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M9 going into snowy mountains


ppolla

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I am about to leave on skiing holidays in the coming two days...and am wondering if I should take my M9 with me.

I am a little concerned about the condensation forming within the camera as I leave the hotel and go on the cold slopes...and vice versa.

 

Does anyone have experience with that? With an M9 or M8?

 

I will be taking my 7D with me for action shots and am not as concerned about that camera.

 

Please let me know your thoughts.

 

Thanks,

P

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Been doing that for years with the M8 and just back from the Dolomites (-17) No problem whatever!

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I have taken my M9 skiing every weekend this winter. It has been out in the cold and snow and performed fantastic! I watch carefully for condensation and keep the camera in the case until it has gradually warmed up. I usually leave it outside, in my camera bag, for 30 minutes before I take it out and when I come inside I usually wait about an hour before I take it out of the bag. I have tried to limit my lenses when I am outside but recently when shooting a freestyle competition I had it out getting wide angle shots along with my Canon gear.

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I usually walk with the 50 Summilux asph (or Elmar-M 50/2.8 for size) on the camera and the Elmarit 28 in my pocket. I have a padded bum bag by LowePro when skiing for the camera+lens. I broke my collarbone, but the gear was unharmed :D

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I am about to leave on skiing holidays in the coming two days...and am wondering if I should take my M9 with me.

I am a little concerned about the condensation forming within the camera as I leave the hotel and go on the cold slopes...and vice versa.

 

Does anyone have experience with that? With an M9 or M8?

...

 

Took my brand new M9 to Northern Sweden last week. Down to - 20 deg C; no problems whatsoever. Condensation is indeed a hazard; it will form when you take a cold camera indoors, not the other way around. A padded bag, or the neoprene case, is protection enough if you leave it closed for an hour or so after returning indoors (I´m the impatient type, so I removed the memory card before getting in, so I could download right away...).

 

Here are a few of the shots I made.

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I've used my M8 skiing in Austria for the last 2 winters with no problems and with no special care taken with regard to condensation. Carried in neoprene case in backpack or inside my jacket, no case, for short periods. Last week we saw -12C during the days and the battery lasted all week without being charged (OK only used for maybe 150 shots) despite being in the cold every day. I use the the Tri-Elmar 85% of the time and a CV 75mm 2.5 15%, I also took the CV 15mm but didn't use it this holiday. The Tri-Elmar is great for those mountain moments when using your feet as the zoom wouldn't be a good idea!

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i used my m9 faultlessly in northern japan recently where the outside temp was -28C to -34C. the trick is to put your camera with lens attached into a zip-lock bag when going back indoors to the warm from the cold. condensation forms on the outside of the plastic bag, not on the camera. wait an hour or two before taking it out or don't take it out until you go back out. i actually just kept my camera bag closed with everything inside the whole time i was indoors and only used the m9 outdoors. keep a hot pad in your outside jacket pocket with a couple of spare batteries which keeps them warm and helps them last longer. i wore a thin pair of breathable ski gloves inside my thicker, thermal gloves allowing me to change batteries/sd card etc easily without freezing bare fingers off. keep the camera outside your jacket or inside your camera bag, inside the jacket it will condense. it was so cold that any snow just piled up on the camera and didn't melt..of course if you're gonna do crazy advanced ski/snowboard stuff, pack a point & shoot instead..:)

 

note: top right corner..first noticed this problem with my tri-elmar which is about to be repaired. it's not because of condensation or cold weather.

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I ski with my M8 several times a week.

Protocol - when hiking up and not interested in the approach, it stays in the pack in the neoprene case. This eliminates the potential from body moisture getting into the camera.

On the descent, it is on my body in my (parka) shell, as long as I have on a smaller lens. I claim the first line down and tell my friends they can follow after a bit so I can shoot them thusly: Gloves off, wipe viewfinder clear of moisture, check lens for condensation, set exposure according to desired pan/blur/DOF, pre-focus, yodel ready.

As soon as I am done with the action slopes, I put it back in my pack for protection.

There's just too much bumping about and vigorous exercise in my style of excursion to be able to keep it on my body all day, although I have beat up many cameras trying this, luckily none of the Leica digitals at this point.

I don't have a protocol for going back indoors. I figure warm it up and dry it out as fast as possible. The camera can get wet when it is in my shell getting body heat and moisture.

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I did take my M8 Heliskiing, neoprene case and 28/75 Summicron combination - Kamtschatka peninsula Russia.

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I see many of you have the neoprene case for your M camera....I don't...only the Billingham bag...so not sure that will work.

Will see what I do in the end...I might take my DL4 instead...

You can borrow one of mine... Not so useful imo, though, it is not watertight and works like a sponge. This is a tough camera made to be used - with some reasonable moisture precautions it can take about anything you throw at it. If you can survive, your Leica can as well.
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