Contax T3 battery drain & shooting in cold weather

[Ruffe]

Hi,

It looks like here's some knowledgeful people and that's good because I really don't know what to do.

I just got a silver T3 from Japan on ebay that seems to be in a excellent condition. It came with a quality brand battery that I presumed was full. After one night of shooting in cold weather -10C(14F) the indicator showed it was empty. Next morning I put the camera on and it got stuck with the lens open, the battery really was empty now.

I started reading about circuit problems that drain the battery very quickly, that some T3s have. I know that some T2s have problems with the battery indicator without it affecting taking pictures. Also the T3 user manual states that with one battery you can take approximately 12 rolls of 24-exposure film in normal room temp. with flash 50% of the time.

I bought a new quality brand battery and was the second day in cold weather -10C to -15C(14F to 5F). I had it in my outside pocket of my jacket so it was a bit exposed to the cold. I could take only 4 frames and the battery was empty. After a night in room temp. the battery is full again.

Now I really don't know Is there a problem with my T3 or is it the cold weather. Should I send this T3 back to the seller in Japan or keep it? I'm a bit confused. Could you tell can T3/CR2 batteries operate in cold weather(-10C) if you are for example keeping the camera in your hand for a long time or do you have keep putting it warm inside your pocket once in a while? Is it possible to take pictures "normally" with T3 in cold weather?

Could some T3 owners share their experiences in taking pictures in cold weather? Thank You.

 

[mbisc]

For -10C weather, I wouldn't use a battery-dependent camera, much less keep it in an outside pocket. I think "After a night in room temp. the battery is full again" tells the story on technical problems: doesn't sound like you have a battery drain problem. I forget, does the battery packaging have any recommendations on minimum temperatures?

The T3 is a wonderful camera, so I would try another day, with the camera kept nice and cozy inside your jacket when not in use, and then see if you have the same problem again.

 

[shortstop]

I agree. T3 is wonderful. Try to shoot only in interior.
The good new is that low temperature will save the film. Digital needs always batteries.
I have a black Contax T3. Astonishing negatives.




Antonio

 

[daninjc]

I shot a T3 in cold temperatures (-10C to -15C) a bunch of times, and I think every time I was able to shoot for a while (like 1 hour or so) before the battery drained because of the cold. I try to keep it in my pocket when I don't shoot, that helps. However, after a while out in the cold, it usually stops working until it's warmed up. That said, 4 frames with a new battery seems a little too short - unless it's really cold.

 

[Peter_S]

The T3 is my primary mountain camera, and I took it to over 6000m several times. The metal body conducts head and cold quickly to the interior, and one should keep them a little warm. But that is easy to do. Yes, batteries can temporarily "drain" when the camera is exposed to the cold. It should, however, return to normality once warmed up - so yours may have a problem after all.

When it is cold, I try to keep the camera warm, and have a spare battery close to my body. The camera has served me well since 2009, without failures.

 

[Ruffe]

Thank you for sharing experiences. I think there is a problem after all, I was just for 30min in -7c with almost all the time T3 inside my jacket. After maybe 3 frames I couldn't take anymore pictures. The flash really drained the battery. I feel like I have to be in a hurry to compose a picture not because of a fleeing moment but because of draining battery. But what is the weirdest thing when I come inside and let the camera warm up the battery indicator is full once I switch the camera on.

I have read that CR2 lithium batteries(which I have in the camera) should perform well in cold conditions. I think 30min is no good. This leads me to think that there is a circuit problem in my T3.

Can you tell me in your experience for how long time can you operate T3 normally in the winter time?