David Craig Posted January 5, 2013 Share #1 Posted January 5, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) Anyone any experience of using a Leica MP in Lapland - temperature likely to be around -20C. Thanks, David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 5, 2013 Posted January 5, 2013 Hi David Craig, Take a look here Leica MP in extreme cold?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
muc_marlin Posted January 5, 2013 Share #2 Posted January 5, 2013 Hello, so far I can't share any experience since I have it just a couple of days, but from 15.2. - 15.3. I am doing a trip with a pulk sleed, ski and a tent in Lapland, I plan to use the MP along with my Nikon D3. So far I believe that the film in it self will be the weakest chain. I am also thinking of getting the Sekonic L398a as an exposure meter without battery, that way I don't have to depend on the small battery in the MP. Greetings muc_marlin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealth3kpl Posted January 5, 2013 Share #3 Posted January 5, 2013 Whilst Ski touring in Alaska this year in similar conditions my OM1, which hasn't been serviced ever, had no problems. I would think the MP will be fine. I've heard of some having a CLA with low temperatures in mind (different lubricant). Probably the biggest risks are brittle film, and condensation should there be opportunity to take it indoors. To help avoid condensation leave it in your pack and allow it to warm up very gradually. I also used a Seikonic 308. Pete Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted January 5, 2013 Share #4 Posted January 5, 2013 Back in the 1960s I used an M2 and M4 in upper Michigan in temperatures -20 to -30 F without problems (except for fogging over after comming indoors). Modern lubricants should be even better. Winding slowly is good advice. We would sometimes get "lightning streaks" from static discharge from rewinding too fast. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted January 5, 2013 Share #5 Posted January 5, 2013 I would take a little care to wind on the film slowly. Put the camera into a sealed plastic bag when going inside to avoid condensation problems. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
comte de Mazan Posted January 5, 2013 Share #6 Posted January 5, 2013 No problem i think for the MP! Arctic explorer Martin Hartley to capture moments in history with LEICA MP Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
too old to care Posted January 6, 2013 Share #7 Posted January 6, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) I've used my M6 at -20F before, no problems other than a frozen nose print on the back of it. Wayne Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
maurometallo Posted January 6, 2013 Share #8 Posted January 6, 2013 I live in Canada, where -20 and even below is a common thing in the Winter... My M4-P never complained in 25 years... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrid Posted January 6, 2013 Share #9 Posted January 6, 2013 Anyone any experience of using a Leica MP in Lapland - temperature likely to be around -20C. Thanks, David I have shot all of my M bodies (M2/M4/M6ttl/M7) in temperatures as low as -28 C. No problems except my nose sticking to the metal. Lithium batteries perform better in the cold, but beware that they will run down faster, if they get cold enough. Because of this I prefer the mechanical bodies for shooting in the extreme cold. Be a little more gentle when you advance the film. Depending on how long the camera is exposed and how cold the film gets it may snap, if you advance it too vigorously. Static buildup should not be a problem with a modern film, but advancing slowly avoids that potential issue. Condensation is your biggest problem. Put the camera in a ziplock bag and press the air out, before entering a building or area that is warmer than the outside. I sometimes cover or wrap the bagged camera in a jacket or hand towel, so it warms up more gradually. Seems to cause less condensation. There are two opinions on where to carry the camera when outside. Some people just keep it in their bag or an outside pocket, away from your body. Ziplock when going inside. Others carry it inside their jacket on their body. Some people advise against this, because they say that if the camera gets cold enough when exposed, it will gather condensation when you place it next to your warm body. Personally I carry mine in my camera bag or outside jacket pocket (and ziplock it when going inside). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smkoush Posted January 6, 2013 Share #10 Posted January 6, 2013 Two years ago I spent a whole day skiing at temperatures around -20C, I didn't do anything different than shooting as I do for any other occasion. Apart from the fact that the mp was very cold to the touch, the camera/film performed just as it should with no problems. But you must take care when you go back insight, condensation is not good for camera, lens or film. Seal it in a bag and open only after temperature is the same as the room you are in. