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Using S95 outdoors in the cold
  • WoosterMelWoosterMel +1 -1
    Posts: 7
    Hello fellow 95'ers. I might drag the telescope out tonight and try to get some lunar shots, but it's going to be cold (27F). Anything I should know about before doing this with my S95? I've had it out before in not quite so cold temperatures, and whenever I bring it it fogs up for a little bit, and that kinda concerns me. I've read where people will put in a ziplok bag with uncooked rice to absorb moisture, but that seems a little iffy, too (don't like thinking about rice dust getting all over the camera). Any hints? Or nothing to worry about?
  • colincolin +1 -1
    Posts: 45
    When you come indoors, just let it return to indoor temperature naturally, somewhere dry, without giving it any extra heat. The fogging will clear -it's usually on exterior surfaces only
  • chuklchukl +1 -1
    Posts: 164
    Hello WoosterMel.

    Good read on cameras in the cold here - http://www.nyip.com/ezine/outdoors/coldtemps.html

    Condensation has a special section.
  • luiztakeiluiztakei +1 -1
    Posts: 55
    Does anyone really use the plastic bags when bringing the camera back indoors? I used my old digital camera many times in the cold, never used the plastic bag and camera is still fine...
  • chuklchukl +1 -1
    Posts: 164
    It would depend on how long in how cold, transferring to how hot/humid.
  • luiztakeiluiztakei +1 -1
    Posts: 55
    Around 2 hours in -10 Celsius, then going back to 21 Celsius...
  • HitmanHitman +1 -1
    Posts: 392
    I always put mine in my shirt pocket underneath my coat. It keeps the camera nice and toasty, giving me more battery time, and if you only take it out to shoot a couple of photo's and put it back in, the camera doesn't cool off enough to have any trouble with condensation.
  • chuklchukl +1 -1
    Posts: 164
    @luiztakei
    But if outside at -20C, then entering a 21C humid room (kitchen?), perhaps you'd think twice. It all depends on conditions and degree of concern. Some are very careful and some not. There are no rules!
  • luiztakeiluiztakei +1 -1
    Posts: 55
    @chukl: I understand your point but I am interested in knowing what people on this forum do. Do you personally use it? Has anyone on this forum actually had any problem for not doing this?

    @Hitman: Thx for the comment!
  • chuklchukl +1 -1
    Posts: 164
    luiztakei said: .... personally use it?

    No, I'm not so careful, but I do leave a camera in it's zipped bag for about an hour to warm up. Not usually outside below -4C ... if much lower, I'll wrap the bag well in a coat and wait.

    The main problem would be activation of the moisture sensor/s ... then Canon could refuse specific warranty service, should a problem arise later. This happens!
  • chuklchukl +1 -1
    Posts: 164
    This failing brain was mistaking cell phones for cameras! Perhaps no moisture detectors in these cameras, but Canon often finds evidence (corrosion?), so I've read, and the owner looses out. (Owner being unaware of any possible moisture infiltration.)
  • HitmanHitman +1 -1
    Posts: 392
    I believe there's at least one moisture indicator on the S95's battery. It's a little rectangular sticker next to the terminals. Once exposed to sufficient amounts of moisture the sticker will change color to indicate it got too wet.

    One thing people sometimes do to prevent the sticker from getting wet and changing color is putting a small piece of tape over it. As the sticker also acts as a vent for battery gasses being expelled when the battery is charged incorrectly this might not be the best thing to do and I do not recommend it.

    As I have not opened up an s95 yet I do not know if there are more of these moisture indicators within the camera itself.
  • chuklchukl +1 -1
    Posts: 164
    Thanks, Hitman! Batteries, huh, so that's the difference between Canon and third-party ones, (just looked). Live and learn ... hadn't seen that. OK!
  • JimJim +1 -1
    Posts: 1
    My practice is always to bring cameras back up to temperature slowly. It's only a problem when going from cold to warm in that condensation can form on the internal surfaces of lenses and other parts of cameras. If I need the pictures fast I just take the card out and leave the camera in its case in an unheated part of the house for an hour or so.
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