camera in car in summer

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

clutch@lycos.com wrote:
>
> I've looked around a bit and haven't seen much on this subject. Back
> when I was shooting film, the idea of having a camera in a parked car
> during summer seemed like a very bad idea since I figured the film
> might not like the heat.
>
> How do digital cameras hold up in hot closed up parked cars? Are
> there any reasonable cost storage containers that will protect the
> camera? Likely using something like a peltier effect cooler or
> something like that.
>
> Are digicams sturdy enough to take the heat if not in direct sunlight
> and theft light

Other posters have answered the question pretty fully, but there's one
aspect of keeping the camera in a cooler of some sort, and that's
condensation. Taking the camera out of a cooler and into humid heat
will cause condensation on the lens, and maybe on the sensor. If you go
the cooler way, check for this.

Colin

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Big Bill wrote:
> On Fri, 18 Feb 2005 19:28:30 -0600, Ron Hunter <rphunter@charter.net>
> wrote:
>
>
>>clutch@lycos.com wrote:
>>
>>>I've looked around a bit and haven't seen much on this subject. Back
>>>when I was shooting film, the idea of having a camera in a parked car
>>>during summer seemed like a very bad idea since I figured the film
>>>might not like the heat.
>>>
>>>How do digital cameras hold up in hot closed up parked cars? Are
>>>there any reasonable cost storage containers that will protect the
>>>camera? Likely using something like a peltier effect cooler or
>>>something like that.
>>>
>>>Are digicams sturdy enough to take the heat if not in direct sunlight
>>>and theft light
>>>
>>>Wes
>>>
>>>
>>
>>A digital camera would probably do just fine at temps that would degrade
>>the image on a film camera, not that it would do the batteries, or the
>>LCD any good either. I have been known to store the camera near the
>>ice-chest...
>>It does get hot down here in Texas!
>
>
> Living in the Phoenix area, it gets hot for me, too.
> The only time I've had a problem with LCDs and heat was when I left a
> radio scanner on the front seat, and the sun got to it. It went crazy
> when turned on, but after cooling off for a half-hour, it was fine.
> As for my cameras, no problem on the hottest days, as I keep them in
> the shade, usually on the floor (coolest place in the SUV), in a case.
>
I certainly know the Arizona sun can be brutal. My niece got married in
Tucson in July! Worse yet, it rained each day we were there!



--
Ron Hunter rphunter@charter.net

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

>But having said this, most cameras are made to withstand the temps that
>humans can survive in. So if minimal care is taken, they should be able to
>do ok being stored in a car. At a minimum, wrapping a camera in a white

The temperatures in a closed car in the summer will kill a human
pretty quickly. If you have to leave equipment in a car in the
summer, leave the window open a bit.

-Joel

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[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

On Tue, 22 Feb 2005 21:14:40 GMT, Dr. Joel M. Hoffman <joel@exc.com> wrote:
>>But having said this, most cameras are made to withstand the temps that
>>humans can survive in. So if minimal care is taken, they should be able to
>>do ok being stored in a car. At a minimum, wrapping a camera in a white

>The temperatures in a closed car in the summer will kill a human
>pretty quickly. If you have to leave equipment in a car in the
>summer, leave the window open a bit.

Actually electronics can handle far high temperatures than humans. Anything
below boiling or so is ok. The only component I'd worry about is the
optics and they're designed to easily handle anything likely to be seen
transporting the camera aboard cargo ship and semi.

One is far more likely to damage the camera by dropping it from the
glove compartment than by any temperatures likely to be seen short of
the car catching fire.

 

[jeremy]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

"TCS" <The-Central-Scrutinizer@p.o.b.o.x.com> wrote in message
news:slrnd1n9hs.3d4.The-Central-Scrutinizer@linux.client.comcast.net...


> Actually electronics can handle far high temperatures than humans.
Anything
> below boiling or so is ok.

My camera's specs quote an acceptable temperature range of 32 to 104 degrees
Fahrenheit. That's a lot different than 212 degrees that would cause water
to boil.

Also the optics may have lubricants that may melt or liquefy at high
temperatures. If they drip onto the elements, they would probably ruin
them. The cost of disassembly and cleaning might not be justified.

The electronic circuits in cameras generate some degree of heat in the
normal course of their operation, but when that is added to extremely high
ambient temperatures, it might be a recipe for fried components.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

On Tue, 22 Feb 2005 15:38:04 -0600, TCS
<The-Central-Scrutinizer@p.o.b.o.x.com> wrote:

>On Tue, 22 Feb 2005 21:14:40 GMT, Dr. Joel M. Hoffman <joel@exc.com> wrote:
>>>But having said this, most cameras are made to withstand the temps that
>>>humans can survive in. So if minimal care is taken, they should be able to
>>>do ok being stored in a car. At a minimum, wrapping a camera in a white
>
>>The temperatures in a closed car in the summer will kill a human
>>pretty quickly. If you have to leave equipment in a car in the
>>summer, leave the window open a bit.
>
>Actually electronics can handle far high temperatures than humans. Anything
>below boiling or so is ok. The only component I'd worry about is the
>optics and they're designed to easily handle anything likely to be seen
>transporting the camera aboard cargo ship and semi.

