep the D2X inside it next to your heart on the left side. That way it is readily accessible with your right hand, plus will protect your heart if any rioting breaks out. The temperatue difference will not be so great when entering Cafe's etc, so less likely to suffer condensation.





ps the above method is not guaranteed if you decide to take a dip in the Seine

Nikons have been known to deflect the odd bullet or two.

Glen wrote:Wendell, I would agree with Andre and Matt with the bag. Also I would wear a big jacket and keep the D2X inside it next to your heart on the left side. That way it is readily accessible with your right hand, plus will protect your heart if any rioting breaks out. The temperatue difference will not be so great when entering Cafe's etc, so less likely to suffer condensation.





ps the above method is not guaranteed if you decide to take a dip in the Seine

Glen sound advice

Chi monsoon weather and snow are two different things, I am sure i will get condensation on the camera i did in Tas and it wasn't even that cold there.

mattk regarding zip lock bag does it have to be an airtight zip lock or just a loose zip bag, i have heard of cmaera lens change bags they the same thing?

thanks for the advice everyone, it's all floating around myhead
Merry Christmas and Happy new year all!
see you in 2006!

Au revoir.

wendellt wrote: Merry Christmas and Happy new year all!
see you in 2006!

Au revoir.

We will move in the New Year as said before

Birddog114 wrote:

wendellt wrote: Merry Christmas and Happy new year all!
see you in 2006!

Au revoir.

We will move in the New Year as said before

and what about my floating funds?

Happy New Year Birddog it was nice while it lasted.

wendellt wrote:
and what about my floating funds?

Had I said this in my emails to you! can you read them in English? or you're learning French and forget the English by now!

Wendell, Glad zip slide bags from Woolworths, about $2. I have a pack here called Glad Zip Slide reclosable storage bags Large 30cm X 30cm. 8 in the pack.

Glen wrote:Wendell, Glad zip slide bags from Woolworths, about $2. I have a pack here called Glad Zip Slide reclosable storage bags Large 30cm X 30cm. 8 in the pack.

No Glen, a body bag will help!

I've walked from plenty a cold mountain into a warm cafe/whatever, and never seen any ill effect. I think that the condensation generally just goes away. You don't want it to get at the electronics, but that didn't ever affect my camera (and I saw lots of condensation in it.)

I heard that you can put it in a plastic bag until it aclimates though.

You don't really have to worry about warm to cold though, as cold air doesn't hold as much moisture.

I was in Sweden earlier this year, where -8 and -10 was not uncommon.

My process was if I was going from outdoors to heated, moist, indoors, I would plastic bag wrap (and seal with zipties) the camera and lenses in my camera bag; which would force condensation to form outside on the bag as that is the hot/cold interface.

One point - take your CF cards out before plastic bagging, otherwise you wait very long time to download them if you are coming into your hotel

Further, I should clarify that the concern about condensation is when you go to a warmer, more humid environment.

The same rule applies going from a cool low humidity area to a hot humid environment - eg walking from an a/c hotel to the outdoors in the tropics - condensation will form at the interface of cold things and warm air - ie your camera and lenses.

DionM wrote:
One point - take your CF cards out before plastic bagging, otherwise you wait very long time to download them if you are coming into your hotel

Good point DionM. BTW, he's not in this island by the time he reads this, he's learning his ways now and tags along with the Parisienne

Birddog114 wrote:Good point DionM. BTW, he's not in this island by the time he reads this, he's learning his ways now and tags along with the Parisienne

Oh well

Good excuse to buy WiFi module

Wendell,

I haven't had any condensation problems yet in the UK, so don't worry about it too much... You're just as likely to have a problem when going from an air conditioned room in Sydney to the humidity outside...

The viewfinder occasionally fogs up, but a few flaps of the hand usually sorts that out...

Wendell, I was near La Rochelle for Christmas last year, and then in England for the New Year. Overnight temperatures were in the low minus temps, with days temps being low around 0-10deg but sunny. I didn't really have much trouble from what I could tell with condensation, but then again my sisters place was an iceblock during the day. We only put the fire on at night and I was the one who used to start it so it wasn't on when I left out to take the photos.

When I brought the camera into the house I never really took it to the hottest part of the house and just put it down to adjust to the temperature. There were quite a few days that it was icey cold outside aswell. I've heard using a plastic bag when going in and out of the house does the trick. Anybody else used this method?


If you go out at night when it's cold and return to a warm house/hotel room be careful though. That might be a problem...not sure.