erl Posted November 5, 2009 Share #1 Posted November 5, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have just been awarded a trip to Antarctica by Adeal, the Australian importer for Leica, in January/February, 2010. They ran a competition which I was lucky enough to win. It is also sponsored by Peregine Adventures who oversee the trip. I guess this will be a proving ground for the camera, and me. I thought Forum members may be interested in the prospect ahead. Doubtless you will be more interested in the M9's performance in such an environment, and maybe mine. Meanwhile, I depart in a little over a week for India with the M9 so it will gather a few 'travel miles' in the next few months. P.S. I will back the M9 up by at least one M8, maybe two. Need to think that through. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 5, 2009 Posted November 5, 2009 Hi erl, Take a look here M9 Goes to Antarctica!. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
thrice Posted November 5, 2009 Share #2 Posted November 5, 2009 Wow Erl congratulations! I can't wait to see the shots you capture, in India and the frozen south! I'm sure you know the rules about sub zero shooting, even with weather sealing slowly introduce the camera to drastic temperature changes, resist the urge to keep it warm while you shoot Keep the batteries warm though, in a pocket near your body. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
azzo Posted November 5, 2009 Share #3 Posted November 5, 2009 A Big Congratulations from me too Erl. Enjoy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dugby Posted November 5, 2009 Share #4 Posted November 5, 2009 I have just been awarded a trip to Antarctica by Adeal, the Australian importer for Leica, in January/February, 2010. They ran a competition which I was lucky enough to win. It is also sponsored by Peregine Adventures who oversee the trip. I guess this will be a proving ground for the camera, and me. I thought Forum members may be interested in the prospect ahead. Doubtless you will be more interested in the M9's performance in such an environment, and maybe mine. Meanwhile, I depart in a little over a week for India with the M9 so it will gather a few 'travel miles' in the next few months. P.S. I will back the M9 up by at least one M8, maybe two. Need to think that through. WOW congrats, just watchout for those wild wo(men) and Vodka in Ushuaia I've done the flight Perth-Melb-Auckland to Buenos Aires a couple times, you fly over some awesome Antartic/icy scenery PS... When you get there....hope you win the competition for a ticket back to Ushuaia Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddale Posted November 5, 2009 Share #5 Posted November 5, 2009 Congratulations Erl! I'd be interested to know Daniel - what's the best strategy from coming into the warm after being outside in the cold? Im going to be in Yellowstone in January and with a bit of luck i'll have my M9 by then. Not having done below zero or snow - I'd be very interested in any leica tips for this Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnalex141r Posted November 5, 2009 Share #6 Posted November 5, 2009 Congratulations Erl!I'd be interested to know Daniel - what's the best strategy from coming into the warm after being outside in the cold? Im going to be in Yellowstone in January and with a bit of luck i'll have my M9 by then. Not having done below zero or snow - I'd be very interested in any leica tips for this Keep a plastic bag (or two) with you. When outside, put the camera in the bag, and squeeze the air out of the bag. Seal it closed; bring it inside. Condensation might/will form on the outside of the bag. Leave it inside until it feels closeish to room temperature. Be warned; first time I took my M8 out in -30c weather, I got 18 shots on a fully charged battery before I had the "not completely winding" shutter. Of course, if you keep the batteries warm, you'll have more luck. Personally, I now need gloves in winter, so changing batteries in an M8/M9 at -30 is not my idea of fun. There are a lot of places that are cold; my eldest daughter looks like she'll be in the Yukon in February. Brrr, better her than me! JohnS. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidigital Posted November 5, 2009 Share #7 Posted November 5, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm not expecting any issues with cold and the M9. I had plenty of opportunities to find out how the M8 would handle the cold in our typical frosty upper Midwestern winters. I've shot in temperatures at -20F with no problems. I usually just have an extra battery or two ready. The camera outlasts me in the cold. Here's a slideshow of some winter shots (some with a MFDB and others with an M8) if anyone is interested: January 2009 Sigh, except, now I'm getting depressed thinking about winter being right around the corner. Kurt Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted November 5, 2009 Share #8 Posted November 5, 2009 One camera died in Greenland through internal condensation. The user kept it in a bag in his tent for a prolonged time. The plastic-bag method described above will work, but I would advise to store it in a Pelican Case with Silcagel when not using it. And congratulations on winning this Erl! Well done! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
