From: rdemarti@PICA.ARMY.MIL (Ralph DeMartino, CCAC-LAD)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Using camcorder at below-freezing temperatures !?
Date: 24 Jul 92 13:59:38 GMT
Organization: The Internet

In response to:
>-"...I usually warmed my camcorder in my sleeping bag for 20
>minutes or so before I got up...."
>        -"Hutnak, however, had a different approach... [he] decided never
>to warm the camcorders, to just keep them at ambient temperature all the
>time. It worked brilliantly."
>        As nobody seems to have any problems with using camcorders at
>below-freezing temperatures, what is the meaning of SONY's recomanded
>operating temperatures between 32 and 104 F ??
>        I am a member of a cross-country ski team, and we would like
>to read the experiences of anyone used to recording in temperatures between
>32 and -4 degree f. (0 and -20 C.).

>Benoit Beaudoin      Montreal,Canada.

I was up in Quebec City, Canada during the 1991 Winter Carnival.  I just
purchased a new Chinon 8mm palmcorder and used it a great deal in
the city and skiing at Mont Sainte Anne.  The temperature was near 0 degrees
F at night and about 15 degrees F during the day.  I kept the palmcorder in
a tape cassette bag and under my parka when not taping.  I taped using an
ungloved hand.  I was using Sony   P6-120MP tape.  I had no problems at all
in the cold.  But I tried to keep the camera/tape warm in my coat and hand.
The bag was used to protect the unit and acted like a moisture shield while
the camera was in my parka.  I carried the unit with the neck strap under 
one arm.

I chnaged over to the next higher grade tape, Sony P6-120HG tape, and taped
a ski trip to Sugarbush Vermont.  It was bitter cold that week, about 5 to
10 degrees F and very windy.  The wind chill was so bad that bare hands went
numb in 3 minutes or so.  I carried the camera in a fanny pack under my coat,
on my waist, either above my butt when skiing or in front when on lifts.
For short periods of taping, everything was fine.  On a longer taping session
where the camera was out of the case for 10 min or so, I got pulsing 
upon playback.  The picture was stable and the color fine, but there us a
noticeable pulsing, sort of like watching a 50 Hz TV in Europe.  I suspect
that the tape and or the transport system was slowing down or getting
non-steady due to the cold.  

I used the same tape 120HG in Cortina, Italy with no problems.  Maybe a few
more drop outs than I like but fine in all other areas.  Granted it never
got colder than about 20 degrees F there.

I have had no problems with either tape in temperatures as high as 105 degrees
F.  One thing I did discover, is that if you are running the palmcorder for
hours on end, like using it as a VCR to tape a movie or something.  The unit
and video drum gets hot and if there is no ventilation around the camera case,
the video heads will foul.  The heads then need to be cleaned, I found that
an Allstop wet cassette type cleaner works best.  It does tend to make the
unit think there is a tape jam so it needs to be reloaded a few times to get
it to play for the 20 seconds recommended.

I am now using the Sony P-120 HMP Hi8 tapes to get the higher signal to noise 
ratio and brighter color as advertized.  It works fine with the reg 8 
unit and does give a better picture.  At $7.50 US its not too expensive.
I tend to archive my tapes so I want the best tape possible.  And when I
upgrade to Hi8, I have the option to reuse them.  So far I have logged about
12 hours on the tapes with good results.  I have not had a chance to use 
them in the cold yet.

rdemarti@pica.army.mil