M9 and cold weather

[cmangeot]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I am planning to go to Uyuni (Bolivia), where temperature is between 0C and -25C. Has anyone experience with M9 and cold weather. Does it work? At which speed does a battery discharge? Any advice would be appreciated.

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[Doc Henry]

Cam,

 

No problem for me with M9 and M8, where I photographed up to - 10 degrees Celsius

Please look at the link **

 

I think it goes well beyond (see the experience of Erl in South Pole)

It should have a charged battery (preference original, as for me with 2 spare batteries)

 

Regards

Henry

 

** http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/landscape-travel/126903-mont-blanc.html

[jaapv]

Keep one or more charged spare batteries in a warm pocket. Put the camera in a plastic bag before bringing it in from the cold against condensation.

[Iron Creek]

While I'm not too sure what the temps were while there, I nevertheless spent several days in Yosemite in February and encountered rain, drizzle, sleet and snow and no problems with the M9. I walked a lot while there and kept the camera tucked inside my jacket in-between shots and tried to wipe it down before putting back inside the jacket. Also never had a problem with the battery although I carried a spare I never had to change it.

Good luck with the trip.

Don

[Eastgreenlander]

I've used the M9 all winter here in Greenland, just keep the spare batteries in a warm pucket as mentioned by Jaap. I always wrap the camera in a jacket when I come inside a warm home, to prevent condensation. Condensation happens only when you step in from the cold in to the warm.

[Double Negative]

Keep one or more charged spare batteries in a warm pocket. Put the camera in a plastic bag before bringing it in from the cold against condensation.

 

+1

[elgenper]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

...and be careful not to breathe on the camera when it´s up against your face!

 

Otherwise, no problems. Right after mine was delivered last February, I went up to the Swedish north and shot for a week, some days well below -20 deg C. Good advice above about avoiding condensation.

[lars_bergquist]

Many years ago, before digital, a couple of Swedish photogs worked in Siberia in the winter. They taped pieces of sleeping pad material to the camera backs, so as not to have the cameras freeze stuck to their faces. That is no fun, even if the camera is a M. When walking out, I usually carry M cameras in a halfcase, so I never had that problem.

 

Another old tip worth remembering is that if you remove the baseplate and have to hold it between your teeth, hold it with the inside down. Otherwise, saliva may collect in the hollow and freeze, preventing you from replacing the plate.

 

A M8 or M9 with a low battery in cold weather can 'chatter'. The battery cannot deliver enough current to fully tension the shutter, so the camera breaks off the attempt, then tries again -- and again -- and again --.

Switching the camera off won't stop the chattering. This can be alarming first time. Regardless, do remove the battery and replace it with a charged and warm one. Resume shooting.

 

The old man who came in from the cold

[rob_x2004]

....old tip worth remembering is that if you remove the baseplate and have to hold it between your teeth

 

Ummmm...uh...Why?

[lars_bergquist]

Ummmm...uh...Why?

Because holding the baseplate in one hand, the camera in another hand, and doing whatever has to be done takes three hands (changing films took four) which is not standard equipment with Western photographers. And you do not always have a suitable pocket. Or an assistant.

 

The old man from the Age of the ABLON

[rob_x2004]

Sounds like youve still some tricks to learn:D. One camera one baseplate one hand.

Second hand for film or battery change.

Pockets ... never.

[brill64]

..carrying a few ziplock bags is definitely very good advice. put your camera and lens in those when going back indoors from the cold and keep it in there until you go back out - it really works in stopping condensation. a dying hot pad in your pocket gives the batteries a gentle warmth. keeping the camera outside your zipped jacket prevents condensation from body heat forming on it, dry snow build up will just blow off camera and lens if it's really cold and powdery. my m9 was down to -29C in hokkaido, northern japan last winter without any problems whatsoever other than having to swap the batteries around fairly regularly. if you're skiing, you may need some padded protection. enjoy!

[jaapv]

 

Another old tip worth remembering is that if you remove the baseplate and have to hold it between your teeth, hold it with the inside down. Otherwise, saliva may collect in the hollow and freeze, preventing you from replacing the plate.

 

 

 

The old man who came in from the cold

I always suspected Leicas make you drool..

[Nicoleica]

Yet another situation where we women have advantages over men. Bra's make excellent battery warmers, and easy-reach film & baseplate holders.

[SJP]

I would imagine stuffing a -20 °C baseplate in your bra is not optimal, even more so if covered with Lars' frozen drool:D

[amedick]

Cam1

 

You have been given some good tips by the crowd on cold weather shooting.

 

Uyuni does not.regularly get so cold in winter and in particular in the daytime. I had no battery problems at all, though it was before my M9 days, Digilux 2 and R7

 

If you are staying at Salt Hotel, or some of the local style lodging, your bigger issue may be charging your batteries. Many places have solar lighting ( ie no 110/220 ), no electricity, or generate electricity with a generator for 3 - 4 hours in the evening.

 

The 12 v charging cable may be you best friend for this trip, using vehicle to charge battery during trips.....

 

If you are not used to altitude, and fly in you may have altitude issues for a few days.

 

Check out the "train cemetery " couple kilometres south of town, on a very small 4 x 4 track. Ask locals by nickname "Cemetario de los trens". The locomotives are fantastic British engineering, and due to altitude and role in hauling mine ore much larger than British counterparts. They were abandoned on the spot for storage, and have been left in the open, skeletons.

 

One other possible concern in this area if you are driving is fuel, consider carrying enough to get in and out, which means carrying external fuel.... I had a severe issue, when I arrived no fuel had been available for 16 days.....

 

The area is great.......

 

Take care, good travels

 

John

[Paul986]

My M9 has been perfect in snow conditions down to -8C. Battery lasts all day too. Turn the camera on only when needed for the shot and it will last and last in these conditions. Like all cameras the only caution is when moving into a warm environment...keep it in the camera bag when you come in and don't open it.

[R9user]

Yet another situation where we women have advantages over men. Bra's make excellent battery warmers, and easy-reach film & baseplate holders.

 

true - but we men have underpants!

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Nicoleica]

true - but we men have underpants!

 

Eewwwww! Now that is just nasty!

[pico]

This has been a very valuable thread to me because I have broken a digital camera every Winter due to cold. None were Leicas, of course. It is heartening to know that the M9 performs in cold conditions. I'm closer now to tipping over to get one.

 

Regarding the battery/baseplate, I'd probably get one of Luigi's baseplates to obviate that problem.

 

Thanks, all for the tips.

 

--

Pico in the Tropics of Minnesota