Best practice to handle heavy gears in freezing environment

[Einst_Stein]

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Wearing gloves is one of the choice, but not always convenient. 

On my SL  90-280mm, I am planning to wrap the non-rubber area with pluming or electrical tape. This is what I did on my tripod legs, but somehow it is less desirable on the lens.  The other choice I am thinking is to get some rubber tube in the proper width and length to wrap the lens.

Any other suggestion? 

[Jeff S]

Thin glove liners in lieu of full gloves.  

Or a bag to keep gear until needed, if not kept on tripod.

Or a camera/lens rain cover (allows for warmer space inside to place hands without gloves).  For example...

https://www.thinktankphoto.com/collections/camera-rain-covers?rfsn=140348.1cb649

Jeff

[snooper]

It all depends where you go.

Cold itself is not a big issue apart for your hands and obviously your batteries. 

Issues in cold weather come with humidity. If you expose a camera to cold weather just after exposing that gear to humidity, there you have a potential problem with ice crystals all over the place.

We fly to Antarctica every year and never had a cold temp issue with Leicas or Sonys, but relative humidity there is very low. Remember not to "protect" your camera or lens against your body, like underneath your jacket, that is where it might pick up some humidity. 🥶

Edited November 27, 2019 by snooper

[m9photo]

I was in Banff, early October, it was snowing the 3rd day I was there. One thing for sure I kept my battery warmed by placing them in my inner sweater and my thermal shirt (I wore parka outside).

[caissa]

Maybe you have an older relative (aunt or grandma) that loves knitting. She could knit a “sock” for the lens, without the foot part. Close to where I live there was an initiative where people knitted covers/pullovers for trees or lamp posts or street signs. 🤗. To embellish the countryside. Join such an organization ...  (Street Art)  Here an extreme example  https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8MYGPWBodxQ

For microphones there are protectors against wind. Maybe you can also glue together a similar item for the lens. 

Camouflage covers for lenses are another option. You need to search around to find a fitting piece. See e.g. lenscoat.com . Also for tripod legs.

Edited November 28, 2019 by caissa

[Chuck Albertson]

Carry a spare batt or two, inside your clothing where they'll stay warm. Cold degrades their performance, so you'll end up swapping them a lot.

And if it's bitterly cold, try not to let your nose or other exposed flesh on your face come into contact with any metal on the back of the camera.

Edited November 28, 2019 by Chuck Albertson

[Einst_Stein]

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2 hours ago, caissa said:

Maybe you have an older relative (aunt or grandma) that loves knitting. She could knit a “sock” for the lens, without the foot part. Close to where I live there was an initiative where people knitted covers/pullovers for trees or lamp posts or street signs. 🤗. To embellish the countryside. Join such an organization ...  (Street Art)  Here an extreme example  https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8MYGPWBodxQ

For microphones there are protectors against wind. Maybe you can also glue together a similar item for the lens. 

Camouflage covers for lenses are another option. You need to search around to find a fitting piece. See e.g. lenscoat.com . Also for tripod legs.

Good idea! I can try my own socks by cutting out the unnecessary part.

 

[Einst_Stein]

Using a modified new sock works very well. For 90-280mm zoom, cutting the sock into two pieces works better: the focus ring and the zoom ring should be on difference pieces. 

[otto.f]

I was thinking about the grey foam they use to isolate tubes for water pipes and central heating systems. Or a HAMA neoprene lens case and cut out the bottom

Edited November 30, 2019 by otto.f