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipus Posted January 6, 2013 Share #11 Posted January 6, 2013 I can't find support for it on Leica's site but BJP says the MP was tested to -35 (article about Martin Hartley). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aesop Posted January 7, 2013 Share #12 Posted January 7, 2013 ...focus on preserving your film, David - if there is an "extreme cold weather" weak link in your MP set-up, it would be the film and, to a lesser extent, the battery for the in-built exposure meter. MPs, in my personal experience, will happily fire away without any problems whatsoever at -23˚C. At this sort of temperature, treat your camera and film with common sense and there should not be a problem. Brittleness and condensation have already been mentioned by earlier posters. Expect power for the in-built meter to get funky or conk out at around -15˚C (YMMV). Note that the meter will still function perfectly if powered at these temperatures, so if you have a way of keeping the batteries or camera warm (and thus functional), do so. I opted for a hand-held meter, which I tucked away until needed. Good luck, and let us know how things pan out. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick.edwards1 Posted January 7, 2013 Share #13 Posted January 7, 2013 Just wondering if you could load a film, stick it in the freezer at -21C, then after a few hours quickly expose the film before it warms up at a range of different speeds just to make sure the temperature is not slowing the shutter. Once developed this would give you a good indication that all was well or not. Perhaps a daft idea but other more knowledgable people may want to comment. Regards, Nick. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eastgreenlander Posted January 8, 2013 Share #14 Posted January 8, 2013 Hello from arctic Greenland. I never had any problems with my mp in -25 Celsius. When I come inside my home I wrap my MP inside a jacket to avoid condensation. http://www.byper.net/2011/01/31/continued-mp-addiction/ Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mole73 Posted January 8, 2013 Share #15 Posted January 8, 2013 Hi Per, great homepage, the pictures are very impressive! Highly recommended! Cheers Robert Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manolo Laguillo Posted January 8, 2013 Share #16 Posted January 8, 2013 Per, very nice pictures, I like your way, thank you very much! Manolo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rolo Posted January 10, 2013 Share #17 Posted January 10, 2013 I spent a day with Martin Hartley encouraging him to use Lightroom. We discussed his use of his MP in the Artic. First, he had it winterised by Leica and didn't have any issues with the camera thereafter. He kept the camera in his sleeping bag to keep it warmer. He only used one film a day and only replaced the film inside his sleeping bag when it had warmed up. He only exposed 30 frames per film to avoid taking the film to the end. The film is strong enough, but the adhesive on the tape attaching it to the spool is more vulnerable, The film can become detached and that's a he'll of an issue to fix in freezing temps. Wiping the frost off his 28mm lens damaged the coating on the front element and it went back to Solms for re-coating. Interesting to talk to him about all this and his images were just fantastic. BTW, he'd previously tried a Canon 1D and the cold prevented it's reliability. After the 1D, he used an MF camera, but 12/16 frames a day were just not enough. Gary. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Messsucherkamera Posted January 11, 2013 Share #18 Posted January 11, 2013 I can't find support for it on Leica's site but BJP says the MP was tested to -35 (article about Martin Hartley). According to this article, the MP was tested by Leica down to -35C (-31F). On the hot end of the spectrum, the MP's maximum operating temperature is +60C (+140F). That is according to Sherry Krauter. That is a huge temperature range for a camera that has not been specially prepared for temperature extremes. Nikon DSLRs have an operating range of +32F to around +100F if memory serves me correctly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted January 11, 2013 Share #19 Posted January 11, 2013 Film cameras often had extended range shutter designs. Even the standard Pentax SV of 1962 was rated for -55F to 120F - and the manual noted operating outside of that range "may degrade shutter performance." Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipus Posted January 11, 2013 Share #20 Posted January 11, 2013 (apologies for the tangent) I've found info online that the KE-7 was also rated (by the US military) to +50C. How were the Heer and Wehrmacht and other IIIC Ks rated? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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