EX1 Minimum Operating Temp
 

I have been asked to shoot something outdoors this Saturday and it will most likely be 20-30 degrees F. The manual states 32-104 F operating temp range. Anyone have any experience in the cold with an EX1/EX3, Rode NTG-2 or Varizoom VZ-Pro-EX zoom controller?

I will be outside for at least 1hr and up to 2.5hrs.

Thanks

Steve,

I've used mine in both the high arctic (800km from the pole), and in Antarctica. Used a rain coat to protect it from wind and snow, but had no issues what so ever. I was amazed at how well the batteries performed. If you are really worried you might use some insulation like a polar bear or a glove, but I didn't find the need.

I know that Alister has also worked above the Arctic Circle in winter with his - so I think that you should be fine.

Dang it! I hate the cold and was hoping to have an excuse not to shoot this event.

And I just checked and there won't be any chance of snow so I can't use that excuse (I don't have any rain/snow protection for it).

Steve,

We have the opposite problem here at the moment - several of the last few days have been around 40 degrees C - about 105 F. Still I think I prefer the warmth!

Not sure where you are shooting, but I will be shooting the opening of a TV Show outside for about an hour tonight in Denver where we have been having single digits F at night (both positive and negative)... While I haven't shot in quite this cold before, we have shot in 15F weather and had no problems at all. The longest the camera has been outside in this cold is about an hour, then we put it in a running car to slowly warm it back up opposed to taking it straight inside going from 15F - 75F. Not sure if this was entirely necessary, but I figured it couldn't hurt.

I did a lot of shootings in extrem weather. For the EX1 I can tell you that this cam did a very good job in the deserts in the summer and also in the Denver mountains during a winter snow storm. Mostly without any cover on it.

But normaly extrem cold weather is not at big problem for the ex1. More humidity... I did a shooting when the snow was melting, and for a strange reason the LCD didn't work suddenly. But on the next morning when the camera was dry again, everything worked perfect.

So speaking of that shoot I did last night... We had the camera out and set then had to make a bunch of changes to our lighting due to the scene completely changing. So, we ended up having the camera outside in 3-6 degree weather for 1.5-1.75 hours... When I hit the record button, the red light on the back came on, however the camera LCD never showed REC nor did the READ/WRITE light change red above the card. The, the rear red light began blinking and suddenly an error message came up (had a string of number but I don't kno what). So we shut it off, warmed it slowly in a car while shooting with a different EX1. Once the camera warmed up and we got it back inside we began recording again without anymore errors the rest of the night.

So it seems that below 10 degrees is definitely cold enough to cause the camera to error out...

The problem is almost no camera has a stated operating temperature below 32F and above 104F even though we end up shooting with them in more extreme temperatures than the manufacturer calls operational. Truth is you can use the cameras in cold and heat and if they have a problem you have to live with it or solve it. Back up cameras, batteries, covers are all insurance to try and get through the shoot.

I have used my EX1 in 15 F with the lens 6" from the side of our helicopter with the door off running between 50-120 kts for two full tanks of fuel for a total of 5 hrs. The camera did not skip a beat neither did the Nano. Batteries go about 10-15% quicker in these temps.

No mic
Libec remote

This camera tends to run hot... Therefore it's a great performer in cold weather. High humidity and heat will shut it down (Gulf Coast, July, 100degrees with 98% humidity...would shut down every afternoon about 1pm).

In February I made my annual trip to Norway to shoot the Northern Lights. I used both an EX1 and EX3 and the temperature was -36c (-34c) at times and the cameras performed just fine. The only problems I had were with tripod heads freezing solid, rain covers shattering like glass. The cameras were stored outside for 4 days to prevent condensation issues and sudden temperature changes, the warmest day was -22c. The LCD screen does become very sluggish when cold and after the rain covers shattered I did use a fleece cover to give a small amount of protection to the cameras.

Interesting Frank I ran the EX in the tropics for a 14 day shoot with temps up to 100F and very high humidity with out loosing a frame. Very long days pre sunrise to past sunset.

Also in RI during the summer we have very high humidity with fog often and my on the water shooting again has never dropped a frame.

Alister makes a great point: Store the camera in the conditions it will be use to shoot starting the night before if possible. Air conditioning to humid is not a good deal. The same goes for hot to cold.

Like the old saying used on ships. "Cold to hot ventilate not". Think about that one when shipping rice on a ship.

Alister, great presentation at NAB.

If you want to see what extreme conditions the EX series cameras can take take a look at the video of Alister Chapman's presentation at NAB2009:

Sony Business Solutions & Systems - Featured

scroll down to his video and watch it.


Garrett

From the Battery forum, CHARGING li-ion batteries at extreeme low temperatures can cause permenent damage to the battery.
so if your in those -20*f type of places and using $200-900 li-ion batteries , you should check out that info.

i thought this would be a good thread to point that out in. I have not yet confirmed the info, but it is restated at a number of battery information web locations. what the extent of the damage would be i donno.

Good point Marty, I charge my batteries in room temp after the extreme cold shoots.

