Cold weather and battery life

[Pea-n-Me]

Do you normally use special batteries if you know you're going to be using your camera in extremely cold conditions?

I'd never had a problem before, but realized from the top of a ski slope this winter that I probably should have when my brand new S3 wouldn't work despite fresh batteries. Guess I shouldn't have left in the car overnight at -1 degree ( I know ). But I also ran into a problem last week in two of my cameras using them in the cold, appx 13 degrees, both sets of new batteries ran out.

The batteries I was using were Panasonic digital alkaline batteries. I saw that Energizer makes some for low temps which I think I'll buy in the future. Food for thought.

 

[jann1033]

i use rechargeables but i do notice less time between charges when it's really cold

 

[Jeanne B]

I've brought my camera with me a few times when we've gone snowmobiling. I put the strap around my neck and the camera is between my turtleneck and sweatshirt and then I have my snowmobile coat over my sweatshirt so it usually stays fairly warm underneath a couple of layers. I haven't had a problem with the batteries not working (alkalines) but I haven't used my S3 yet out in the cold (thanks to 2 poor years in a row for snowmobiling), only my Kodak.

And I won't scold you for leaving it in your car overnight.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

LOL, I was up in Maine, Jeanne. Boy, it gets cold up there!!

 

[AndrewWG]

I generally use just plain alkaline AA's in my S2 and have noticed that when it is below freezing out, the batteries are dead in no time. Probably less than half of the normal life. I have also noticed that when the camera is brought back to room temp, the same batteries work still. I do not remember how long they work, but certainly long enough to transfer the photos using the USB cord and take some more photos.

Strange, but true...

Andy

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Thanks for posting, Andrew. I've had such a hard time with batteries, I was beginning to think it was just me. Now that you mention it, I was able to squeeze out one picture after being in the lodge for a little while and then the batteries died again. Up on the mountain it wouldn't even turn on. Later, it went on but said the batteries were dead.

 

[AndrewWG]

There is also a "working temperature range" for most (if not all) digital cameras. I have the S2IS and I have actually been reading the manual lately (after owning this camera for 1 year). The manual states the following (on pg 169):

"At low temperatures, battery performance may diminish and the low battery icon appears very rapidly. In these circumstances, the performance can be improved by warming the batteries in a pocket before use"

It then goes into a test that they performed at various temps, etc.

I guess that would be a decent explaination. I know that when I was searching out a digital camera, all of the ones I was looking at said that they had a operating temperature range of 32 degrees farenheit to something really hot (for Massachusetts anyways). I was most concerned with the low end, but they all seem to be the same. I think that some of this is due to the LCD screen in low temps anyways. They don't like real low temps from what I have heard.


Andy

 

[Jeanne B]

LOL, I was up in Maine, Jeanne. Boy, it gets cold up there!!

It was up here that you were on the ski slope? (Let me guess, Sugarloaf or Sunday River) If so, and if it was last week, it was frigid!! Too cold for snowmobiling, we had to wait until it warmed up Friday (we had a small window of opportunity to snowmobile Friday night and early Saturday morning before it was going to hit 40's which we knew was going to kill the nice snowpack).

Better luck next winter with your batteries!!

 

[boBQuincy]

Most batteries work on a chemical reaction and most chemical reactions are less active in lower temperatures ( I *knew* that high school chemistry class would pay off someday).

Some lithium cells will work well in cold weather but I don't know if those are rechargeable. On a trip in January 2003 we saw our coldest weather yet at WDW, low 20's one morning! My batteries did not do well that day, nor did I. It was only the spectacle of Illuminations that could drag us away from our hot tea in Yakitori that evening.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

boB, you are spoiled.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

There is also a "working temperature range" for most (if not all) digital cameras. I have the S2IS and I have actually been reading the manual lately (after owning this camera for 1 year). The manual states the following (on pg 169):

"At low temperatures, battery performance may diminish and the low battery icon appears very rapidly. In these circumstances, the performance can be improved by warming the batteries in a pocket before use"

It then goes into a test that they performed at various temps, etc.

I guess that would be a decent explaination. I know that when I was searching out a digital camera, all of the ones I was looking at said that they had a operating temperature range of 32 degrees farenheit to something really hot (for Massachusetts anyways). I was most concerned with the low end, but they all seem to be the same. I think that some of this is due to the LCD screen in low temps anyways. They don't like real low temps from what I have heard.


Andy

Ah, I see that in the manual (p. 150 for the S3).

I never thought of checking for a working temperature range as I've never encountered a problem in cold weather before. I'll keep it in mind for future reference, and pick up some cold weather batteries if I know I'll be shooting in cold conditions.

Yes, that manual's something, isn't it? I've read it a couple of times already and keep it in my bag for quick reference checks. It's taking me a while to get used to the camera, but I'm hoping to use it more outside now that we'll be (hopefully) getting some better weather.

 

[handicap18]

I ran into a problem a few years ago with my Canon S30. Went to a Patriots playoff game and temp at kickoff was 4*F. But we are nuts and tailgated for 3 hours beforehand. I wanted to get a few pics as we had a cool setup with a canopy and tarps for walls and a few heaters and had the TV going to watch the early playoff game, etc... I got all of 2 pictures then the battery went dead. They aren't real powerful batteries to begin with 540aMh I believe, but that was my first experience with the cold and battery life. Since then when I've used my camera on cold days or left it in the car overnight I take the batteries out and keep them in my pocket to warm them back up. That has made a big difference, that and now having batteries that have 3 times the life as those for the S30. I used this practice last week when I took pics of the USS JFK leaving Boston. It was COOOOOLD! (around 20* on the water) Put the batteries in my pocket after leaving the camera in my car for 7 hours and didn't have any issues with battery life. Was able to snap off a few dozen pics with no movement on the battery indicator on the camera.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I used this practice last week when I took pics of the USS JFK leaving Boston. It was COOOOOLD! (around 20* on the water) Put the batteries in my pocket after leaving the camera in my car for 7 hours and didn't have any issues with battery life. Was able to snap off a few dozen pics with no movement on the battery indicator on the camera.

Now you tell me. And here I was evidently right behind you fumbling around with my two cameras and no battery power.

 

[MICKEY88]

the best thing to do is start out with 2 or 3 sets of freshly charged batteries, keep them in a pocket or somewhere warm until you are ready to take your first picture, once one set starts to show signs of decline, switch to a warm set of batteries, putting the first set back in a warm place...then switch to the 3rd set of freash batteries, then repeat the procedure when neccessary with the 3 sets of used batteries, that will maximize the battery life and # of pics that you will get on that day..