Long exposure noise comparison

[michal]

Hi!
It is known that one of reasons for noise appearing in long exposures is increasing temperature of sensor. This drives me to a question:
Is it true that long exposures will be less noisy in cold nights than warm nights? I mean, comparing more-less +20 Celsius and 0 Celsius. Cold air could serve as a natural cooler 😛
I can't prove it by myself now cuz I only have warm nights 😛

[Ray-uk · Accepted solution]

Yes, this is the reason why many astrophotographers use specialised cameras that have cooling systems on the sensor.

These usually cool the sensor to 0 C or a couple of degrees above. The trouble with an ordinary digital camera is that there is a lot of electronics and the battery close to the sensor and the heat from these will counteract some of the effect of lower air temperatures around the camera.

[michal]

Wow.

[gandrew0]

---

@Ray-uk wrote:

Yes, this is the reason why many astrophotographers use specialised cameras that have cooling systems on the sensor.

These usually cool the sensor to 0 C or a couple mcdvoice of degrees above. The trouble with an ordinary digital camera is that there is a lot of electronics and the battery close to the sensor and the heat from these will counteract some of the effect of lower air temperatures around the camera.

---

that's correct