[Stephii_Rawr]

hey guys...
im planning on taking my xti up to the mountains for a day when i go snowboarding..

any suggestions on how to take care of it/make sure it doesnt get damaged?
or how to take pictures in the snow?

im kinda nervous and hesitant about taking it anywhere cause i dont want anything to happen to it
please and thank you

[nmulax]

Don't really have any suggestions, but post the pics when you get back. I know anyone I've shot with always had tons of lenses/filters/etc to keep the lighting from flattening everything out.
Keep the camera inside your jacket when not being used to keep the batteries warm.

[Stephii_Rawr]

Originally Posted by nmulax

Don't really have any suggestions, but post the pics when you get back. I know anyone I've shot with always had tons of lenses/filters/etc to keep the lighting from flattening everything out.
Keep the camera inside your jacket when not being used to keep the batteries warm.

camera's pretty big.. lol jackets pretty small..
grrrrr... im so lost.. haha

[dejav0o]

I wouldn't bring it snowboarding.... not really practical, and plus you could easily break it. If you wanted to just go up to the snow to get some shots, then that's different.

[TurboFan]

I keep mine in 1-gallon plastic bags - lens and body sep - while I ski or ride. I also keep the lens off the body until I'm ready to use it. When you go inside, keep the equipment in the bags while it comes back up to room temp. The cold air is very dry, but when you bring the cold equip inside, condensation will form on the camera if it is exposed to the warm, more moist air. So, let the camera equipment warm up to room temp inside the sealed plastic bags before you take it out. If you get condensation inside the lens or body, it will never quite clear up on its own, and will require expensive service to repair.

[Stephii_Rawr]

Originally Posted by TurboFan

I keep mine in 1-gallon plastic bags - lens and body sep - while I ski or ride. I also keep the lens off the body until I'm ready to use it. When you go inside, keep the equipment in the bags while it comes back up to room temp. The cold air is very dry, but when you bring the cold equip inside, condensation will form on the camera if it is exposed to the warm, more moist air. So, let the camera equipment warm up to room temp inside the sealed plastic bags before you take it out. If you get condensation inside the lens or body, it will never quite clear up on its own, and will require expensive service to repair.

ouch....................
okay then ill just tell my friend to bring his point and shoot..
much easier no? lol
thanks so much guys ^_^

[SCTexas]

Hey I was thinking the same thing! I am about to go on my annual snowboarding trip and I was thinking about bringing my xti but the more I think about it I think I will just bring my p&s on the slopes and use the xti for all my other shots.

Pray for Pow~

[Stephii_Rawr]

Originally Posted by tightwhite3

Hey I was thinking the same thing! I am about to go on my annual snowboarding trip and I was thinking about bringing my xti but the more I think about it I think I will just bring my p&s on the slopes and use the xti for all my other shots.

Pray for Pow~

yeah... but then im afraid to leave the xti in the car because its hella cold...
and we're gonna be on the slopes for the whole day...
i guess the p&s will just have to do..

[TurboFan]

Originally Posted by Stephii_Rawr

ouch....................
okay then ill just tell my friend to bring his point and shoot..
much easier no? lol
thanks so much guys ^_^

You have the same problem with a point and shoot. I take my D200 out almost everytime I ride or ski. It's no big deal, just make sure the bag is sealed when you take it inside.

[just4kickz]

put it in a backpack with lots of padding? fall on your ass and not on ur back?

[TurboFan]

I usually pack a fleece around the camera. Admitedly, I'd prefer to ski over ride when I have my camera gear with me.

[MpoweredM]

On the right of this picture you'll see my friend riding with my camera bag. On the left you'll see me headed towards the superpark.

[MpoweredM]

Originally Posted by TurboFan

I keep mine in 1-gallon plastic bags - lens and body sep - while I ski or ride. I also keep the lens off the body until I'm ready to use it. When you go inside, keep the equipment in the bags while it comes back up to room temp. The cold air is very dry, but when you bring the cold equip inside, condensation will form on the camera if it is exposed to the warm, more moist air. So, let the camera equipment warm up to room temp inside the sealed plastic bags before you take it out. If you get condensation inside the lens or body, it will never quite clear up on its own, and will require expensive service to repair.

Is the XTI not weatherproof? Get some weather proof lenses while you're at it too.

[TurboFan]

Originally Posted by MpoweredM

Is the XTI not weatherproof? Get some weather proof lenses while you're at it too.

