cheewai_m6 Posted November 2, 2009 Share #1 Â Posted November 2, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) has anybody used their m9, or m8 for that matter, in extreme conditions? like say below 0 degrees celcius? how did it hold up? it's common for electronics to not work when that cold. i don't expect to have trouble in the heat, but has anyone used the camera in either extreme cold or heat? how did it go? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 2, 2009 Posted November 2, 2009 Hi cheewai_m6, Take a look here m9 in extreme conditions. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
reven Posted November 2, 2009 Share #2 Â Posted November 2, 2009 I have used my M8 while skiing with temps around 0 to -15. Nothing special everything works as it should. Just the batteries drains faster as one can aspect. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
xrogers Posted November 2, 2009 Share #3 Â Posted November 2, 2009 I've used the M8 quite a bit in sub-zero Celsius, and have had no problems at all. I've also used it several times in sub-zero Fahrenheit without issues. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Fines Posted November 2, 2009 Share #4 Â Posted November 2, 2009 has anybody used their m9, or m8 for that matter, in extreme conditions? like say below 0 degrees celcius? how did it hold up? it's common for electronics to not work when that cold. i don't expect to have trouble in the heat, but has anyone used the camera in either extreme cold or heat? how did it go? Â In general all electronics, save batteries, work better when cold. Â Just keep the batteries near your body, and bring extras as needed. Â When going inside put the camera and lenses in an airtight plastic bag and let them come to room temp before opening the bag. This will prevent condensation - which can actually do some harm, or at least fog up your lenses which is a pain. Â The M9 hasn't been out long enough to have experienced much cold here in Minnesota, but it will in a few months, and I'm sure it will hold up just as all the other cameras I've had out in -30F will - quite well as long as you do the above steps. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bentham Posted November 2, 2009 Share #5 Â Posted November 2, 2009 I have had trouble with my M8 in cold weather at about 0 deg C. It appeared to have difficulty rewinding the shutter and it used to whirr away for several seconds, sometimes locking up the electronics although the initial picture was successful. I was prevented from taking subsequent photos. I asked Leica about it and they just pointed out that the operational range is above zero! I have solved the problem by keeping either the battery or the camera under my jacket. Â I await with interest to see how the M9 performs in Antarctica in January! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Digiuser Posted November 2, 2009 Share #6  Posted November 2, 2009 No problem at all.  Have a look here:  http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/menschen/102849-m9-freak.html  M9 as well as Nikon and Canon performed very well Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted November 2, 2009 Share #7 Â Posted November 2, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have had trouble with my M8 in cold weather at about 0 deg C.It appeared to have difficulty rewinding the shutter and it used to whirr away for several seconds, sometimes locking up the electronics although the initial picture was successful. I was prevented from taking subsequent photos. I asked Leica about it and they just pointed out that the operational range is above zero! I have solved the problem by keeping either the battery or the camera under my jacket. Â I await with interest to see how the M9 performs in Antarctica in January! Â This has happened to me too, with a M8. It kept on trying to recock the shutter, but failed. Switching off did not help, I had to do a hard reset to put the thing out of its pain. This was in about --5 C, and the battery was quite low. Now I have a small belt pouch to keep a spare battery in. Â The old man from the Age of Lead-Acid Batteries Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
yanidel Posted November 2, 2009 Share #8  Posted November 2, 2009 This has happened to me too, with a M8. It kept on trying to recock the shutter, but failed. Switching off did not help, I had to do a hard reset to put the thing out of its pain. This was in about --5 C, and the battery was quite low. Now I have a small belt pouch to keep a spare battery in. The old man from the Age of Lead-Acid Batteries Same here, though it usually starts to happen between 0-5 C already. I guess I got more of a Sicily M8 than Helsinki. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnalex141r Posted November 3, 2009 Share #9 Â Posted November 3, 2009 I have had trouble with my M8 in cold weather at about 0 deg C.It appeared to have difficulty rewinding the shutter and it used to whirr away for several seconds, sometimes locking up the electronics although the initial picture was successful. I was prevented from taking subsequent photos. I asked Leica about it and they just pointed out that the operational range is above zero! I have solved the problem by keeping either the battery or the camera under my jacket. Â I await with interest to see how the M9 performs in Antarctica in January! Â I have had that problem, too, and find that film cameras actually work in cold temperatures better than the electronic ones. (my Fujicas and my old Canon F1n would work without batteries) Â I don't know what to do, to tell you the truth. Working the bottom cover with gloves on to remove the battery to keep it warm is just not as much fun as one would expect. Â BTW - the Arctic might be fun, but January is summer, so the temperatures should not be too cold??? (any idea? and, lucky dog!) Â Now that I am 50, and hands appear to be affected more by the cold now than when I was younger, maybe getting only 18 shots before the camera dies is not such a bad thing? Lots of bars and coffee shops to warm up in. :-) Â Â JohnS. