Coldest Temp and Climate to use HPX/HVX

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grimrebes

Well-known member
Prepping for a journey into Montana's back country in a few weeks, I was curious what the coldest anyone has run their HPX/HVX or even FS-100 at?

Coincidentally, I just happened to be watching planet earth, and their shooting diaries (always my favorite part) seem to use several Panasonic 2/3" cams, in addition to the film cams they were using. I wonder how much better a p2 or hdd system like the HPX would preform in low temperatures over their tape based recording...
 
The HVX200 has been to the south pole and run the entire course of the Iditarod sled dog race. I think the coldest I've heard is -67 degrees.

I wouldn't even think of trying an FS-100 in a similar environment.
 
On the other side of freezing, a former participant here has used the FS-100 extensively in the heat and humidity of Louisiana.

Another has used the FS-100 on many trips to Israel.
 
grimrebes said:
Coincidentally, I just happened to be watching planet earth, and their shooting diaries (always my favorite part) seem to use several Panasonic 2/3" cams, in addition to the film cams they were using. I wonder how much better a p2 or hdd system like the HPX would preform in low temperatures over their tape based recording...
Click to expand...

The 2/3 inch panasonic camera you saw was a first generation varicam it worked fine in most cold situations. They did have to shoot film because the tapes would freeze up in the extreme cold, not sure what those temps were.

I'd trust P2 over tape anyday. I have heard stories of hard drive's freezing up in the extreme cold and being permantly damaged.
 
I think they used film shooting the south pole, and the varicams northpole... The exposure and conditions seemed rougher on the south side than the north (south in the winter, north in the summer from what I gathered).

I agree about the P2 vs. fs-100, and granted I will need to get a winter coat of sorts for the camera.

Thanks for the feedback :)
 
Took an HVX-200 on an extended trip in the backcountry of Yellowstone last March. Left the camera in my pack overnight and never had a problem. Temps were around 0-15 ºF. No camera insulation. Kept batteries in my tent, but camera was on its own and had no problems. I really don't think cold is much of a problem...what gets them is going in and out of heated buildings into sub-zero temps. Also had my P2 store in the field for that trip and it would have to be warmed up before it would offload cards...now that I have a 64GB card that isn't going to be a problem.

Took my new HPX-170 out today in about -13 ºF. Focus seemed a bit stiffer than the HVX-200 ever was. Battery died pretty quick as per usual. I would be more concerned about your fingers than the camera. Some great images of the local creek all frozen.

Also I have been on shoots with the varicam down into the -20s and it performed great. Below -30 I have heard about cables getting brittle and breaking. Nevertheless, I would much rather take camera equipment into cold temps than deal with the high humidity of the tropics.
 
I work in Alaska. The HVX200 and HPX170 work consistently at -20 F without a cover. The LCD screen and viewfinder will smear and be slow to respond, but the camera records without any problems. Focus and zoom will be stiff...I try to use the Push Autofocus button in these situations, which seems to work faster.

The cameras begin to fail at about -22 to -25.

Don't bring it inside until you are done shooting - it will fog and you will be done. Before you bring it inside at the end of your shoot, wrap it in a plastic bag and put it back in the case. Don't open the case for a few hours or you'll get condensation inside the camera.
 
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