Let me stop laughing long enough to answer this. I manage a server
room with about 100 severs in it. we have serious Lebert air handlers
to cool it. If we lost cooling, those systems would be failing long
before water started to boil or people couldn't walk into the room.

If electronics aren't affected by high temperatures why do I have a
pager code for room temp over 85F and we work to keep it at 68F?

Consider Canon's 20D's spec.


Operating Temperature Range

32 - 104° F / 0 - 40° C

I don't think you want to leave it laying on the dash of your car all
day on a July day in West Texas with the windows up.


********************************************************

"...bray a fool in a morter with wheat,
yet shall not his folly be beaten out of him;.."

"The Marriage of Heaven and Hell"
William Blake

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

>I've looked around a bit and haven't seen much on this subject. Back
>when I was shooting film, the idea of having a camera in a parked car
>during summer seemed like a very bad idea since I figured the film
>might not like the heat.

Also, most camera manufactures publish min/max storage and operating
temperatures. Leave an oven thermometer in the car to see how hot it
actually gets, and then see if your camera can take it. Someone else
pointing out that the cameras arrive in trucks without a/c. While
this is true, those trucks are a LOT cooler than a car with windows.

(BTW, the Digital Rebel's specs only promise that the camera will work
in the range 32F-104F, or 0C-40C. It's not hard to find yourself
wanting to take pictures outside of that range.)

-Joel

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

On Tue, 22 Feb 2005 21:47:09 GMT, John A. Stovall
<johnastovall@earthlink.net> wrote:

>On Tue, 22 Feb 2005 15:38:04 -0600, TCS
><The-Central-Scrutinizer@p.o.b.o.x.com> wrote:
>
>>On Tue, 22 Feb 2005 21:14:40 GMT, Dr. Joel M. Hoffman <joel@exc.com> wrote:
>>>>But having said this, most cameras are made to withstand the temps that
>>>>humans can survive in. So if minimal care is taken, they should be able to
>>>>do ok being stored in a car. At a minimum, wrapping a camera in a white
>>
>>>The temperatures in a closed car in the summer will kill a human
>>>pretty quickly. If you have to leave equipment in a car in the
>>>summer, leave the window open a bit.
>>
>>Actually electronics can handle far high temperatures than humans. Anything
>>below boiling or so is ok. The only component I'd worry about is the
>>optics and they're designed to easily handle anything likely to be seen
>>transporting the camera aboard cargo ship and semi.
>
>Let me stop laughing long enough to answer this. I manage a server
>room with about 100 severs in it. we have serious Lebert air handlers
>to cool it. If we lost cooling, those systems would be failing long
>before water started to boil or people couldn't walk into the room.
>
>If electronics aren't affected by high temperatures why do I have a
>pager code for room temp over 85F and we work to keep it at 68F?
>
>Consider Canon's 20D's spec.
>
>
>Operating Temperature Range
>
> 32 - 104° F / 0 - 40° C
>
>I don't think you want to leave it laying on the dash of your car all
>day on a July day in West Texas with the windows up.

At least not operating.
>
>
>********************************************************
>
>"...bray a fool in a morter with wheat,
> yet shall not his folly be beaten out of him;.."
>
> "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell"
> William Blake

--
Bill Funk
Change "g" to "a"

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

On Tue, 22 Feb 2005 21:47:09 GMT, John A. Stovall
<johnastovall@earthlink.net> wrote:

>On Tue, 22 Feb 2005 15:38:04 -0600, TCS
><The-Central-Scrutinizer@p.o.b.o.x.com> wrote:
>
>>Actually electronics can handle far high temperatures than humans. Anything
>>below boiling or so is ok.
....
>
>Let me stop laughing long enough to answer this. I manage a server
>room with about 100 severs in it. we have serious Lebert air handlers
>to cool it. If we lost cooling, those systems would be failing long
>before water started to boil or people couldn't walk into the room.
>
>If electronics aren't affected by high temperatures why do I have a
>pager code for room temp over 85F and we work to keep it at 68F?
>
>Consider Canon's 20D's spec.
>
>Operating Temperature Range
>
> 32 - 104° F / 0 - 40° C

While I agree that the bit about "anything below boiling" is wildly
optimistic, if you were as knowledgeable about the subject as you make
out you would know that there can be a *big* difference between maximum
operating temperature and maximum storage temperature: it can be 20°C or
even more.

However that brings us to a point that I've not yet seen mentioned: if
you do keep your camera in a hot car, give it a good while to cool down
before switching it on.

