Retro-Grouch
Veteran
Winter is fast approaching, and many of us like to get out in the cold weather for landscape photography, or sleigh rides, or whatever! So, all things being equal (CLA, etc.), which type of shutter is more reliable and accurate in cold weather, leaf or focal plane? This would be in reference to mechanical shutters, at temperatures down to about 15 degrees (about -10 C). Or is there no difference?
Hcompton79
Established
I would tend to think it would depend more on the individual shutter and the lubricants used in it, more than the type being focal plane or leaf.
It would also depend how cold is cold. The Premier Kardon "Cold Camera" was designed and built to be fully operational at temperatures as low as 67 degrees Fahrenheit below zero.
It would also depend how cold is cold. The Premier Kardon "Cold Camera" was designed and built to be fully operational at temperatures as low as 67 degrees Fahrenheit below zero.
p.giannakis
Pan Giannakis
The vast majority of pro and semi-pro cameras come out of the factories tested for temperatures between -20 to 50 oC. If all are good with the shutters, both should work just as well.
jbielikowski
Jan Bielikowski
I believe it was on Sover Wong's page, a short manual for Nikon F2 on using them in cold. First it was advised to use shutter speeds at and below 1/60. Also one could ask Nikon Service to change lubricants for "winter ones", not suitable for normal conditions as they were too thin.
My technician swore he uses lubes he got for meteorology equipment, and that they were designed for high amplitudes of temperature.
I call it a BS, used Rollei 35SE he CLA'd for me and below zero I got zero shots.
I think leaf shutters need to be in a perfect condition to work fine in low temperature. Every bit of dirt and oil residue can make them stuck.
Modern shutters, like in Nikon F5 work with virtually no lube but the problem is keeping the battery warm.
Olympus OM-1 are known to work well in Arctic Circle, again probably after proper lubing.
My Spotmatic was acting up in winter, all it needed was CLA, and all shutters speeds were good up to 1/1000.
My technician swore he uses lubes he got for meteorology equipment, and that they were designed for high amplitudes of temperature.
I call it a BS, used Rollei 35SE he CLA'd for me and below zero I got zero shots.
I think leaf shutters need to be in a perfect condition to work fine in low temperature. Every bit of dirt and oil residue can make them stuck.
Modern shutters, like in Nikon F5 work with virtually no lube but the problem is keeping the battery warm.
Olympus OM-1 are known to work well in Arctic Circle, again probably after proper lubing.
My Spotmatic was acting up in winter, all it needed was CLA, and all shutters speeds were good up to 1/1000.
Cascadilla
Well-known
My large format lenses in Copal # 0 and # 1 shutters always worked perfectly in cold weather down to around 10º F, when I would give up due to frozen fingers.
Bschif
Established
Is Sover still in business? I have searched but cannot find his website. The last time I looked at his site, he was not taking any new work In order to get through a backlog of repairs.