How does the M9 behave at -25C?

[NordHiker]

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Yeaah I know we had this before. But I wanted to try it out myself.

Walking around on snowshoes at -25C seeking for the best frozen shrubs the M9 shut down after about 30 minutes after about 40 images. Back in the car again it took 10 minutes to come back alive and the info button showed an almost full battery as it was before I left the car. So one could keep shooting again.

When shooting startrails at -25C I used my Canon 1DsIII which I left outside at night. The Canon´s battery stayed alive for a bit more then four hours and took 480 frames one after the other before all the lights went out.

 

Tilman

[erlingmm]

I do some photography in temperatures like this. The M9 and its battery gets cold quickly due to its small size and metal housing. I usually take two batteries, keep them warm in pockets close to my body, and pop them in and out when I take pictures. Not very spontaneous, but works fine for landscapes. Sometimes I can keep the camera warm under my jacket, but it does not work well for skiing...

[richfx]

Slightly different question - I'm XC skiing 16 miles into a camp in northern Maine with my M9, 50mm Summilux ASPH, 28mm Elmarit ASPH and 90mm Tele-Elmarit next week. I expect the trip in to be over two hours. Would it be better to put the two lenses I'm not using while skiing in Ziplocks before starting out (in warm car) to prevent condensation after reaching the camp and warm temps (keeping them in the Ziplocks till they reach room temp) or to just let them chill (with the camera and primary lens being used while skiing), then put everything in Ziplocks before warming it up inside?

Thanks,

Rich

[elgenper]

.... Would it be better to put the two lenses I'm not using while skiing in Ziplocks before starting out (in warm car) to prevent condensation after reaching the camp and warm temps (keeping them in the Ziplocks till they reach room temp) or to just let them chill (with the camera and primary lens being used while skiing), then put everything in Ziplocks before warming it up inside?

....

 

Simple rule: condensation can form on objects that are colder than the surrounding air, not the other way around.

 

So, no need to put warm gear in containers when taking them out into the cold (unless it´s raining/snowing, but then we´re no longer talking about condensation...). Taking cold gear into a warm cabin or car is different: now the gear is colder than the air, and condensation will form.

 

So: take the empty ziplocks along in your pocket (or use a reasonably closed and somewhat padded bag; it doesn´t have to be absolutely airtight) and put the camera and lenses in them just before going indoors - and resist the temptation to get them out for an hour or so (if you return outside before that, you can take out the gear and use it immediately).

 

For myself, I just use the neoprene case for my M9, even in severe Swedish cold; no problems. Any extra lenses just go into a jacket pocket and remains there for a while; they may mist over, but they can take it (they don´t contain any electonics).

[richfx]

Thanks, Per. You've laid out the science quite nicely.

Rich