Freezing of your camera... ...

[Flygvapnet_Viggen]

Hey guys!

With these cold days, there might occur some problems while we are standing outside using our gear...
I knew it already from last year, but when it is freezing my camera gets soon kind of frozen too.
I have a Konica-Minolta 7D, but the annoying thing is that in these kind of circumstances the camera/mirror freezes after I pressed the shutter button. Like, I press the shutter, the mirror opens but then the camera somehow freezes and shuts down. Result is a black image showing nothing. Other things of the camera function perfectly.

I have this problem especially when the camera has been outside in the cold for some time, but with these very low temperatures it happens already rather soon, like after 10min out of the bag.

I know batteries are not working optimally in these temperatures, so therefore I put 2 in my pockets close to my body to keep them rather warm. But that doesnt help much, coz then I should have to change batteries every 5 seconds... ... (with temperatures like -10). Also CF cards can be affected by the cold, so the same for them. But still...
Furthermore, when I go outside photographing with low temperatures I always wrap a scraf around my body (already inside my room) so that keeps the body a bit warmer and makes a bit of isolation...

Still, the problem occurs that my camera freezes... And thats very annoying, especially if you want to get a specific shot, or that special aircraft or critic moment.... Last friday at Stockholm-Bromma, I just went home coz it was even just not possible to take any picture...


Does someone know what exactly can be the problem? And maybe someone has a good idea on how to solve it?

Thanx!!
Corné Uittenbogaard

[phkza]

Strange. I also experience lower battery life with these temperatures, but my camera works just fine (when not exposed to humidity like snow directly, that is)...

[Sowald]

Strange indeed.
I am taking pictures in freezing temps a lot.
And I mean freezing.
Last week I was out at Calgary airport with -28 and my camera works perfect.
I use a Canon EOS500D, or as they call it here in Canada. A T1i.
The only thing that happens is that the battery life goes down.

[pjotrtje]

With freezing of a camrea in low temperatures being an irregularity, it might be that other factors contribute to this event, such as a low battery output. Or moist from earlier moments (in house, or outside) trapped inside the body or in the lubricants used in your camera?

[Harry Spotter]

My Canon 40D doesn't like cold weather either. When it's cold, the "picture style" menu keeps popping up by itself. Normally you open it with the button next to the INFO button. But when it pops up by itself and you're not paying attention, the LCD will light up, using unnecessary battery power. And when you're reviewing your photos (zoom in, move around), it gets interrupted by the stupid picture style rubbish and you have to start again, which gets iterrupted again, etc, etc... Caused me many swearing scenes around the airport, cursing the camera.

I wish I could deactivate the whole picture style feature, I never use it anyway... The cold weather issue will go away then.

[Polleke_NL]

Every battery performs (far) less in cold temperatures, it's best to keep them warm untill shortly before you need them, but eg keeping them in the pockets of your pants. Suggest you make sure you have a spare battery stored in warm conditions so you can switch battery when you need it. When you put the cold battery in your pocket you will find that also this battery's performance goes up once warm and put back into your camera.

[Alpha Kilo One]

Once there was Konica Minolta, and I was one of them.
Let me step in on this.

Is it known to you that some of 5D's and 7D's had a problem with the first photograph after a period of rest?
You can still check it on the websites of Konica Minolta.
Like this one: http://ca.konicaminolta.com/information ... 01_en.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It was a problem of "first picture black" and blocking all further camera operation.
The only way to solve the problem was taking out the battery.
Make sure your camera doesn't have that problem!
Can be solved rather easily by Sony under terms (still !) of warranty.
Check: http://www.dyxum.com/columns/other/Firs ... _Frame.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Ronald

ps. further questions to me, please PM

[Spacedust]

Hello Corné,

I have a Minolta 7D with the same problem. It started while photographing in a riding bus in the American dessert (AMARC). Since then I could encounter a freezing shutter in very cold and very warm conditions. Last winter I brought it Sony for repairs, thinking I had also encountered the 'black frame issue'. They made it under warranty(!), by replacing the 'batterij oplaad sectie', whatever that means. The problem in the heat is over (I was in Libya two months ago), but I have the same problem again in the cold. I've experienced that there are less problems with fully charged batteries, made by Minolta. I have some thirth party batteries, who give more problems fully charged.

A couple of weeks ago I was at Eindhoven and could do some experiments. It isn't lens related. It doesn't matter if I use the vertical grip or not. However selecting focus mode A instead of C, resulted in less frozen shutters (less use of energy?). Also when your camera is working, don't put it out! When not used, I keep my camera beneath my coat, in the bag or in a warm car.

Last night I made some pictures of my neighborhood in the snow. I noted that when the indicated shutter speed would be 30 seconds the shutter would freeze. When after changing the settings to establish 25 seconds, everything performed fine!

I hope this helps you to life with it, or otherwise you can try to let it fix. It took them then 4 weeks.

Robert

PS: I think we met near the treshold at Göteborg-Säve in august this year?

[Flygvapnet_Viggen]

Hey!! Thanx for the replies!

I also found this 'first black frame' issue on serveral websites. I am checking if this is the problem...
I know for sure it not that my batteries are not fully, as I know they are.

But concerning the FBF issue: for my Minolta it is not always the very first pictures that "crashes" the camera, it could be the seond or third or so... And I havent checked it, but I think it also doesnt show any "error" in the viewfinder during such a problem...
I keep checking this issue..
And try the A-mode too... it might work. But I dont think it has really to do with less use of energy, coz it doesnt matter for me if I turn of the ImageStabilizing or not... it happens anyways...

If someone finds some additional info: let me know!!




PS Robert: that was my i guess yes! Nice meeting you!

[Paveway]

I have never had any troubles with temperature with my NIKON!

[Polecat]

I have never had any troubles with temperature with my NIKON!

same here.. last time I had those troubles was with a Praktica in the early eighties!

Even the batteries of my D80 are quite up to the job, but usually they still last a whole day in the cold...

[Spacedust]

I have never had any troubles with temperature with my NIKON!

A very contributive post to a very annoying problem! In case you didn't realize it, It's a body type related problem, not a brand related problem! And we are talking here about a Minolta 7D, not a Canon 7D, so no reason to continue the very boring Canon versus Nikon flame. So .... off!


Back to the topic, you should see 'err' in the viewfinder after putting the body on again, while it's resetting. Yes I also encounter it mainly not at the first shot, sometimes after tens of shots. And that's in contrast with the Black Frame problems...

[Polecat]

A very contributive post to a very annoying problem! In case you didn't realize it, It's a body type related problem, not a brand related problem! And we are talking here about a Minolta 7D, not a Canon 7D, so no reason to continue the very boring Canon versus Nikon flame. So .... off!

whoof!


Couldn't it just be a condensation issue? I could imagine that in extreme cold temperatures certain parts of the mechanism of a house/car heated camera cold condensate ans rapidly after, freeze..
Maybe some types/cameras use for instance sillicon parts instead of metal, avoiding this...
Storing the camera a bit colder (in the boot of the car instead of the cabin) maybe?

[Key]

no reason to continue the very boring Canon versus Nikon flame.

While I do agree with you here, even when the flames in the other direction seem to outnumber this type, please don't forget rule C.8.

Erik

[Spacedust]

Polecat -> I don't think it's condensation, because that occurs after a big temperature change. With keeping the body in the car and only take it out for a picture the problem doesn't occur, only after a certain time in the open and cold.

Erik -> I got it, understand it and 'll respect it.