XL H1 and cold weather conditions

Kevin Martorana · December 8th, 2007, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marty Hudzik

Slightly off topic but does anyone know if the FU-1000 suffers from the same "smearing" as the LCD when in colder temps? If not, then I'd highly recommend this or some other monitor as the default one becomes mush if it is too cold.

Peace

Marty,
I have a FU-1000 and do not see smearing. It's a CRT...and I don't see the smearing that others have mentioned in previous posts. Honestly...I have only used the viewfinder once. IMO...it doesn't give me a SUBSTANTIAL improvement over the color viewfinder.

I was shooting in studio this week...and literally had to constantly check focus on talent with our HD monitor AND the expanded focus button on the camera....to 'tweak' the focus. The LCD simply could not tell me enough information whether I was in focus or not. Only the monitor. The FU-1000 was the same way.

Willard Hill · December 8th, 2007, 11:13 PM

It seems to me that the FU-1000 is much better for accurate manual focusing than the stock finder, but peaking must be turned on. The peaking on this finder can be adjusted so it is not as obnoxious looking as that on the color finder.

I don't like the size of the image in this finder-it is like looking through a small hole compared to the color finder.

No, the FU-1000 does not smear in cold weather. I used the color finder during warm weather, but just changed back to the other because the smearing was driving me nuts since the weather turned cold. It is actually only in the 20's Fahrenheit, but that is enough to cause problems.

Joachim Hoge · December 12th, 2007, 02:09 PM

Just want to share my experience with you guys.

I just came back from a 2 day shoot in the mountains here in Norway. We spent the night in a tent. The temperature dropped to -15 Celcius at night with strong winds. I had to leave my XL-H1 in the camera bag outside overnight.
I was a bit worried as it was my first time in the cold with the camera, but it worked without problems.
Except the viewfinder which was just a blur at times. The smearing is really quite bad. Thankfully we are delivering SD and I used a wide angel and deep focus a quite a lot.
I had no cover on the camera and it felt bone frozen, but ran like a dream. We didn´t even have to use the generator, the 3 batteries I brought lasted more than enough.
I was filming a Randonee trip and carried the camera around my neck for most of the time.
It can really handle the cold well (not the veiwfinder though)

Alkim Un · December 17th, 2007, 11:04 AM

hi,

I tell my experince with cold weather. I used XL2 at -30 C many times. canon have a dual charger-holder, name should be CH910 or something. I put two bp 970 battery on it, and I put it on my waist under my clothes(cover it with a piece of long cloth) . then plug the power cable from your waist to the camera. so battaries are all time warm near body temperature. at - 30 I can shoot nearly 8 hours all day !

only thing you should care is you need to be close to the camera because of the cable length. but this is the easiest and the most sturdy way of handling extreme cold temps.

thanks.
alkim.

December 8th, 2007, 11:13 PM	#32
Willard Hill Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 191	It seems to me that the FU-1000 is much better for accurate manual focusing than the stock finder, but peaking must be turned on. The peaking on this finder can be adjusted so it is not as obnoxious looking as that on the color finder. I don't like the size of the image in this finder-it is like looking through a small hole compared to the color finder. No, the FU-1000 does not smear in cold weather. I used the color finder during warm weather, but just changed back to the other because the smearing was driving me nuts since the weather turned cold. It is actually only in the 20's Fahrenheit, but that is enough to cause problems. __________________ Willard http://pawildlifephotographer.blogspot.com/

December 17th, 2007, 11:04 AM	#34
Alkim Un Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ankara, Turkey Posts: 136	hi, I tell my experince with cold weather. I used XL2 at -30 C many times. canon have a dual charger-holder, name should be CH910 or something. I put two bp 970 battery on it, and I put it on my waist under my clothes(cover it with a piece of long cloth) . then plug the power cable from your waist to the camera. so battaries are all time warm near body temperature. at - 30 I can shoot nearly 8 hours all day ! only thing you should care is you need to be close to the camera because of the cable length. but this is the easiest and the most sturdy way of handling extreme cold temps. thanks. alkim. __________________ www.alkimmedya.com

December 12th, 2007, 02:09 PM	#33
Joachim Hoge Major Player Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Oslo, Norway Posts: 402	Just want to share my experience with you guys. I just came back from a 2 day shoot in the mountains here in Norway. We spent the night in a tent. The temperature dropped to -15 Celcius at night with strong winds. I had to leave my XL-H1 in the camera bag outside overnight. I was a bit worried as it was my first time in the cold with the camera, but it worked without problems. Except the viewfinder which was just a blur at times. The smearing is really quite bad. Thankfully we are delivering SD and I used a wide angel and deep focus a quite a lot. I had no cover on the camera and it felt bone frozen, but ran like a dream. We didn´t even have to use the generator, the 3 batteries I brought lasted more than enough. I was filming a Randonee trip and carried the camera around my neck for most of the time. It can really handle the cold well (not the veiwfinder though)