Subway 3304
As I watched the train doors open and close last night a young man approached me and struck up a conversation. He wanted to know whether I had had any problems going from very cold weather into a hot environment. I wasn’t sure what he meant. After a while, it turns out that he had been using a 20D and that he had read (on the web, where else) that it could be harmful to move from very cold weather into a warm room too quickly. Of course I told him that I didn’t know anything about such things; that I went into my house and out regularly during snow storms with both the 20D and the 40D and didn’t run into any problems. Somewhere, during this conversation I snapped this shot, said goodbye, and wandered off to ride another train. The world is filled with such foolishness. What point would there be in having a camera if you were afraid to take it out.
Comments
Comment from Lester
Time: March 19, 2008, 8:10 pm
I have solved the condensation problem by leaving my camera in the closet. I do have the problem, however, of dust gathering on the carrying case. But this hardly affects the photos I take since I wisely keep the camera permanently inside the case. For further tips on this technique, go to photolessphotography.com.
Comment from mcananeya
Time: March 19, 2008, 12:53 pm
While I agree this isn’t likely to cause any problems, I assume he was referring to condensation. During winter, if you’re outside and the camera body cools down, and you then move indoors into a warm, humid environment, condensation can form on or in the camera and the lens. The same thing happens if you are move from an air-conditioned room into a hot, humid environment — a problem during both trips to exotic locations and during NYC summers!
But, as you said, the risks are fairly minor. When traveling, the best advice is store your camera somewhere that ISN’T air-conditioned. That way the problem doesn’t arise.
Best,
Adam