lphong Posted March 8, 2013 Share #1 Posted March 8, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) Some sources claim that the minimum operating temperature of a M is about -10; one has to send the camera to Solmes for some special treatment if he/she wishes to take photos in the extreme cold. I sent my M4-2 to Solmes for repair last year.. My guess is that they have used the new Teflon based grease so it was prefectly functional in -26! I am sooo sorry... Could the moderators please move this topic to the relevant forum? Just realised that I have made a mistake. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 8, 2013 Posted March 8, 2013 Hi lphong, Take a look here Minimum operating temperature. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
fotohuis Posted March 8, 2013 Share #2 Posted March 8, 2013 My M7 still worked in Prague and Kiev in Winter at -25C, but I had more problems with that low temperatures. Only your battery must be almost full because the capacity is going down quickly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sblitz Posted March 8, 2013 Share #3 Posted March 8, 2013 i have no immediate intention of being out in that weather anytime soon. BUT, i do wonder whether the film might become an issue, getting stiff and emulsion cracking while advancing, stuff like that, in such cold weather before the camera balks -- and I talking about an M4, or any other operating without a battery. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lphong Posted March 8, 2013 Author Share #4 Posted March 8, 2013 i have no immediate intention of being out in that weather anytime soon. BUT, i do wonder whether the film might become an issue, getting stiff and emulsion cracking while advancing, stuff like that, in such cold weather before the camera balks -- and I talking about an M4, or any other operating without a battery. Yes I noticed that the film became stiffer; more differicult to advance. But the results has turned out to be absolutely fine. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotohuis Posted March 8, 2013 Share #5 Posted March 8, 2013 Yes, the film is more stiffer, even brittle so you have to do the transport smoothly. I won't recommend a respooling with this temperature. But the film did not break. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
imported_peter_m Posted March 9, 2013 Share #6 Posted March 9, 2013 I had my M6 out for extended periods at - 30 C and it worked fine, never broke a film just don't try to do the 5 frames a second. Peter Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lphong Posted March 9, 2013 Author Share #7 Posted March 9, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) Yes, the film is more stiffer, even brittle so you have to do the transport smoothly. I won't recommend a respooling with this temperature. But the film did not break. My fingers might drop off from my hand if I respool in this temperature.. It wasn't at all pleasant. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted March 9, 2013 Share #8 Posted March 9, 2013 i have no immediate intention of being out in that weather anytime soon. BUT, i do wonder whether the film might become an issue, getting stiff and emulsion cracking while advancing, stuff like that, in such cold weather before the camera balks -- and I talking about an M4, or any other operating without a battery. A National Geographic photographer (now retired) told me of the extra care he used when shooting in arctic conditions with an M2 and Kodachrome film. He used a Leicavit and had to be careful to pull the film gently, moving the 'vit slowly lest the film snap - and it did twice regardless. But that was the Kodachrome era. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotohuis Posted March 9, 2013 Share #9 Posted March 9, 2013 Here an example on Fomapan T200 film. The stairs from the Palace in Prague are empty. -22C. 20 seconds without gloves are Blue fingers. Here another one: Krkonoše, downstairs -5C, upstairs -25C. Fomapan 400 film. And with a half full battery within 10 minutes low batt on the M7. I do not have to tell you that a battery switch in 1/2m snow and -25C is imposssible. Here a last one before my Oly PEN E-P1 died from the cold: Kiev. Only -15C BTW my iPad stops already at -5C. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeswe Posted March 9, 2013 Share #10 Posted March 9, 2013 I have been using an M2 and an M3 with the classic film loading system up until now. Last week I purchased an M4-2 with the quick load system and found the following bit of info in the manual interesting: "Only at temperatures below freezing must the film be inserted in the LEICA according to the diagrammatic representation, i.e. the film lead must be caught by only one slot of the take-up spool; any portion protruding through the second slot beyond the take-up spool is liable to break off at low temperatures. In normal conditions the film lead can be threaded through the take-up spool until it touches the wall of the housing." Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lphong Posted March 9, 2013 Author Share #11 Posted March 9, 2013 BTW my iPad stops already at -5C. I used my iPad for metering in the cold and it was still functional This is what I have taken in -26,, Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/200025-minimum-operating-temperature/?do=findComment&comment=2266127'>More sharing options...
lphong Posted March 9, 2013 Author Share #12 Posted March 9, 2013 A National Geographic photographer (now retired) told me of the extra care he used when shooting in arctic conditions with an M2 and Kodachrome film. He used a Leicavit and had to be careful to pull the film gently, moving the 'vit slowly lest the film snap - and it did twice regardless. But that was the Kodachrome era. I don't really remember how does the advancing Kodachrome feel like now. But I have noticed that Provia X is slightly stiffer than Portra and Tri-X in normal temperature. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotohuis Posted March 9, 2013 Share #13 Posted March 9, 2013 Interesting iPad experience. Mine stopped when going from inside to the garden in the snow. A frozen operating screen and it stopped working........ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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