How to protect cameras battery in winter cold?

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stafass

Member
Mar 20, 2012
44
0
36
Planet Earth
Hi,

I was out in the woods on a weekend and it was -10. So my cameras, Nikon D40, battery didn't last more than 30 minutes. Any thoughts how to avoid this?
 

WULF

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Mar 19, 2012
2,983
87
South Yorkshire
Firstly are the batteries correct,are they AA or AAA or a lithium battery inside the camera?
 

Goatboy

Full Member
Jan 31, 2005
14,956
17
Scotland
Hi Stafass,
I used to tape either those dispossable handwarmers or the charcoal rod ones to the back of my camera in really cold conditions (back when we used film and it went brittle in the cold) and it also served to keep the batteries (and my nose) warm whilst out.
Hope this is a help?
Goatboy.
 

Keith_Beef

Native
Sep 9, 2003
1,366
268
55
Yvelines, north-west of Paris, France.
My Russian cameras had connectors for external battery packs that were intended to be kept inside your clothing in very cold weather, like the one that Wayland describes. This was back in the early 90s, batteries were ordinary (non-rechargeable) kind, and the main problem after that was the film becoming brittle in the cold.
 

stafass

Member
Mar 20, 2012
44
0
36
Planet Earth
Battery is 1,000 mAh lithium-ion EN-EL9. I doubt i can connect any external batteries in this case. So probably the best way is to try to keep my battery in the pocket while not taking any pictures or use hand warmers... Thank you all for advises.

P.S. Happy holly days :)
 

brancho

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Feb 20, 2007
3,795
731
56
Whitehaven Cumbria
A batter grip is one way as suggested (no idea if the linked on is any good.

The old method is to have two batteries and keep inside your clothing swapping them regularly.
 

Marshall

Nomad
Jan 22, 2013
313
64
Gdańsk, Poland
www.AdamMarczak.com
Battery grip with AA batteries isn't bad, but a 2nd charged battery is the best solution.
Two weeks ago I was 3 days non-stop outside and at a temperature from -10 to -6 degrees I made more than 400 shots with two batteries.
 

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