can the cold shut off your camera?

[steveorino 7]

I probably have close to 1000 camera jumps and while I've had my share of equipment failures I never had one like last Saturday. It was a handcam tandem. Temp at altitude was about 10-15 degrees Fahrenheit. Chill was more like minus 10. My video recorded all the prep and climbout but turned off as we exited. I noticed it off in freefall and turned it back on. I saw the red cam eye light all the way to the ground, but all it recorded was about 1 second as I turned it on freefall. The other TM said his turned off as he exited too. He said his cameye was showing red (record) but got nothing after climbout.

Could it be the cold?

steveOrino

[beowulf 1]

I have had my HC5 lock up a couple of times due to the cold. I caught it once and had time to shut it all the way off and then turn it back on and start recording.

[DSE 5]

Yes. Condensation sensor will shut down when it senses cold.
This isn't a problem with flash-based cams.

[LouDiamond 1]

Yes, we recently did HALO/HAHO jumps from 25k with a temp of -56 and had chem lights flash freeze on exit as well as have other electronic devices stop working, to include our computers with solid state hard drives. Granted this was a temperature extreme most will never encounter but we have also encountered this problem as low as 12.5 during exit on cold days. The cold and the rapid temperature change plays havoc with most electronic devices,even ones that are "supposed" to work in extremes.

"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required"
Some people dream about flying, I live my dream
SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING

[skydiveoc 0]

Have had my cx 12 shut off on climbout as well. Maybe use one of those hand warmer pouches in the camera enclosure? Or will that just add to the condensation factor?

[lilchief 1]

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Yes. Condensation sensor will shut down when it senses cold.
This isn't a problem with flash-based cams.

Does that also include DSLR's? My 350 did it a couple of times last summer, but not during winter jumping in Norway.

"Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci
www.lilchief.no

[LouDiamond 1]

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Have had my cx 12 shut off on climbout as well. Maybe use one of those hand warmer pouches in the camera enclosure? Or will that just add to the condensation factor?

What most people are unaware of is that those hand warmers need oxygen to function and usually take anywhere from 15-20 mins to even warm up once activated on the ground. When taken to altitude, they generally just stop working. Everyone who was using them initially during the recent 4 month long high altitude testing we've been doing stopped using them because they just didn't do anything once at altitude.

What seems to help is a barrier or cover that has insulating properties. My iphone was in my cargo pocket under my insulated jump suit during the -56f 25k foot HAHO and it was on and functional when I was back on the ground. Had I pulled it out of my pocket while under canopy I am certain it would have shut down like most of the other electronics did. In some cases it is shielding the device from the effects of the cold and in some devices the battery is what causes the device to shut down as they typically don't handle cold very well. We have some devices that actualy heat the batteries in cold environments so they and the device can function properly.

An insulated box or camera condom may help with your problem but I would also make sure to cover the battery if you continue to have this issue.

"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required"
Some people dream about flying, I live my dream
SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING

[skydiveoc 0]

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Have had my cx 12 shut off on climbout as well. Maybe use one of those hand warmer pouches in the camera enclosure? Or will that just add to the condensation factor?

What most people are unaware of is that those hand warmers need oxygen to function and usually take anywhere from 15-20 mins to even warm up once activated on the ground. When taken to altitude, they generally just stop working. Everyone who was using them initially during the recent 4 month long high altitude testing we've been doing stopped using them because they just didn't do anything once at altitude.

What seems to help is a barrier or cover that has insulating properties. My iphone was in my cargo pocket under my insulated jump suit during the -56f 25k foot HAHO and it was on and functional when I was back on the ground. Had I pulled it out of my pocket while under canopy I am certain it would have shut down like most of the other electronics did. In some cases it is shielding the device from the effects of the cold and in some devices the battery is what causes the device to shut down as they typically don't handle cold very well. We have some devices that actualy heat the batteries in cold environments so they and the device can function properly.

An insulated box or camera condom may help with your problem but I would also make sure to cover the battery if you continue to have this issue.

Excellent info...thanks.

[cpoxon 0]

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Have had my cx 12 shut off on climbout as well. Maybe use one of those hand warmer pouches in the camera enclosure? Or will that just add to the condensation factor?

What most people are unaware of is that those hand warmers need oxygen to function and usually take anywhere from 15-20 mins to even warm up once activated on the ground. When taken to altitude, they generally just stop working. Everyone who was using them initially during the recent 4 month long high altitude testing we've been doing stopped using them because they just didn't do anything once at altitude.

The reusable sealed hand warmers with a disc inside that is snapped to activate (and the warmer is boiled to reset) don't use oxygen, although they don't last as long as the oxygen fueled ones.

Skydiving Fatalities - Cease not to learn 'til thou cease to live

[keithbar 1]

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[reply

The reusable sealed hand warmers with a disc inside that is snapped to activate (and the warmer is boiled to reset) don't use oxygen, although they don't last as long as the oxygen fueled ones.

because I'm a hunter I got a couple of those from a well meaning friend as a x-mas gift one time. they suck for hunting. but may just be the ticket to warm up a camera if they don't blow up on the way to altitude

i have on occasion been accused of pulling low . My response. Naw I wasn't low I'm just such a big guy I look closer than I really am .

[LouDiamond 1]

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if they don't blow up on the way to altitude

That would be my concern. Anything sealed like that with, especially with binary chemicals inside of it, is probably gonna do something you don't want at altitude.

"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required"
Some people dream about flying, I live my dream
SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING

[azureriders 0]

I regularly shoot HALO footage during the summer with exit temps around -25F. I have taken my older PC9, PC100, and once my HC96 for video. All have been using my Rebel xt for stills. All cameras are always in a condom, even the stills. I have never had any of them shut off from cold, but the condensation normally shuts them down around 2000' AGL. I have another set up waiting for the landing shots.

I do plan on using my new HC5 for some HALO work this summer. If anyone is having regular cold issues with this camera, please let me know.