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vcdacoach Posted February 11, 2011 Share #10 Â Posted February 11, 2011 Just off to the Ice Hotel, Northern Sweden. -23DegC. Any suggestions? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Fines Posted February 11, 2011 Share #11 Â Posted February 11, 2011 I was out yesterday morning for about 90 minutes at -21 deg F. Â M9 and lens on a strap around my neck. Took about 50 pics. Â I had two extra batteries in an inside pocket, but the first one still showed about 80% when I was done. Â Towards the end the screen worked a little slower, but still worked. I just chimped less. Â Only really important thing in my opinion is to have a big ziploc bag (or other airtight bag) to put the cold camera in before you come inside to avoid condensation. Otherwise the M9 worked just fine. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdh Posted February 11, 2011 Share #12  Posted February 11, 2011 I used my M8 in mainland Antarctica (south) and Svalbard (north) sometimes at -25°C without any problems. Just make sure you have spare batteries as others have pointed out. Speaking of extreme environments, I brought the M8 in the deep French Guiana jungle (100% humidity), in the heat of the Sahara desert, on the ice only environment of the Sor Rondanes, the dry plains of Madagascar etc and never have had a problem. Our M's can be used consistently outside, don't be shy!  BTW it is winter in the Arctic rigth now. Summer in Antarctica... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted February 11, 2011 Share #13 Â Posted February 11, 2011 Hours outside with my M9 around my neck at -16c, hundreds of photographs, left switched on all the time, and with no battery problems and no function problems. In fact I haven't needed the spare battery once during this particularly cold winter. Just make sure its freshly charged. Â Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
markgay Posted February 11, 2011 Share #14  Posted February 11, 2011 http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m9-forum/158212-m9-cold-weather.html  http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m9-forum/139949-m9-cold-weather.html  http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m9-forum/153002-operating-temperature-m9.html  http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/landscape-travel/154706-sooooo-cold.html  http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m9-forum/118788-how-does-m9-behave-25c.html  http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m9-forum/116944-m9-going-into-snowy-mountains.html  http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m9-forum/115461-possible-cold-weather-options-m9-m8.html  http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/114972-m8-sub-zero-temperatures.html Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Washington Posted February 12, 2011 Share #15 Â Posted February 12, 2011 It seems to me that it is best to keep the camera as close to your body as you can. Under insulated outer garments until a photo "appears". Cheers. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted February 12, 2011 Share #16 Â Posted February 12, 2011 It seems to me that it is best to keep the camera as close to your body as you can.Under insulated outer garments until a photo "appears". Cheers. Â A really bad idea, I mean very bad. Â It takes seconds for an M9 to steam up inside, and then hours to clear. Holding it close to a warm body will cause condensation if there is any humidity in the air, or if snow has fallen on it, or even if you breathed on it before putting it under a jacket. Â Â Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mby Posted February 12, 2011 Share #17  Posted February 12, 2011 A really bad idea, I mean very bad. It takes seconds for an M9 to steam up inside, and then hours to clear. Holding it close to a warm body will cause condensation if there is any humidity in the air, or if snow has fallen on it, or even if you breathed on it before putting it under a jacket.   Steve  Fully agree and not only that: It's even worse when you think of the normal amount of sweat permeating easily through the different layers, which will condensate on the camera, as you will have a pretty high vapor pressure underneath a Goretex shell for it to work properly; ever had a cellphone in your innermost pocket while skiing? - Got very, very wet on the side towards the body...  Just my 2 cents...  Best, Michael Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted February 12, 2011 Share #18 Â Posted February 12, 2011 I can only confirm the previous posts. The only M9 ever to die of moisture was murdered in a similar way. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
elgenper Posted February 12, 2011 Share #19 Â Posted February 12, 2011 Well, living in Sweden, and frequently using my M9 for hours at temperatures well below - 15 deg C, I can only say: never a single problem. Â Just use normal common wisdom about using ANY camera in the cold: Â * Start out with a fully charged battery, and one or two spares. * Avoid breathing on the camera when it is cold. * NEVER try to keep the camera warm under your clothing! Let it adapt to the outside temperature. * Once the gear is cold, NEVER take it indoors (even into a car) without first putting it in a closed camera bag or a plastic bag wrapped tight. Condensation forms on a cold object taken into warm surroundings, never the other way around (meaning you can take the camera out as soon as you are outdoors again). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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