Hassie SWC up to extreme skiing?

[NikoSperi]

In the series, let's stop pampering our gear...

I have taken Leicas backcountry skiing, I have used my Nikon F100 back country, and they have all been dropped in the snow, been cold in the backpack and generally abused. They performed flawlessly, even at -35C.
This time, I want to get some medium format and a full Hassie is too big. But I have an SWC (903) which I think would work wonders out there. I've used an 80mm Planar CFE in the rain without trouble, but does anyone have snow/weather experience with an SWC or any other CF lens? Presumably, the lack of WLF removes one entry point for moisture. How are the CF lenses if they, say, get a light sprinkling of powder? The film backs?

Is this a bad idea? (Please no suggestions for a Pentax/Mamiya/Holga/1DsMKII... I have enough cameras, so the choice is down to these two: 35mm or SWC)

 

[André E.C.]

Well, I have CF`s which I have used under heavy snowing and no problem at all.
As for the dropping, can`t say nothing about it, never dropped mine.
Take the SWC with that "Terrific" Biogon in the front!

Have fun!

André

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Take it out in the cold for a while or put it in the refrigerator, and make sure the shutter works before leaving on your trip. I've had the occasional leaf shutter freeze up in the cold, if it hadn't had a CLA for a long time.

 

[david b]

Remind me not to buy any gear from Niko.

 

[NikoSperi]

Remind me not to buy any gear from Niko.

Nah... I'm just posturing. I'm really more interested in that LHSA special edition, you know, serial number 1002932 to keep in my display case next to my other cameras. When I want photos, I shoot digital. Really!

 

[NikoSperi]

Take it out in the cold for a while or put it in the refrigerator, and make sure the shutter works before leaving on your trip. I've had the occasional leaf shutter freeze up in the cold, if it hadn't had a CLA for a long time.

Good point David, I hadn't thought of that. Murphy's Law says it'll happen when it's the only lens you have and you're 9000km away from home. I'd have to look up some fellow Apugers (Apugites? Apugettes? Apes?) in the area and borrow some stuff!

 

[vet173]

Nice for scenics, but if you are shooting other skiers, they will get small fast with that wide a lens.

 

[NikoSperi]

Nice for scenics, but if you are shooting other skiers, they will get small fast with that wide a lens.

Actually, I've found that's the most effective way to get the skiers... I tell them to run me over, basically.

 

[Paul Sorensen]

What the heck, you ought to take an 11X14. If you can't take a ULF camera skiing, you aren't a real man.

 

[NikoSperi]

What the heck, you ought to take an 11X14. If you can't take a ULF camera skiing, you aren't a real man.

Paul, you've clearly been hanging around Ole too long!

 

[rbarker]

If you don't need the negative size of an 11x14, a Gowland 8x10 twin lens reflex might be a nice handheld option. Plus, it doubles as a manhood tester!

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

dunno abt the 38 biogon, but I have shot an 80 Chrome C lens in sub-freezing weather before with no problems. I'd still keep the superwide inside your coat until you are ready to actually take the pic. You will get some perspectival distortion of the skier when shooting with the 38 - they'll look elongated if they're close to the camera. Not quite into funhouse mirror territory, but it's something that a non-initiate will look at and go, "huh... what's wrong with this person? I can't quite put my finger on it but they look odd". Someone who knows will look at it and go, "yep, out shooting people with the biogon again, weren't you?"