
August 07, 2006
 Do digital cameras work in below-freezing temperatures?
|
Olympus SP-350 (Mark Wiens)
|
Are there any digital cameras that operate normally at temperatures below freezing? Besides just keeping the camera warm next to the body, can you recommend any equipment or techniques for using digitals below freezing?
Hugh
Santa Monica, California
Do you have a question of your own?
|
|
|
 Most digital cameras operate pretty well below freezing. After all, unlike old mechanical cameras that were full of moving parts and needed to be winterized with special oils and other tricks, todays digitals are almost entirely electronic. There are virtually no moving parts, aside from zoom and shutter button, so less to freeze up.
So, the problem is not with the camera. Its with the battery. In cold weather the batterys little electrons start to move every more slowly, eventually grinding to a complete halt if they get cold enough. And when that happens the camera ceases to operate.
That said, Ive used pretty modern cameras (film-based, but with plenty of electronics) down to minus 20 F or so without many problems. The trick, and youre already onto this, is simply to keep the camera as warm as you can. For a compact digital camera, that isnt much of a problem. Theres bound to be a pocket that can hold it, or you can hang it next to your chest in a case with a neck strap and zip a jacket over it. Leave the camera out in the open for 40 to 50 minutes, and, depending on the temperature, it will shut down.
The other thing to do is carry spare batteries and keep the batteries warm. After all, thats really the objective. Keeping batteries in a pocket will keep them at pretty close to body temperature, and theyll work just fine. Then, swap the batteries out of the camera every hour or so. This is easier and more affordable with a camera that uses batteries such as AA size, versus one that uses a proprietary (and, expensive) battery. But for any camera its always possible to buy an extra battery or three.
Youve seen our picks for 2006 Gear of the Year, and now the entire 2006 Outside Buyers Guide is online. Check out this years 400-plus, must-have gear items, including digital cameras.
 |
|
|
 |

GEAR GUY FEATURES
Check out the bio of Douglas Gantenbein, aka the Gear Guy.
Readers' Mailbag: The Gear Guy digs into some of your more bizarre, obscure (and let’s face it, downright weird) posts from years gone by to see if he can make sense of it all, or if it’s just time to run up the white flag. Previous column: Beat the Cost of Gear.
The Gear Guy reports from the 2005 Outdoor Retailer summer trade fair, with his rundown of ten products to watch in 2006, plus the inside scoop on what shook down at the bi-annual gearapalooza.
|
|
 |
|
|
Many of the items reviewed by the Gear Guy can be found at REI.com. Click here to find the internet's biggest selection of outdoor gear and apparel.
|