Can a camera be left in a car during summer heat?

9 years 4 days ago #436206 by Johan Alonso
I always have my camera with me and with summer coming, so do higher temperatures.  My camera is always in a small camera bag, but still gets very hot when I leave in the car.  I'm just wondering if cameras are super sensitive to high heat? 


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9 years 4 days ago #436225 by effron
Not a good idea. Carry a cooler sans ice and leave the gear in that for extended periods in cars' heat....;)

Why so serious?
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9 years 4 days ago #436231 by tganiats
On the Nikon Web site it states the DSLRs have an operating temperature of 0–40 °C (+32–104 °F).  We all know that is wrong (you can take a picture below freezing and in the desert).  That said, you do want to be careful of lens fogging (in the cold), etc.  However, this is still a far cry from 140+°F it can get in a car.  I doubt (but I don't know) the electronics can handle it, I am not certain about the sensor, and I worry about the battery....it just doesn't make sense to me (until someone shows me differently) to put my pride and joy into that harsh an environment.  I agree with effron.


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9 years 4 days ago #436257 by Johan Alonso
I figured as much, so what are you guys doing in situations when you can't have your camera with you, yet it's in your car during a hot day?  


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9 years 3 days ago #436329 by tganiats
I can't recall when that last happened, especially if the camera is in a bag.  Push come to shove, though, I'd leave it, thinking a single day is not likely to cause a problem.  But I am not certain.


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9 years 3 days ago #436332 by Screamin Scott
The lubricants in lenses can be adversely affected by the heat... Not a good idea... 

Scott Ditzel Photography

www.flickr.com/photos/screaminscott/

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9 years 3 days ago #436337 by garyrhook
Plan ahead. Don't have it in the car.


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9 years 3 days ago #436378 by Johan Alonso
I usually do, well thanks for the answers.  I heard what I needed to hear.  


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8 years 11 months ago #437099 by Joslyn
I never leave my gear in my car at all


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8 years 11 months ago #437110 by Shadowfixer1

Screamin Scott wrote: The lubricants in lenses can be adversely affected by the heat... Not a good idea... 

Most people don't realize this one. It's probably the first to show up. If the lubricant gets on the blades, they wont snap into position when the exposure is made. They slowly close down and make the image overexposed if your setting has it stopped down from wide open. They never get to the correct position before the exposure is over.
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8 years 11 months ago #437899 by Ryan Obryan

Shadowfixer1 wrote:

Screamin Scott wrote: The lubricants in lenses can be adversely affected by the heat... Not a good idea... 

Most people don't realize this one. It's probably the first to show up. If the lubricant gets on the blades, they wont snap into position when the exposure is made. They slowly close down and make the image overexposed if your setting has it stopped down from wide open. They never get to the correct position before the exposure is over.



:goodpost:


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8 years 11 months ago #437908 by cybersholt
Good question, could be easy to overlook & I'm sure the manual / warranty has something to say about it like so : 



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8 years 11 months ago #438729 by Patrick G

garyrhook wrote: Plan ahead. Don't have it in the car.



What it really boils down too


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