Advice requested for shooting outdoors, in the cold.

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x002657

Well-known member
Will soon be shooting a job outdoors, maybe for up to 4 hours in length.

Possible cameras/media (all Panny's) are:
HVX-200 (tape, or nNovia QC Deck; don't have P2 cards to accommodate the duration)
DVC-20P (miniDV tape only)
HMC-150 (SDHC cards only)
(Leaning towards the 150 for lack of tape mechanism and for time-date stamp; it's a legal job).

Outdoor temps could be below min operating temp for any of these cams.

My questions:
1) which media would work best in cold temps?
2) how to keep cam warm while shooting?
3) precautions re: lav and/or shotgun mic in cold weather?
4) what else need I worry about/accommodate?

Am considering using some Jon-E or dry-chemical handwarmers wrapped inside a neoprene sleeve w/velcro closure, wrapped around the cam.

Good idea? Bad? Something better?

Input from anyone with experience shooting in the cold is welcome.
Thanks,
x
 
I'd be more worried about the manual controls freezing up.

i wouldof thought put hand warmers around it is a bad idead as condensation will build up and probably shot-circut the camera.
 
If you're using manual focus, the 150's focus ring will probably freeze up on you if it's freezing or below. Either use autofocus, or find a way to warm the focus ring up, or use an external focus controller like a FoXi or Varizoom.
 
Barry, THANKS and one last clarification, please:

Barry, THANKS and one last clarification, please:

the 150 supposedly has "no moving parts" (except the focus ring, zoom, iris control, and switches). Are they the things most affected by the cold?
Is performance of the SDHC card hindered by the cold?
I'd expect that to work faster or at least better, and not be hindered by sub-freezing temps.
thanks.
 
Thanks, Smifis & F/Vesco...

Thanks, Smifis & F/Vesco...

condensation as a problem never crossed my mind. "Important safety tip."

Scott: The Polar Mitten would certainly be warmly welcomed (pun intended), but buying the 150 was a stretch at this point in time. (I did it to cash in on both he Free Neo 2 and the Free 16 Gb SDHC card). The mitten is simply out of my reach at present, but thanks for the tip. When I'm back to making purchases, I'll be sure to visit that site).

x
 
Got a little lucky w/this shoot...

Got a little lucky w/this shoot...

The temps that day started around 26 degrees F, and rose to a high of only about 30-31. (I don't think it ever hit 32 F). It was entirely overcast and gray, but luckily there was no wind, just an occasional light breeze.
I ended up using the DVC-20 w/miniDV tape, (had the HMC-150 for backup) and a Juicedlink CX431 for audio.
For the cam, I used a couple of dry-chem handwarmers covered by an Ace neoprene back-brace from CVS to try to keep the drive mechanism just warm enough to keep working. I only had to move the tripod a couple of times, and shot almost entirely on auto. (For myself, while I was pretty well bundled-up in Polarfleece and windpants, I used a couple of the small JonE wet-chem handwarmers; the smell of the fumes can be strong, but they work well and last a long time).
Very crude, I know, and even questionably effective, but I had no problems...not with freezing or condensation, even using 3 tapes to get the job done.
The biggest problems I had were:
1) the 9V battery for the Juicedlink mixer (used to power a Shure SM-11 lav and an Azden SGM-1000 shotgun) went low on power less than half-way through the shoot, and
2) the cold seemed to affect drag/balance settings on the tripod pretty badly. I had to snug those down pretty well, a little tighter than normal.
Other than that, no freezing, dropouts, or other problems I noticed, from shooting to capture to burning the DVD.
Thanks to all for your input, and pointing out the things I needed to keep an eye on. (Now, I'm just waiting to get paid).
x
 
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