Originally posted by MJKoski But the button, yes there was a pattern: First it requires more pressure to activate and then stops responding for good until camera is warmed up again to room temps or so. It was somewhere near -20C when this happens, about 2-3 hours before the button does not respond anymore. Warmed up it works as it should.
That's interesting. And thank you for your observations. This would seem to indicate that the release switch at least is spec'd cheaper than with Pentax's top tier bodies. Dunno abt the K-P, but on the K-7 and K-5 the switch is a part of "Upper Flex Circuit -A block" and the whole piece has to be replaced to change the switch. Not having an info LCD on the top plate the K-P switch might possibly be easier to change. Still, desoldering and soldering flex circuits, not my thing.
edit: so, the lesson would seem to be: protect the camera body from the extremes of cold as much as possible while out in the environment.
With my film bodies it was the shutter mechanism that was a problem. That and the film itself getting brittle. With a digital body, switches as well.
FWIW, my practice of keeping the gear in my case as much as possible, under my top layer, has always kept my gear functional in the cold, and that has included various cams not spec'd at all for weather resistance.