You usually don't see weather resistant construction until you start spending $1500+ on a DSLR body. My D200 is the cheapest Nikon or Canon I know of with a metal chassis / sealed body. No camera is air tight.

What happens is the camera gets cold while you're outside. No biggie, most work fine down to about -40F or so. The issue is when you go inside. The warmer air inside infiltrates the camera, and this warmer air has moisture in it. This warmer air hits the cold camera, and the moisture condenses inside the camera (or lens - think a cold bottle of beer on a hot humid summer day). Big problem. BIG. Sometimes they dry out OK, sometimes they don't. I've had a P&S be completely ruined, and an older lens haze up for a few days. I keep them in plastic bags when I'm riding just in case I get a little snow in the backpack during load/unload, or something else. By keeping them in the bag when you come inside, that warm, more moist air can't get to the camera, and the camera comes up to room temp in dry air. Then you can open the bag, and nothing will condense in the camera.

I've never seen a weatherproof lens. Some designs are better than others. Fixed focal length is the most resistant, than internal zoom (barrel does not extend, all elements move inside a fixed barrel - more expensive). Zooms where the barrel extends are the least resistant to the elements. The biggest issue in a lens is dust, which can be cleaned. Usually only required after a hell of a lot of use, or just a little abuse. Dust and dirt in the body can be a whole different issue, and they don't handle it as well.

[Stephii_Rawr]

hm... so if i bring a backpack.. what happens if i fall?

i think ill be safer with the p&s =]
thanks guys!

[MpoweredM]

Originally Posted by TurboFan

You usually don't see weather resistant construction until you start spending $1500+ on a DSLR body. My D200 is the cheapest Nikon or Canon I know of with a metal chassis / sealed body. No camera is air tight.

What happens is the camera gets cold while you're outside. No biggie, most work fine down to about -40F or so. The issue is when you go inside. The warmer air inside infiltrates the camera, and this warmer air has moisture in it. This warmer air hits the cold camera, and the moisture condenses inside the camera (or lens - think a cold bottle of beer on a hot humid summer day). Big problem. BIG. Sometimes they dry out OK, sometimes they don't. I've had a P&S be completely ruined, and an older lens haze up for a few days. I keep them in plastic bags when I'm riding just in case I get a little snow in the backpack during load/unload, or something else. By keeping them in the bag when you come inside, that warm, more moist air can't get to the camera, and the camera comes up to room temp in dry air. Then you can open the bag, and nothing will condense in the camera.

I've never seen a weatherproof lens. Some designs are better than others. Fixed focal length is the most resistant, than internal zoom (barrel does not extend, all elements move inside a fixed barrel - more expensive). Zooms where the barrel extends are the least resistant to the elements. The biggest issue in a lens is dust, which can be cleaned. Usually only required after a hell of a lot of use, or just a little abuse. Dust and dirt in the body can be a whole different issue, and they don't handle it as well.

Interesting. I use a 1dmarkII and a few different L lenses. I shoot in the cold all the time to later go indoors and start loading up the pictures right away. I guess I've been lucky...? I don't know, but I've never had a problem.

[TurboFan]

Originally Posted by MpoweredM

Interesting. I use a 1dmarkII and a few different L lenses. I shoot in the cold all the time to later go indoors and start loading up the pictures right away. I guess I've been lucky...? I don't know, but I've never had a problem.

I've done the same, and "been lucky". I've also been unlucky. I don't like to chance it, so I try to use the bags as much as possible. I'd say in a high alpine environment, like the Rockies, it's so dry that it may not even matter indoors. But why take the chance?

[Stephii_Rawr]

i ended up not going snowboarding (today)
because of this stupid RAIN! i hate rain..

[SCTexas]

That blows~

I had a blast in Keystone last week!

I did not get a chance to use my XTI as much as I liked but I did pull the PnS out pretty often.

Pray for Pow!

[BMWE90]

^ holy crap dude!! Talk about white out conditions...must have been fun!!

[Stephii_Rawr]

too late for snowboarding now
unless i go up to canada =_=

[SCTexas]

Originally Posted by BMWE90

^ holy crap dude!! Talk about white out conditions...must have been fun!!

It was a blast! About 3 inches of POW so the perfect amount, not too much and not too little. It was like riding on butter!

Lucky for me since I live in Texas and only get to make it out about once or twice a year.