D90 focus points in cold weather

[Ty_]

I was taking pictures in some 35 degree Fahrenheit weather this weekend and found that, after being out in the weather for a few minutes, I could not adjust my focal points. Almost as soon as I got back into the warm car, the control returned. This happened several times that day.

I just purchased the camera this summer so it is the first time it has been used at this temperature. I'm not sure that it matters but I was using the Nikon 18-55 f3.5-5.6 VR kit lens. I didn't think to try another lens.

The manual doesn't mention anything about this. Is this normal or do I need to send it in for repair? I would think that it certainly ought to work in that temp. 35 is really pretty mild.

[Dirk]

Nikons should have no problem to survive a cold day
did you let the camera get used to the tempreature before starting to shoot?

[Ty_]

Originally Posted by Dirk

Nikons should have no problem to survive a cold day
did you let the camera get used to the tempreature before starting to shoot?

No, I got out of the car and started shooting within 1 or two minutes. The focus point control didn't freeze for a minute or so after I'd been in the cold.

[Douglas]

That sounds actually very odd. It happened a couple times? Never shot in that cold of weather, but thats still not freezing, so it shouldnt of done that.

[Dirk]

That woulkd be 1.5 (approx) in celsius .

according to dpreview it is 32-104°F/0-40°C Less than 85% (no condensation)

[KmH]

Originally Posted by Ty_

I was taking pictures in some 35 degree Fahrenheit weather this weekend and found that, after being out in the weather for a few minutes, I could not adjust my focal points. Almost as soon as I got back into the warm car, the control returned. This happened several times that day.

I just purchased the camera this summer so it is the first time it has been used at this temperature. I'm not sure that it matters but I was using the Nikon 18-55 f3.5-5.6 VR kit lens. I didn't think to try another lens.

The manual doesn't mention anything about this. Is this normal or do I need to send it in for repair? I would think that it certainly ought to work in that temp. 35 is really pretty mild.

The focal points and focus module are in the camera body, not the lens, so changing lenses would probabaly have had no effect.

I would bet your camera had some condensation in it and when you went out into the cold it froze, and unfroze when you got back in the warm car. Getting back into the warm car could again cause condesation, thus setting the camera's multi-selector up to freeze up again when you again got out into the cold.

I have used a D90 outside at air temperatures as low as -15º with no problems.

[Dirk]

Originally Posted by KmH

The focal points and focus module are in the camera body, not the lens, so changing lenses would probabaly have had no effect.

I would bet your camera had some condensation in it and when you went out into the cold it froze, and unfroze when you got back in the warm car. Getting back into the warm car could again cause condesation, thus setting the camera's multi-selector up to freeze up again when you again got out into the cold.

I have used a D90 outside at air temperatures as low as -15º with no problems.

was my gues to Keith he also stated tha once out side the car he started to shoot imedeiately , so no time to get used to cold weather temperatures

read a article once that on the noth pole they took several camera's the only one that kept working was nikon.

[Ty_]

Interesting. Thank you for the comments. I believe that it happened 4 different times in the space of about 3 hours that day. My daughter was graduating from college so we were driving around to different places on campus to get photos of her at some university landmarks. I did take the camera out of the bag and immediately start taking pictures each time.

If there was condensation, it will, hopefully, have evaporated now that the camera is back home and has been inside for several days. Next time we have another colder day like that (It was 84F/29C yesterday!) I'll do some further testing. Thanks again for the ideas!

[Jeff Perry]

Jeff, it sounds like the multi-selector switch on the back may be at fault; I don't suppose you checked to see if any of the other functions failed to work, e.g. changing the LCD panel display by pushing up/down on the selector? If that didn't work, then clearly it is a malfunctioning switch. Might want to check that next time you get into a cold weather shooting situation again.

I have have used a bunch of different bodies, including the D90, in far colder weather, and never had a problem like that. Not being able to push the buttons thru thick gloves, yes, but that's "operator error", so it doesn't count.

Additionally, the condensation problems in cold weather I have experienced have been moving from a cold environment back into a warm environment, that's when the condensation problem is a problem.

Jeff

[scoundrel1728]

You can avoid the condensation if you take a plastic bag big enough to hold camera and lens with you. Warm air can (and often does) hold a lot more moisture than cold air. Therefore, the first time you go out into the cold, open the empty bag and leave it open until you are ready to come back inside, taking care to keep rain and snow out of it. Then, before coming inside, put the camera and lens into the bag and seal it. If you plan to go outside again fairly soon, just leave the camera in the bag. Otherwise, leave the camera in the bag until it comes up to room temperature.