Extreme cold - battery extension?

Geosch

Geosch

Member
Hey -

I'm trying to figure out if there's a product that would allow me to keep AF100 batteries in my coat pocket for warmth and be cabled to power the camera body... Basically, is there an extension cable that the battery will attach to? I have an upcoming shoot in arctic conditions.

Thanks!
 
I have extensive experience shooting with the AF100 in arctic conditions. Bat life probably won't be the issue as long as you have access to recharging daily. Shoot me a PM if you want details.
 
As a Canadian film maker I have been shooting up north as we call it for years. I shot many weeks last winter in the Arctic, not with an AF100 but with an HMC150. Battery life was shortened to some extent but that was never an issue. Just keep a couple of spares inside your jacket next to your body and you should be fine. Bring an extra charger and keep them topped up. Lenses get stiff, plastic things brittle, and if you are out too long your nose might fall off. We were in Gjoa Haven, Cambridge Bay and a dozen other places in Nunavut and the Western Arctic. Hit -35c often and with wind chill down to -58c once. Cold is not a strong enough word. But wonderfully warm people everywhere up there. Happy to help if you need anything, drop me an email or pm.
Brian
 
Hi, I've been shooting snowboard films for around ten years. The AF100 shouldn't experience too many issues TBH, as long as you have 3 or more batteries. If you want to extend battery life, just take a bunch of hand warmers with you and stick them to the battery. This works a treat and has got me through 12 hours shoots at -25 degrees.

Good luck!
 
Ah, just read what Brian said. I took a charger to Sweden and was charging on the shoot. After being out in the cold all night, the DC cable simply snapped off when I picked it up. Everything becomes super brittle. That includes all of your plastic casing.

Another thing to note is that your insurance doesn't technically cover this type of usage as it's outside of the recommended limits of the camera.

Lastly, the grease in your tripod will solidify. Just before you want to shoot, pan and tilt the tripod starting of with 30 degrees and going all the way up to full movement. Do it about ten times moving faster and faster and you'll have a nice fluid head.
 
Yes, the battery will last a little less in my experience. I just put the spare ones in my pocket and it seems to work. But as somebody said this is bellow the recommended temperature for the camera. The camera though still works without a glitch.
 
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