Operating temperature for m9

[Johnwirwin]

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Whats the coldest temp you can operate the m9 in. Somewhere I should I read 0 Celsius. Does that sound correct or can it be less. Thanks

[J_Thompson]

The manual gives operating conditions from 0 to +40 C, but in cold temperatures, the battery would seem to be the limiting factor. But then I live in an area where +5 C is about as cold as it gets, so have no practical experience with freezing temperatures.

[jaapv]

If you keep the batteries reasonably warm, the M8 (and thus the M9) has been operating in my hands down to minus 20 Centigrade. The LCD gets very dim though.

[vintola]

Minus 18 degrees Celsius today. Photographing about two hours. No problems.

- vintola -

[Dannybuoy]

I was out shooting in 0.5 degrees today and my M9 wouldn't power on for a short time. After a few minutes it started working again. I guess that's partly due to the metal construction. It felt very cold in my hands. Not ideal as I was planning on taking it to Austria when I got snowboarding in March. Hopefully it won't do the same thing and lock up when I'm standing looking over an amazing mountain!

[jaapv]

I use it when skiing each year.

[jev]

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I used it in Siberia at -45 C

Worked just fine

[Dannybuoy]

Cool! Literallly! I look forward to taking some full frame photos up the piste in march. I tried with my 5D2 last year but it was far too hefty to carry around. Big up the small M9!

[markgay]

Sorry, but I can't replicate these results of a functioning M8/M9 at -20 or -45 celcius.

 

I struggle to get the M8, which uses the same battery as the M9, to work at much less than -8 celcius. And that is keeping the battery against my belly, zipped under my down puffer.

 

Taking it out for a minute or so, first the lcd on the top goes blank, then the LCD on the back stops working - you still have a chance to grap one picture - then it all comes to a halt.

 

An M7 at -20, no problem. M8/M9, hmm.

[Steep]

Yes, it's frustrating to work with cold temperatures and a digital M; you are always trying to keep warm the camera (and a second battery) but you never know how long it's going to work... My dream is a future leica accessory like the external battery holder I had for my Mamiya 7 (MAMIYA: Mamiya 7 II | Accessories | General Accessories | External Battery Holder |).

[jaapv]

Well, yes, the LCDs black out, but the camera will carry on working. There is no difference between electronic cameras in this respect, as the limiting factor is battery life. So one in the camera and two in a warm pocket. The main difference is that the M9 is compact and metal, so will cool down faster than a big DSLR with a lot of plastic and rubber. And the battery is smaller to start out with. I find it makes a huge difference to start with fully charged batteries. The run down on a battery with even a small initial discharge seems to be disproportionally high.

 

The main problem you may run into is condensation when bringing the camera in from the cold. Best to let it warm up sealed in a plastic ziploc bag.

[!Nomad64]

Been operating my M8 in temperatures between -10°C and 0°C. If I keep the camera under my jacket to extract it to shoot and putting back to rest it allows me to work almost normally. The battery's autonomy and my patience are however affected a bit. Also my health might be at risk. And I always keep a spare battery in a pocket of my trousers.

 

Cheers,

Bruno

[250swb]

I've just come in from photographing for an hour and a half and its still -11 C outside. No problems at all, around my neck all the time, 150 images, the battery still shows 75% full, the camera worked without fault. I think it is important to have a freshly charged battery, don't chimp much and don't have the review set for more than the minimum time, or set it to Off. The only thing I would complain about is that it would have been more comfortable if the body was made from plastic and not brass!

 

Steve

[jaapv]

A half case helps, I guess, for the feel of the camera, and to slow down the cooling off.

[atufte]

Used mine for a week in - 20 to - 34°C and no problems at all, but my M8 had big problems in the cold, worked for about 30 min in these temperatures, but my M9 just keeps going....(i change batteries from time to time with a warm one from my pants pocket) so same battery but different power management i guess...?

[jto555]

If you put these into your pocket with a spare battery:

 

Magic Gel Reusable Hand Warmer Heat Pack: Amazon.co.uk: Garden & Outdoors

 

Jaapv suggested a half case which would help to keep skin away from cold metal. At -45 centigrade metal is not your friend!

[thighslapper]

-10 most of last week in Poland and camera worked fine and it was out and exposed for hours on end.

 

To be frank the cold reduced my fingers to uselessness long before the camera.......

[Ernstblofeld]

Have been using my M9 in Lech Austria for 3 days now. Temperatures around -5/-15ºC. No problem to report and I still did not recharge my battery! It is over 50% full...

Ernstblofeld

[parsod]

Used my M9 outside here in Stockholm for more than 4 hours -10ºC and about 200 exposures last weekend. Never covered the camera up and did not change battery. No problem at all and the battery indicator was well above 50% when I came back home. I think the problem was more me getting cold than the camera:o

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[eleanorbrown]

This is good to hear...I was starting to worry after reading some of these posts.... I will be taking my 2 M9's and four lenses to Norway's Svalbard early June next summer. Eleanor

 

Used mine for a week in - 20 to - 34°C and no problems at all, but my M8 had big problems in the cold, worked for about 30 min in these temperatures, but my M9 just keeps going....(i change batteries from time to time with a warm one from my pants pocket) so same battery but different power management i guess...?