Cameras
There are two problems I've run into with cameras: batteries and hard drives (for a camcorder).
To put it simply, try to avoid camcorders that use a hard drive. There are some very nice camcorders available now that use flash memory, which seems to work OK in the cold.
For batteries - well, my first trip I brought an Olympus Stylus 1000, and it worked great, even down to -65 in the ice tunnel at Pole. The battery never conked out on me. This trip, however, I thought I would upgrade (partly because I took too many pictures of the sun with that camera, and it doesn't do so well with night time photos now), and it was a mistake. The Stylus 1030 and the Stylus 1050 both have much worse batteries than the 1000, and after 10 or 15 minutes in mild cold (-20 F, or even warmer) the battery tends to die. This is more of a problem during the winter, when I need to set the camera up on a tripod if I want a good photo. With plenty of daylight, you should be able to keep your camera in a warm pocket and take a quick shot when you need it and then put it back - plus the weather will be much warmer.
I've worked a little on figuring out how to take good photos, but I'm a far cry from even a dedicated amateur photographer, so take my advice with a grain of salt. You will find a lot of photography enthusiasts down here, however.
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