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 Manitoba's misadventurin' bushwhackin', dog sloggin', dehydratin', beer drinkin' biggie - who's eager to peak bag Mt Currie in a dress
Squamish
5048 Posts |
Posted - 12/05/2004 : 5:13 PM
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My apologies if this has been hashed out and beat to death before.
I went out today with my new digicam, and couldn't get a single shot because it immediately stopped working in the cold. And it wasn't even cold -1C at the most. I put the batteries in my pocket in hope of warming them, but all that allowed me to do was turn the camera on for a brief second before it shut itself off again.
Granted the batteries I was using were supplied by the manufacturer so the quality is suspect. Are lithium batteries better?
Or is it the camera itself that doesn't like the cold? The camera is a Pentax Optio 30.
'Course, it is my luck that a camera won't work in the cold - we have a history together.
Any thoughts and opinions on the subject welcome! |
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Satirical photoshop junkie who frolics in the mountains of the Chilliwack River Valley
Chilliwack, BC
Canada
6908 Posts |
Posted - 12/05/2004 : 6:15 PM
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Does your camera take standard AA's? If so, definitely make a point of getting the nickel metal hydrate batteries (NiMh) they last far longer than alkalines. I just picked up an eveready charger with 4 AA's for 25 bucks at the Stupid Store. That's what I use in my GPS now too.
Digital cameras are a bit of a hog when it comes to batteries, so get the most powerful ones you can. I believe the NiMh batteries are up to 2300 milliamps now.
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Live each day as if it was your last, and someday you'll be right.
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287 Posts |
Posted - 12/05/2004 : 6:53 PM
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| I use a reusable heat pack in my camera case to keep my camera and batteries warm. |
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Bowen Island, BC
Canada
614 Posts |
Posted - 12/05/2004 : 7:14 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by BillyGoat
Does your camera take standard AA's? If so, definitely make a point of getting the nickel metal hydrate batteries (NiMh) they last far longer than alkalines. I just picked up an eveready charger with 4 AA's for 25 bucks at the Stupid Store. That's what I use in my GPS now too.
BillyGoat, that is really interesting information. I find that the batteries in my GPS die quickly in the cold. I am not sure exactly what you bought. Were those four AA Eveready nickel metal hydrate rechargable batteries + the charger for $25? And what is Stupid store? he asks stupidly 
Do the NiMh batteries require any special handling? Is there concern about battery-memory?
Thanks.
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Vancouver, BC
653 Posts |
Posted - 12/05/2004 : 8:23 PM
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Stupid Store == SuperStore
I don't believe that NiHM batteries have a memory problem - I've never worried about it with any of the ones I use and never had any problems.. |
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Outdoors addicted flyfishing, skiing, snowshoeing, hiking car crooner and resident motormouth
Da'Wack, BC
Canada
5372 Posts |
Posted - 12/05/2004 : 10:55 PM
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| Me neither. |
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ass wigglin, cheese lovin, 4x4 drivin, apostrophe hatin, hiking chick who loves camping on snow
spaceship..
Canada
7209 Posts |
Posted - 12/05/2004 : 11:01 PM
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quote:
Digital cameras are a bit of a hog when it comes to batteries
Depends on the camera. Battery in mine lasts for weeks on end, depending how much I use my camera of course. I haven't encountered any problems in the cold either.
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Peak bagging, bushwhacking, zamboni driving, snowshoeing, self portrait artist, and speed demon who loves to hang out on Mt. Seymour
4000 Posts |
Posted - 12/05/2004 : 11:09 PM
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Lithium batteries are the best for regular use. They are expensive however. And non rechargeable. The NiMh are good and way better than alkaline (what usually comes with the camera when you buy it). And as said already the NiMh are rechargeable. And you can get a set of four with a charger for a good price. Have both sets charged up and keep the spare two in your pocket for later use in the cold weather.
Incidently, I work part time for West Fair Foods which owns a certain store mentioned in this thread. Not that I shop there, I'm more of a Save On Foods kind of guy. But if you can get over the decor and customer service amongst other things, Said Store does have some great deals.
Most batteries lose some power in the cold. That's why you gotta pay attention when buying a car battery (Cold Cranking Amps and all that). |
Edited by - simonc on 12/05/2004 11:11 PM |
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Burnaby
Canada
340 Posts |
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Manitoba's misadventurin' bushwhackin', dog sloggin', dehydratin', beer drinkin' biggie - who's eager to peak bag Mt Currie in a dress
Squamish
5048 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2004 : 07:02 AM
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Thanks for the replies, and the link Tash. That's what I was looking for.
I'll upgrade my batteries, and hopefully that makes a difference. I was some disappointed when I couldn't even take a shot with my camera!
