Using a HVX200 Outside During Winter - Minus 0 celcius

mochouinard

mochouinard

Well-known member
I will be getting my Camera from Leo store in mid february (thanks David ;). Now I live in Quebec, so it is currently cold winter.

My question is how one actually use this beauty camera without destroying it the first few days I get it ?

I want to take some nice HD footage with it but scared that the minus 0 will kill it.

Im saying this after seeing the CarlosDiegoh.264.mov from the XL H1. It winter and look to be under 0c.

If I understand from the other post :
Make sure you dont expose the camera to a too rapid change of temperature, make the transition slowly.

Is that all ?
 
Temperature is not that big a deal. Snow, frost, moisture and rain are much more so. What happens with your camera is that you should let him 'acclimatize' when you move from a cold to a warm environment or vice-versa. Especially because there will be condensated moisture in your camera aswell. It's like on your lens, but of course much less. :)
So if it's cold but dry, it won't budge. But for wetter occasions, get a rain cover. And if you want to go shooting in snowstorms, get a polar mitten.
But don't worry about the could braking your cam. It won't. Not at 0° celcius... :)
 
Although the HVX is better because P2 has no moving parts.

And, it is less the change in teperature, as much as change in humidity--anyplace your glasses would fog, your camera will. So, for lens, and tape mechanism, just be careful bringing it back inside a warm, humid house. Leave it wrapped in a towel, or a well insulated case for a half hour or so.
 
There is no Dew sensor in P2 camera. I heard a story that during last hurricane in Houstan the only footage they have was from P2 camera. The moisture failed all the tape camera include XDcam. The disc can not handle the vibration the buffer was not enough.
 
I just came back from an outdoor shoot at -30C (if not colder). I'm dumping the tape to disk now, and the footage is beautiful.

I was a bit concerned because during the shoot you could hear the tape scraping across the heads, and the motor and gears grinding slowly. Sometimes it took a while before the record light would go on. I had visions of oxide particles shedding inside the DVX -- but it worked without fault. Batteries wore down a little faster, but that's to be expected.

The camera was put back into its case and closed, and kept closed when going inside the vehicle or indoors (it stayed cold for a loooooong time). I kept close watch on the lens, to make sure that ice or moisture didn't form on the inside, but it never happened.

I have to go back north in a few weeks, but this time will probably make or buy an insulated coat for the camera.
 
pmark23 said:
I was a bit concerned because during the shoot you could hear the tape scraping across the heads, and the motor and gears grinding slowly. Sometimes it took a while before the record light would go on. I had visions of oxide particles shedding inside the DVX -- but it worked without fault.
Click to expand...

Ok is this supose to make me feel better ? :) I guess I just need to stick to P2 for cold outdoor. I will have 30min 24pN max recording on 3x4gig P2. I will have a P2 Store, but I wouldn't open it in the cold, since it have a HD inside.

So I guess the P2 workflow make it the best way to shoot in extreme environment.

I will follow all your good advices. And get a better insurance ;) Thanks
 
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