Cold Weather Protection...

[nezihc]

I have recently started to shoot in Colorado in where the weather started to get below 30Fs. I shoot with Olympus E-30 which is supposed to be good for the temperature ranges of 32F-104F but I am finding out that I need to replace my batteries pretty much after 3-4 shots (I use view finder, Manual Focus to save some power but shooting in RAW is not helping to my case either) even around 32F. Does anyone know a camera cover that will allow me to keep the camera little warmer under these circumstances without hindering my access to the camera controls? Just a little longer a time to shoot outdoors in Colorado would be fantastic without trying to change batteries and carry 10 of them in my pants pockets!
Thank you

[dlschoonover]

I have the same problem with my D60. Hope one of the neoprene covers will work. currently just keep it in my jacket against my body to help some but is not great for shooting on the fly.

[Bonish Photo]

Lens Coat which started by making Neoprene Covers for lenses has now moved into other areas of protection and makes a pretty sweet looking body cover that still gives access to the back of the camera and all it's controls.

http://www.lenscoat.com/bodyguard-clear ... p-867.html

I've yet to use it, and I doubt you'd have as much control with a set of gloves on, but it might help protect the camera and neoprene holds in heat so if you're shooting and the batteries produce any heat, it might help keep the body warmer

If you get one, make sure you let us knokw what you think because I coudlnt find any reviews to hear what people who have used it in the real world think of it yet

[gdietzman]

I'm a bit surprised that you'd only get a few shots at 32 degrees. I don't shoot Olympus, but I do shoot in very cold temps on occasion. For instance, one February I was on the shore of Lake Superior shooting ice floes during sunrise in temps approaching minus 30 degrees (that's cold) and the camera battery lasted longer than I did--20 minutes or so and about 40-50 shots or so and the battery was never completely discharged. (I was shooting a Canon 5D.)

Last fall, however, I was only getting 3-4 shots per battery at about 20 degrees, but all three batteries had been in the car over night in much colder temperatures (I was camping) and they were very cold the next morning. I'd alternate between them keeping two in an inner pocket to warm up. When one would go down, I'd replace it with a warmer battery. Must have cycled through them each 2-3 times. However, all of these batteries had been recharged a lot of times and were pretty and were no longer holding much of a charge. I suspect that as rechargeable batteries age their capacity goes down and that is further compromised by cold temps.

Could your batteries simply be old?