Ebony in the cold

[larkis]

What is the coldest temperatures anyone has shot at with an ebony camera ? Is shooting under sub zero conditions harmful to the wood when brought back into room temperature ? Do the lenses have issues (schneider) ?

 

[phaedrus]

Minus 10 to minus 15 degrees centigrade. The rack and pinion tracks get a little loose in the dry cold, resulting in a bit of sideways play on the rear standard. That reverts once inside and it can be adjusted for. There's a how-to on the Ebony website.
The lenses have done well at these temperatures. I don't take them out of their RPT boxes until warmed up to room temperature.

Christoph

 

[Rafal Lukawiecki]

Minus 15 C with my SV45TE but only with minimal movements. No probs to report. I used Schneider lenses at the time and also no probs.

Rafal

 

[MurrayMinchin]

-20 C with a wooden Wista and Schneider lenses. Never had a problem going from the warmth of the house to the cold, but will always give the camera bag time to warm up slowly before opening it. Just remember to hold your breath while focusing and composing or you'll frost up the ground glass!

Murray

 

[Timothy]

I have used my Ebony SV45U at -32 Deg Celsius and in that range on several occasions. Never had any problem with it.

 

[Martin Aislabie]

How do you keep the ground glass from freezing up?
It makes me many minutes to compose on the ground glass with initial camera alignment, focusing and then add movements.
I just have to keep rubbing the ice off when can
Has someone a better way?
Martin

 

[blaze-on]

I haven't had the need to try it, but consider that stuff you put on windshields to keep fog from forming..

 

[MurrayMinchin]

How do you keep the ground glass from freezing up?
It makes me many minutes to compose on the ground glass with initial camera alignment, focusing and then add movements.
I just have to keep rubbing the ice off when can
Has someone a better way?

Before going under focusing cloth, inhale deeply. While holding breath, work on composition. To exhale, dip head down and to one side before exhaling beyond the focusing cloth, then inhale mightily. Repeat as needed.

A better way? Perhaps a snorkel equipped focusing cloth

Murray

 

[jp80874]

then inhale mightily. Repeat as needed.

Murray

Murray,
If you don’t behave, we are going to put you back in that kayak and shove you off into the cold winter night.

John Powers

 

[MurrayMinchin]

Murray,
If you don’t behave, we are going to put you back in that kayak and shove you off into the cold winter night.

If you can arrange leave with pay from work, I'm all for it

Murray