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A friend has planned a trip to Everest Base Camp. He has been warned that digital photography will be difficult and out of focus.Also that battery life will be seriously foreshortened?
Any tips on Altitude techniques?
Are these suggestions true? (if so why?)
(you may also reply to woodlandcm@fsmail.net)
Has he been given any reason for the difficult and out of focus claim? I can't see why digital should be any different to film.
His battery life will be effected by the cold, batteries don't work as well in cold conditions. He needs to keep them warm whenever possible.
Ian
there's a lot of UV light at altitude - best get a decent UV filter too
I would guess that there'll be lots of snow around so he'll need to watch for underexposure of images too.
I must admit that I can't see why there would be a problem with focussing.
One thought would be to take a fully manual film camera too. Although it will be extra weight, it's a good backup in case the digital does die.
The only thing I can think of with the focusing is if the camera is taken out of a warm environment (in front of camp fire) to a cold one. The lens may mist up a little?
Take plenty of spare batteries and keep them in your pockets to keep them warm, do make sure the contacts are covered or you have at least emptied your pockets otherwise things could get a little too warm!
The snow around may cause the odd problem with the AF but thats is the same for both digital and traditional I guess?
I don't get the "out of focus" bit. Any reasons given for that?
The obvious thing is don't use Microdrives. They rely on a cushion of air between the disc and the reading heads to work properly, and at high altitude the air isn't sufficient for the task.
Battery life is one thing - cold and altitude affect tolerances in electronics. Most electronic goods have an operating temperature range and an operating altitude range.
It could possibly be this.
Also some lenses have an infinity adjustment to account for various conditions/scenarios. Infinity under certain atmospheric conditions isnt the same in all conditions.
Then again film also has a temperature, altitude and exposure operating range (reciprocity failure anyone?) which needs to be compensated for also.
The highest I've taken photos at (unpressurised) is about 12,000 feet so cant really comment on it much.
Collin,
Was at that height in a few places in the Sierra Nevadas and pretty close in some places in the Alps.
This shot hoover dam was pretty close but it was in a helicopter 
Joe
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