Cheers |
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 adventure seeking, peak-bagging, high-enduring, strong and silent forest gnome
N49°09', W122°47'
Canada
3819 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2004 : 07:11 AM
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Well here's hoping your camera luck improves!
Pretty sucky first experience, but it probably was just the factory batteries they supplied that caused the grief. I did notice that my GPS batteries - just plain duracells - lasted only about 1/4 as long in the cold as in the warm weather. So far I've been impressed by the Li-ion batteries that my camera uses, but I tend to be out a little less in the really cold weather anyhow. |
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398 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2004 : 07:53 AM
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FYI, that's Hydride, not Hydrate.
NiMH = Nickel Metal Hydride
Cold Saps Usable NiMH Capacity
"Whatever the camera contributions, cold NiMH batteries clearly have a hard time. As the tables below show, NiMH rechargeables lose at least 20% of their deliverable capacity at freezing (32°F, 0°C) without significant loss of voltage; at -20°C, they've lost 80%. Fortunately, the trapped capacity becomes available again on return to room temperature.
Since cold NiMH batteries behave like batteries of lesser capacity, be prepared for reduced runtimes in freezing conditions. Carrying extra sets of batteries in a warm pocket is a must with NiMH in the cold. When the cold batteries in the camera fail, rotate in a warm set. Once the cold set has warmed up, its residual capacity will be ready to tap."
http://dpfwiw.com/batteries.htm#cold |
Edited by - Anon E. Moose on 12/06/2004 08:00 AM |
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Peak bagging, bushwhacking, zamboni driving, snowshoeing, self portrait artist, and speed demon who loves to hang out on Mt. Seymour
4000 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2004 : 3:47 PM
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| I wrote before that Lithium batteries are non-rechargeable. Ones such as the 123 model that go in compact film cameras. Lithium Ion batteries are re-chargable, such as the one in cell phones and some digital cameras. I haven't seen a lithium ion battery in the AA format. |
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 | Dru
Mountain Grammar Police
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Sardonic sandbagging scoundrel, Cascade Climbers lobotomized spraymeister, space blanket flyer, new millennium vulgarian betaboy and friend to all squids
Climbing, a mountain
Canada
∞ Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2004 : 5:34 PM
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I have a Lithium Ion rechargable in my Olympus digital, and it tends to freeze up and lose power frequently in the winter...makes it tough shooting ice climbing pictures. At, say, -10C, I find I can warm the whole camera (not just the battery) in an inner pocket and take 1, maybe 2 pics before it cools down and loses power, then I have to re-warm it for like 5 minutes and it will take another 1-2 pics.
It's nice to have an all-manual SLR film camera for extreme cold. |
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 Grouse Grinding, GPS carrying, lawn chair packing, bike riding North Shore tech addict who stares at Crown Mountain from his office window all day
North Vancouver
Canada
1905 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2004 : 7:58 PM
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I used to swap the batteries in my old camera when it got cold, and it worked well (heat one battery in side your jacket while using another). Now with my new camera it takes 4 AA cells, so I think it might be a bit more cumbersome to swap them in the cold. I am going to pick up 4 of the non-rechargable lithium cells to see how they perform in the cold.
BTW I just spotted some 2500mAh AA rechargables!! Just after I loaded up with a bunch of 2300mAh ones! 
http://thomas-distributing.com/energizer-aa-nimh-rechargeable-batteries.htm |
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Manitoba's misadventurin' bushwhackin', dog sloggin', dehydratin', beer drinkin' biggie - who's eager to peak bag Mt Currie in a dress
Squamish
5048 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2004 : 8:02 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Dru
It's nice to have an all-manual SLR film camera for extreme cold.
That was part of my problem - I bought the new digicam because my old SLR's shutter was sticking in the cold. It used to be when I was in MB in -25 only, but has since got worse to the point of being useless in 0C. I got in rebuilt, and that didn't help, after taking it back to the shop and complaining, they did it again, and it got better but only for a short while.
Anyway, I appreciate everyone's input on batteries here. I'll pick myself up a set of rechargeables soon as I can. Thanks |
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Peak bagging, bushwhacking, zamboni driving, snowshoeing, self portrait artist, and speed demon who loves to hang out on Mt. Seymour
4000 Posts |
Posted - 12/07/2004 : 6:37 PM
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Another thing about rechargeable batteries is that they lose their charge over time. So, if you charged them up two weeks ago and they've sat in your camera since then, they will problably only be at 80% capacity approx. Give them a top up the night before going on a hike the next day.
And, for those of you with digital cameras, the LCD screen sucks the juice down fast. Some cameras allow you to disable the display, and you use the viewfinder to compose the photos. Checking your picture after taking it becomes a hassle however if you have to keep turning the LCD on/off. |
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Camera batteries in the cold