I shoot a lot outside in the winter.

Including the top of Mount Washington, home of the worlds worst weather (top windspeed world record 232mph). I have shot in -35℉ and 90 mph wind up there, it takes two people to hold down the tripod.

I have a PortaBrace Polar Pack I use for my EX3 and it has pockets for hand warmers. I got it originally for my DSR500 10 years ago or so. I still use it a lot it fits the EX3 great a bit big but that is nice, great place to keep your hands when shooting in the cold.

Lots of room for the NanoFlash too.

EX1 Shutting Down in High Heat & Humidity
 

Paul... In an effort to not create condesation, overnight the EX1 was kept in an enclosed garage which was still warm throughout the evening...Therefore the camera never had a chance to cool down from the days shooting. The camera wouldn't boot up until about 11pm when it finally cooled down a bit. We were out on the water of Laguna Madre Bay in South Padre Island, Texas in July. Usually 100 degrees by noon with 98% humidity. By about 1pm to 2pm the camera would shut down everyday. I'm guessing that since it runs hot, it would start the day from a warm beginning point and then it didn't take long to reach the point of the shut down. The first two days of shooting were fine. It wasn't until the last 4 days did I have the problem, which says the heat was building up each day. Next time I might not store it over night in the warm garage, but insteady bring it into the air cond. to cool down and do a slow step introduction to the outside air the next morning with it in a bag filled with dessicant packs.

Frank that is a problem have you told Sony and had it checked? Not a good thing to loose shots due to a overheated camera.

Olof wow that is one cold place. I have been up there in the summer with snow. The most dangerous small mountain in the world. How did you stay warm?

Paul,

When the weather is that nasty, you only go out for a few minutes at a time.

And you stay real close to the Observatory entrance. You can get lost in a whiteout where you sometimes cant even see your feet.

A few rules on clothing are. No cotton, lots of layers, crampons on your boots, keep extra gloves handy in a pocket, if yours blow away. A really sturdy jacket with hood. I also carry lots of heat packs for me and the camera.

I was up there shooting just a week ago, there was about 2-8" of rime ice on everything, but it was 50℉ and no wind. I got some nice shots. That would have been a nice day in August, very unusual.

Current conditions:

Mt Washington in the winter is on my list of places to visit. It is a wild place! I'm jealous!

Anyone interested in Mt Washington, can check my webcam. This is the view from our studio. Looking at the Presidentials from the south.

Westside A V Studios WEBcam

Today it is in the clouds. There is a time-lapse link there as well that shows a whole year.

Thanks for sharing the timelaps Olof. Let me know how much warmer we are only a few hours South. Hope to see you this winter.

Do you have the right angle SDI cables up on your site yet?

I shot with mine for 10 days on the iditarod. the coldest temp was -35f. The only problem I had was the LCD getting sluggish, like Alister pointed out. the solution was taping hand warmers to the viewfinder. This camera will take a beating too, had it in a pelican case (witout padding, just wrapped in a jacket) strapped to the back of my snowmachine, there were a couple trips where it got beat up pretty bad, and the only thing that happened was some paint chipped off.
I am really impressed with the camera.

Ian that is a great test for the camera not just the cold but the banging around shock load. Sounds like a fun gig.

I was out shooting all day today at Santa's Village, it is in Jefferson NH. But it may as well have been the North Pole.

It was 5℉ when we started but it went up to almost 30℉ by the end of the shoot. By then it was snowing pretty heavily with rain and sleet mixed in. Lots of it horizontal. I went through a lot of micro weave rags.

I was shooting with the new EX1R, I could not use the NanoFlash, because my Swit batteries are not here yet. I was only using a clear garbage bag to keep the snow off the EX1R. But it behaved perfectly. The large Sony batts lasted about 2 hrs each. I keep the camera on full time when in the cold. And I was not using heat pads on the batts. I had the Polar pack with me, but I did not use it. I wanted to see how the EX1R would do. I give it an A+. I shot 2 hrs on the SxS cards in about 8 hrs of running and gunning. I checked the footage when I got back, and it is all fine.

I was using my new shoulder brace when shooting the reindeer, it worked really well. It snaps right on or off in about 2 seconds and only adds about 6 oz to the cam. With the steady shot on the shots came out nice and fluid for such a light cam.

Snow looks great in slomo.

Paul, give me a call tomorrow about the SDI cables. I can make them, and I have all the fittings. I am just trying to decide how to sell them on the website. I can make them any size, with one or both ends 90º. I also have 90º connectors in stock.

I've shot mine down in Antarctica near the pole and it's been fine. Had it in a Polar jacket which as much was for my own hands as the camera's well-being. Batteries hold up surprisingly well (can't comment on Swit stuff, just the proper Sony batteries). Did get problems with snow getting in switches and jamming their position after a 120knot wind for 3 days, but I guess that's to be expected. It coped perfectly - a stunning camera and the ideal cold weather camera as it's solid state and energy efficient, plus you can charge the batteries easily from solar panels unlike their V-lock sisters...

Rob
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www.roberthollingworth.co.uk