How to Protect Your Camera in Cold Weather

The fire may be hot but your camera may be cold, brrrr.

Due to the rapid temperature change, condensation can form and wreak havoc with your camera equipment when you go inside to the warmth after being out in cold weather.

Of the essence is how to prevent condensation from occurring in the first place.

How do you protect your camera in cold weather and prevent condensation from forming on your camera and lens?

My favorite go-to solution is to seal the camera in a plastic bag while I’m still outside.

The cold camera is sealed in a plastic bag prior to being warmed up slowly after the photo shoot.

My Process

• My first step is to seal my cold camera in a plastic bag.

• After removing as much air as possible from the inside of the plastic bag, I place it in my camera bag and zip it up.

• What I do next depends on how cold it is, but the ultimate plan is to keep the camera equipment away from a direct heat source.

• If it’s not extremely cold but still below freezing, I keep it away from any heat source in my vehicle or inside the house.

• If the camera is extremely cold, I follow the same “in the bag” procedure, but I’ll store it in the coolest area of the house, which is in the basement.

• This procedure allows the camera bag and the equipment to acclimate slowly, thus preventing condensation from developing.

The cold camera is sealed in a plastic bag to prevent condensation from forming.

Well, That’s a First; What am I Seeing in my Photo?

Above the snow drifts are tell-tale signs of condensation in the interior of my camera.

When out for a photo shoot, I experienced condensation inside my camera for the first time after years of taking photos outside in winter.

I couldn't figure out the issue after noticing the black specs in the sky, after initially thinking “dust spots” on the camera sensor. That would have made sense if I had changed lenses in dusty conditions, but that wasn’t the case.

It wasn’t until a conversation with a photographer friend that he shed light on the situation. On a cold, windy day, I drove along country roads, specifically to photograph snow drifts. After each return to my vehicle, I faithfully placed my camera in the back, where it was cooler, until I didn’t.

Finally, after numerous stops and almost done for the day, I was tired of this and, without thinking, placed it on the front passenger seat. Wrong move! While nothing was noticeable initially, the tipping point was reached just before stopping for one last time, and that’s how easy it can happen!

Additional Cold Weather Tips for Your Camera

• If you find yourself without a bag of any kind, you could wrap your equipment in your cold jacket and place it in the coolest area of your vehicle if traveling. I often have a towel or blanket in my vehicle, and I’ll use either one if I want to keep my coat on.

• Silica gel packs in your camera bag can help reduce condensation, although the goal is to prevent condensation if possible, and a gel pack may not be enough.

• If it’s really cold, you may want to store your equipment safely in an unheated garage or at least the coolest indoor location. I know viewing your photos is tempting, but you don’t want to rush the process and defeat the purpose of utilizing the bag or slow warm-up protection from condensation.

• Leave your gear alone as it warms up slowly. Depending on the temperature and how cold or frozen your equipment is, this may take several hours or much longer.

Protect your memory card!

Please remember to give your media card time to warm up before you remove it from the camera and copy photos to your computer or other device.

More How to Protect Your Camera in Cold Weather Tips

• Keep Batteries & Memory Cards Warm

• Camera batteries deplete faster in cold weather. If possible, carry a spare battery or batteries close to your body to keep warm.

• Be aware that lithium-ion batteries will outperform alkaline ones in cold weather.

• Keep spare memory cards in your pocket or close to your body to help protect them from the cold.

• Reduce Fogging

• Breathing away from the camera and lens helps avoid fogging up issues.

• If fogging becomes an issue, anti-fog solutions or wipes are available. I cannot speak from personal experience as I have not needed to use them.

• Keep Your Camera Warm

• Securing hand warmers to your camera will help, or you can wrap it in an insulated cover or neoprene case to help maintain its internal temperature.

• I have not used hand warmers, but I have photography friends who do and find them to be effective.

• Protect the Lens

• Using a lens hood can help reduce snow, frost, or condensation from directly hitting the lens.

• Using a lens filter can help protect the lens from unexpected encounters with snow and moisture, as seen in my example photo below.

• For non-weather-sealed cameras, use a rain cover or a plastic bag to shield against snow and moisture.

• Tripod Care

• Tripods can become extremely cold when touched with metal parts. Use one with foam grips on its legs, if possible, for more comfortable maneuvering.

A lens filter screws onto the lens and helps protects the lens from snow and moisture, like this after I ended up in a snow bank quite unexpectedly.

Once I returned to my vehicle, I removed the filter and checked the lens glass. Much to my relief, it was dry, unscathed, and saved by the filter. I gently flicked off the moisture with a soft lens cleaning cloth and placed it in my camera bag for safekeeping, followed by a cleaning after it had time to warm up and dry off.

A lens hood attaches to the outer front of the lens, helping protect the glass from moisture. While it is ineffective for how to protect your camera in cold weather, it can help protect the lens. Its primary use is shielding the lens and preventing unwanted light, such as bright sun, from hitting it.

Hot and humid is not your friend, either.

Going from air conditioning to heat can cause the same problems. Remember to give your equipment time to adjust to the conditions.

In Conclusion

• Next time you head out into the cold, remember to have a plastic bag handy, and you’ll know how to protect your camera in cold weather.

• This will greatly reduce and eliminate the risk of condensation on your precious gear following your fun photo shoot in the cold!

• Condensation can form extremely quickly if your camera goes from one extreme temperature to another.

• If you frequently switch between a warm and cold environment, do your best to keep your camera acclimatized.