--
Stephen Poley

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Stephen Poley wrote:
> On Tue, 22 Feb 2005 21:47:09 GMT, John A. Stovall
> <johnastovall@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
>
>>On Tue, 22 Feb 2005 15:38:04 -0600, TCS
>><The-Central-Scrutinizer@p.o.b.o.x.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Actually electronics can handle far high temperatures than humans. Anything
>>>below boiling or so is ok.
>
> ...
>
>>Let me stop laughing long enough to answer this. I manage a server
>>room with about 100 severs in it. we have serious Lebert air handlers
>>to cool it. If we lost cooling, those systems would be failing long
>>before water started to boil or people couldn't walk into the room.
>>
>>If electronics aren't affected by high temperatures why do I have a
>>pager code for room temp over 85F and we work to keep it at 68F?
>>
>>Consider Canon's 20D's spec.
>>
>>Operating Temperature Range
>>
>> 32 - 104° F / 0 - 40° C
>
>
> While I agree that the bit about "anything below boiling" is wildly
> optimistic, if you were as knowledgeable about the subject as you make
> out you would know that there can be a *big* difference between maximum
> operating temperature and maximum storage temperature: it can be 20°C or
> even more.
>
> However that brings us to a point that I've not yet seen mentioned: if
> you do keep your camera in a hot car, give it a good while to cool down
> before switching it on.
>

I can't imagine buying a camera I couldn't use in my climate in the
summer months. Temps over 104 are pretty common in my area.


--
Ron Hunter rphunter@charter.net

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Last summer while in Las Vegas I kept my laptop and camera in a cooler. It
was 117F outside and up to 130F inside the car while parked. Both survived
fine.

Marten

<clutch@lycos.com> wrote in message
news:111co8ke6feb452@news.supernews.com...
> I've looked around a bit and haven't seen much on this subject. Back
> when I was shooting film, the idea of having a camera in a parked car
> during summer seemed like a very bad idea since I figured the film
> might not like the heat.
>
> How do digital cameras hold up in hot closed up parked cars? Are
> there any reasonable cost storage containers that will protect the
> camera? Likely using something like a peltier effect cooler or
> something like that.
>
> Are digicams sturdy enough to take the heat if not in direct sunlight
> and theft light
>
> Wes
>
>
> --
> Reply to:
> Whiskey Echo Sierra Sierra AT Gee Tee EYE EYE dot COM
> Lycos address is a spam trap.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

>>>Consider Canon's 20D's spec.
>>>
>>>Operating Temperature Range
>>>
>>> 32 - 104° F / 0 - 40° C
>
>I can't imagine buying a camera I couldn't use in my climate in the
>summer months. Temps over 104 are pretty common in my area.

It's a problem with most digital equipment in general. For most
people, the low end of the scale is more of a problem. One nice
reason to have a good old-fashioned mechanical SLR is that it will
work in many situations where the modern digital equipment will not.

-Joel

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----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Dr. Joel M. Hoffman wrote:
>>>>Consider Canon's 20D's spec.
>>>>
>>>>Operating Temperature Range
>>>>
>>>> 32 - 104° F / 0 - 40° C
>>
>>I can't imagine buying a camera I couldn't use in my climate in the
>>summer months. Temps over 104 are pretty common in my area.
>
>
> It's a problem with most digital equipment in general. For most
> people, the low end of the scale is more of a problem. One nice
> reason to have a good old-fashioned mechanical SLR is that it will
> work in many situations where the modern digital equipment will not.
>
> -Joel
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Please feed the 35mm lens/digicam databases: http://www.exc.com/photography
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
Fortunately I haven't encountered any such conditions, which is good,
because I don't plan to take another picture with a film camera.


--
Ron Hunter rphunter@charter.net

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

On Thu, 24 Feb 2005 04:00:19 GMT, "Marten" <surreymicro@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>Last summer while in Las Vegas I kept my laptop and camera in a cooler. It
>was 117F outside and up to 130F inside the car while parked. Both survived
>fine.

Just to be clear, you had ICE in the cooler too?

--
Owamanga!

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

On Thu, 24 Feb 2005 13:20:38 -0600, Ron Hunter <rphunter@charter.net>
wrote:


>Fortunately I haven't encountered any such conditions, which is good,
>because I don't plan to take another picture with a film camera.

Sadly, I still have half a roll in my Nikon N80 from 6 months ago. I
guess I better use it up at some point.

;-)

(Happy D70 owner for the past 6 months)

--
Owamanga!

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

No ice. Kept the cooler, with the cover open, in the room at night so it was
room temperature when we went out during the day. The equipment has no
problem operating in the heat but storing it in a super hot vehicle was
avoided.

Marten

"Owamanga" <nomail@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:492s11po6i4mqn07isd7kkuas1raqghpp8@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 24 Feb 2005 04:00:19 GMT, "Marten" <surreymicro@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>>Last summer while in Las Vegas I kept my laptop and camera in a cooler. It
>>was 117F outside and up to 130F inside the car while parked. Both survived
>>fine.
>
> Just to be clear, you had ICE in the cooler too?
>
> --
> Owamanga!