It has been a tad chilly here for the past ten days -40C to -55C. I went out to shoot the Northern Lights last night and I might not have put a Manfrotto head on the tripod for all the use it was. Frozen solid.
I have had it out in these temperatures before and, while stiff, there was play in the head. Perhaps some of the other cold weather photographers might have some tips.
If it is a case of contraction due to the cold there won't be much that can be done. If the head has some sort of lubrication in it, perhaps the head can be stripped down and the lubrication removed.
Thought about using a ball head, but if it is contraction that might not solve the problem.
Of course there is the alternative of throwing another log on the fire and not going out!
I can't guess on contractino issues in the Manfrotto, because I haven't had one that cold. I'd suspect lube problems. But I've had a couple of different A/S B-1's down to -50F and a little lower. No problems at all. The first time I was worried about latent lubricant, so I sloshed it pretty liberally with the liquid lock deicer/lubricant. You probably know the stuff. It goes on as a liquid, which evaporates to leave a black (proably graphite) film. What a mess- then and for weeks afterward! But I didn't have any freeze-up.
A copule of years later I had a short-notice opportunity to shoot that cold, and took along an untreated B-1. There was no difference in performance, but a whole lot less mess. I'm guessing that there was no lube at all in there, and since it was a more or less new head, that may be standard.
I'd only expect contraction issues when dissimilar metals were used in contact areas. If the parts were made of the same metal, it shouldn't happen. That's probably a reasonable question to put to the manufacturer of any head you consider, but I doubt a sales clerk could answer it knowledgeably.
Posted by Alex Lofquist on February 3, 2008 at 3:24 PM
If the contractions come pretty often, I'd get to the hospital!
I spray a bit of liquid graphic into the cars locks every fall. Should work on tripod heads.
Posted by Eric Fredine on February 3, 2008 at 6:39 PM
I've used my Arca Swiss B1 in the -30 to -40 C range. It gets very stiff, but kept working. I think I've also successfully used a Manfrotto pan/tilt head but I'm less certain about that. But then you're getting even colder conditions -- so who knows.
For the benefit of others who may encounter a similar problem I've just purchased a product called Jig-a -Loo which is a graphite based spray which the manufacturer states is good to -72. Freed up everything on first application.
To be field tested soon, but with a great roaring fire going, not tonight.
Posted by Kent Staubus on February 4, 2008 at 11:26 AM
I was going to suggest either a graphite or teflon based lubricant. What you could have tried out in the field was wrap a couple of those chemical handwarmers around the joints and then either tape them in place or wrap a sock or glove around them to keep the heat in. I usually have a half dozen of those handwarmers in my camera bag in winter. I love to photo in the cold, but it's rarely any colder than -25F. That's still cold enough to cause problems though. I bought the AcraTech Ultimate ballhead especially for that reason. It's open design is very simple and I've never once had a problem with it.
Kent in SD
Posted by Mel Ladewig on February 4, 2008 at 12:48 PM
Another reason why I like the design of the acratech heads.
The ball is not in a socket and I have so far not had any freezing issues, though I haven't had to work in conditions anywhere close to the cold you're working with. I've only been in the 0 to -10F range with mine. Contraction wouldn't be an issue because you can just loosen the clamping mechanism, but also, most of the materials in the tripod head are the same, so there would be no difference in the expansion rates. There is also no lubricant on the ball.
Discussion
8 repliesI have had it out in these temperatures before and, while stiff, there was play in the head. Perhaps some of the other cold weather photographers might have some tips.
If it is a case of contraction due to the cold there won't be much that can be done. If the head has some sort of lubrication in it, perhaps the head can be stripped down and the lubrication removed.
Thought about using a ball head, but if it is contraction that might not solve the problem.
Of course there is the alternative of throwing another log on the fire and not going out!
I can't guess on contractino issues in the Manfrotto, because I haven't had one that cold. I'd suspect lube problems. But I've had a couple of different A/S B-1's down to -50F and a little lower. No problems at all. The first time I was worried about latent lubricant, so I sloshed it pretty liberally with the liquid lock deicer/lubricant. You probably know the stuff. It goes on as a liquid, which evaporates to leave a black (proably graphite) film. What a mess- then and for weeks afterward! But I didn't have any freeze-up.
A copule of years later I had a short-notice opportunity to shoot that cold, and took along an untreated B-1. There was no difference in performance, but a whole lot less mess. I'm guessing that there was no lube at all in there, and since it was a more or less new head, that may be standard.
I'd only expect contraction issues when dissimilar metals were used in contact areas. If the parts were made of the same metal, it shouldn't happen. That's probably a reasonable question to put to the manufacturer of any head you consider, but I doubt a sales clerk could answer it knowledgeably.
In a word;
Thanks Hank,
I spray a bit of liquid graphic into the cars locks every fall. Should work on tripod heads.
To be field tested soon, but with a great roaring fire going, not tonight.
Kent in SD
The ball is not in a socket and I have so far not had any freezing issues, though I haven't had to work in conditions anywhere close to the cold you're working with. I've only been in the 0 to -10F range with mine. Contraction wouldn't be an issue because you can just loosen the clamping mechanism, but also, most of the materials in the tripod head are the same, so there would be no difference in the expansion rates. There is also no lubricant on the ball.