C300 Filming in extreme cold weather at DVinfo.net

Matt Gallagher · January 30th, 2013, 06:07 PM

Our crew is heading out to a military base in Northern Canada to film some exteriors of military troops performing cold weather training. Average day temperature is -35C or -31F. Our days will be spent entirely outside but we will have a place to warm up and recharge batteries at night. Does anyone have any experience using the C300 in extreme cold? I found this but wondered if it was necessary... PortaBrace - DSLR rig cases | Camera Backpacks!
Thoughts?

Mark Dobson · January 31st, 2013, 01:53 AM

Hi Matt,

The case you have found looks pretty good but I would want to try it on the camera before buying.

I've just been out filming in the snow with my C300, but at very mild temperatures compared to yours, and I used a Petrol Rain cover I've had for quite a few years. The cover worked really well with only the mic, the viewfinder and the front of the lens exposed.

The cover kept the camera dry and I didn't even attempt to use the LCD screen relying totally on the viewfinder. My biggest concern was changing lenses, probably not a great thing to do, which was necessary to get the range of shots I needed. I was swapping between a 100-400L and the 17-55.

I found that everything gets to be much much harder to do in the cold. I was wearing gloves that left 2 fingers exposed and had to find the controls by feel.

What lens / lenses are you planning to use?

Matt Gallagher · January 31st, 2013, 09:40 AM

Thanks Mark. I'm used to shooting in the cold but those temperatures of -35C/-30F are extreme for even us Canadians. I'm worried that the camera will simply stop working. We'll be using the 17-55, 70-200, and maybe the 11-16. Has anyone used the C300 in extreme cold?

January 30th, 2013, 06:07 PM	#1
Matt Gallagher New Boot Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 19	C300 Filming in extreme cold weather Our crew is heading out to a military base in Northern Canada to film some exteriors of military troops performing cold weather training. Average day temperature is -35C or -31F. Our days will be spent entirely outside but we will have a place to warm up and recharge batteries at night. Does anyone have any experience using the C300 in extreme cold? I found this but wondered if it was necessary... PortaBrace - DSLR rig cases \| Camera Backpacks! Thoughts?

January 31st, 2013, 01:53 AM	#2
Mark Dobson Major Player Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Horsham / United Kingdom Posts: 328	Re: C300 Filming in extreme cold weather Hi Matt, The case you have found looks pretty good but I would want to try it on the camera before buying. I've just been out filming in the snow with my C300, but at very mild temperatures compared to yours, and I used a Petrol Rain cover I've had for quite a few years. The cover worked really well with only the mic, the viewfinder and the front of the lens exposed. The cover kept the camera dry and I didn't even attempt to use the LCD screen relying totally on the viewfinder. My biggest concern was changing lenses, probably not a great thing to do, which was necessary to get the range of shots I needed. I was swapping between a 100-400L and the 17-55. I found that everything gets to be much much harder to do in the cold. I was wearing gloves that left 2 fingers exposed and had to find the controls by feel. What lens / lenses are you planning to use?

January 31st, 2013, 09:40 AM	#3
Matt Gallagher New Boot Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 19	Re: C300 Filming in extreme cold weather Thanks Mark. I'm used to shooting in the cold but those temperatures of -35C/-30F are extreme for even us Canadians. I'm worried that the camera will simply stop working. We'll be using the 17-55, 70-200, and maybe the 11-16. Has anyone used the C300 in extreme cold?