guidomo Posted November 5, 2009 Share #9 Posted November 5, 2009 Congrats Erl. Is the issue of cold temperatures really so critical to battery performance? If so, would it be possible to keep a battery pack in the jacket and wire into the camera? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicanut2 Posted November 5, 2009 Share #10 Posted November 5, 2009 I wana see pictures posted, I wanted to go to that but could not swing it. Take your own SD cards... Have fun you will also get to try the S2 Temps there are in the HIGH 30's to HIGH 40's it's summer there take sun screen sun glasses too. Ha Cheers Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
photolandscape Posted November 5, 2009 Share #11 Posted November 5, 2009 I'm not expecting any issues with cold and the M9. I had plenty of opportunities to find out how the M8 would handle the cold in our typical frosty upper Midwestern winters. I've shot in temperatures at -20F with no problems. I usually just have an extra battery or two ready. The camera outlasts me in the cold. Here's a slideshow of some winter shots (some with a MFDB and others with an M8) if anyone is interested: January 2009 Sigh, except, now I'm getting depressed thinking about winter being right around the corner. Kurt These are great. Some of them look like Duluth/Superior? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted November 5, 2009 Share #12 Posted November 5, 2009 If there's a formal 'do' will you have to wear a penguin suit? Congratulations, I'm sure you'll have a great time, and at least you're going in summer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrice Posted November 5, 2009 Share #13 Posted November 5, 2009 Congratulations Erl! I'd be interested to know Daniel - what's the best strategy from coming into the warm after being outside in the cold? Im going to be in Yellowstone in January and with a bit of luck i'll have my M9 by then. Not having done below zero or snow - I'd be very interested in any leica tips for this JohnS is right, another tip that I find even better, is to fill my camera bag with charged (baked in a fan forced over at ~70C for a while) silica gel packets. Then when you're changing climates you put the camera in the bag and submit the bag to the environment for a good 10-20 mins before you take the camera out. Bear in mind that it's WORSE for the camera moving from a warm environment to a cold environment... as the condensation will more likely occur inside the camera. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidigital Posted November 5, 2009 Share #14 Posted November 5, 2009 These are great. Some of them look like Duluth/Superior? Thanks, the shots are of Lake Michigan in January in Milwaukee ... (Florida in January compared to those in Duluth on the shores of Lake Superior). Ohh, and congratulations Erl ... what a very nice honor! Kurt Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spylaw4 Posted November 5, 2009 Share #15 Posted November 5, 2009 Congratulations, Erl. What a trip! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
James R Posted November 5, 2009 Share #16 Posted November 5, 2009 That weather is very hard on cameras. On Reichmann's trips there are numerous Canon, Sony, and Nikon failures--these are sealed cameras. I don't think I'd take an M9, but, that's a personal call. Moose Peterson demo'd how he handles the change in temperature and it was very interesting. He removes the lenses (and I believe the battery) from the body and lays out all his gear on a table and covers them with a towel. Apparently, covering them with a towel actually keeps the condensation from equipment. This guy shoots in the cold a lot, so, I accept his method. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erl Posted November 5, 2009 Author Share #17 Posted November 5, 2009 For all the congratulations and good wishes, I thank you all. I am just coming to grips with the idea of the adventure. The varying advice offered on camera care is of great interest to me. I live in an area with moderate climate and no real extremes so I accept I need to upskill my knowledge and practice in this particular area. All advice will be heeded and I will institute my own investigations as well. Any further advice is very welcome. Already I am considering taking an M6 or7 with film for mechanical B/U, although I said I would never travel with film again for other reasons. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
James R Posted November 6, 2009 Share #18 Posted November 6, 2009 Here are several posts from Luminous-Landscapes regarding Antarctica travel: Search Results Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LLT Posted November 6, 2009 Share #19 Posted November 6, 2009 Congratulations ERL! Very jealous!!! Definitely want to see photos!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erl Posted November 6, 2009 Author Share #20 Posted November 6, 2009 Here are several posts from Luminous-Landscapes regarding Antarctica travel: Search Results Thank you James. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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