Startrails in freezing weather

[Speed addicted]

I'd like to do some star trails on top of a hill near me.
The problem is that it's blinking freezing out there. Is it worth trying to stop the lens from frosting/fogging up?
I was thinking about putting a couple of handwarmers on the lens to keep it warm for the hour or so that it would take, but I'm not sure it's needed if the camera is down to temprature in the first place.

(I may not get round to this if the weather stays the same till thursday as it's raining horizontally most of the time)

[RobDickinson]

http://www.dew-not.com/

[dibbly dobbler]

Stick it in the fridge for a bit before going out ?

[Speed addicted]

RobDickinson said:

http://www.dew-not.com/

Fook that! Handwarmers are cheap, and in the garage. As is a heated grip kit for the bike that I never got round to fitting....
Hmm. Oxford heated grip covers with one of the motorbike batteries may be a contender!

[RobDickinson]

If its cold and your out for a long time then yeah make use of them!

Other wise the lens will fog up.

[Speed addicted]

Thanks, I'll dig them out and get bodging!

All I need now is a clear night, preferably friday as the wife will be on her works binge drinking sessoin and I'll have to stay sober to pick her up.

[Famous Graham]

Go for overkill on the batteries too - performance is diminished in cold temps, so you may find them running down more quickly than usual.

[londonagent]

IIR, AWN said he puts his kit in the boot of the car so that when he arrives on location it is already temperature adjusted.

[_dobbo_]

Is it not the case that the lens will only fog up if it is transitioning from hot to cold? So leave the camera in the car for a while before so there is no temperature change?

[tog]

I've tried this a few years ago. Set up camera, went to sit in car and read a book for a couple of hours to keep warm. Went to check on camera and found it completely encrusted in ice / frost. Went home, waited for summer...

[dibbly dobbler]

_dobbo_ said:

Is it not the case that the lens will only fog up if it is transitioning from hot to cold? So leave the camera in the car for a while before so there is no temperature change?

That's what I though!

As per my previous response - stick it in the fridge for a bit before going out

[AndWhyNot]

londonagent said:

IIR, AWN said he puts his kit in the boot of the car so that when he arrives on location it is already temperature adjusted.

and set your camera up as soon as you park the car, even if you've got to carry it for a bit.

Although the car bit is also a security feature so I don't have to worry about my stuff being nicked from the cabin every 15miles when I stop for more chocolate.

_dobbo_ said:

Is it not the case that the lens will only fog up if it is transitioning from hot to cold?

Cold > hot does it too.

[RobDickinson]

_dobbo_ said:

Is it not the case that the lens will only fog up if it is transitioning from hot to cold? So leave the camera in the car for a while before so there is no temperature change?

No. A lens will fog and freeze over irrespective of what temp it starts out at. Remember your car windscreen on a cold morning, all frosty? Just like that...

Being at temperature prevents immediate fogging is all.

[_dobbo_]

Yes of course - obvious thing is obvious -