There are times when camcorders and cold weather dont really mix. The problem is two-fold. Firstand this isnt solely an issue for camcorderscold weather cuts the performance of batteries. So you get less run time than normal, and if it gets REALLY cold, the battery might simply shut down. So thats one issue. The other is the cold weather can have a direct physical impact on the camcorder in several ways. The tape may actually shrink, distorting the recording. And it can cause moisture to condense and even freeze inside the camcorder, causing all sorts of problems with the electronics. That can be pretty serious.
EWA-marine VPC camcorder case
VPC camcorder caseStill, I think youd generally be OK if you kept the camcorder protected as much as possiblezipped inside your jacket, for instance, then retrieved for a shot when youve established a position and set up what you want to tape. But riding with the camcorder out, using it when its snowing, or getting that great action shot when somebody blasts snow at the camerawell, nah. I wouldnt do that. So, of course, that precludes all the fun stuff.
Your best solution is some sort of weatherproof case. I like the soft” cases from EWA Marine (ewa-marine.com), which are made of reinforced polyethylene bonded to an optically correct viewing port that attaches to the lens. A waterproof bag, in other words. Theyre available for most camcorders on the market, and, depending on the model, cost anywhere from $200 to $500. You also can take them snorkeling or scuba diving down to 33 feet.
Ikelite (ikelite.com) makes extremely reliable hard cases that are waterproof to 200 feet. But theyre priceyaround $600, typically.
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