Are lenses prone to damage by being bumped around in the trunk of a car?

[nathanwauk]

This is kind of a bizarre question. I would like to keep my camera bag in the trunk of my car all the time so whenever a photo opportunity comes up, I'm ready. But my conservative side tells me it may be dangerous to the lens structural integrity if they are always driving around with me and subject to the vibrations of the road...

I live in a place where the roads are all very well maintained and I drive a 94 toyota camry. I'm not worried about theft or anything in this area. I think it would be safe to do this, but want to have a second opinion before I risk these expensive lenses. After all, they're finely calibrated and I imagine over months and years tiny vibrations might throw the alignment or something.

While I'm on the topic, would bumping the lens into another object, say a wall, throw it off, even if there's no visible effect?

Any thoughts?

[Ronald S. Jr.]

I can't say that I could ever honestly recommend leaving 6,7, or 8,000 dollars worth of gear in a car, especially not if anyone knows it's there. If you're going to anyway, though, I'd say get a nice, heavily padded bag. My Lowepro Computrekker Plus AW tends to get the job done very nicely. Also, you're in cali....don't wanna leave your gear in the car on those hot days! You could seriously damage some very expensive equipment! As for the lenses "integrity" being put in danger, if you're padded well, and you're not a crazy driver, they should hold up just dandy. Eh...I wrap my camera up in a shirt, tuck it next to me in the passenger seat, and buckle it in! Who am I to be talking?! :-D

[Ronald S. Jr.]

Oh, and as for bumping the lenses....yeah, it could do some damage...obviously that depends on how hard you hit them, what part you hit, what kinda wall it was, etc. Just don't make a habit out of it! If you're not rough on them, I wouldn't worry too much. Keep those hoods on...really helps protect the front elements, and the lens overall.

[richardho11]

I'm not worried about theft or anything in this area. I think it would be safe to do this

What was the street address again? :lol:

[DocFrankenstein]

No they won't be damaged. If you're using something padded, like a lowepro, then the're no way you're going to get more than a g in vibrations.

I would be worried about heat. The lubricant may trickle down in too high temp.

[Grimnar]

im considering "installing" my pelican full time in my car. I doesnt do any good sitting empty in my office any way. And that case would handle a bumpy ride, I could even mount it on my roof for the whole year:D :D

[michael.luczkow]

get a pelican case and don't worry about a thing.

[Tom W]

In a pellican, it would probably be OK from bumps given that it won't get bumped around. In an ordinary soft-case, I'd be more concerned. A lot depends on your driving style. Nothing is safe in my trunk if not strapped down. :)

PS - heat is the enemy, as noted above. And theft, though you don't seem worried about that.

[GSH]

When on the move, i use the rear seat belts to strap my camera bag in. It means they don't move around and are not subjected to shocks as the seat prevents it.

When parked up, they go in the boot (trunk for those of you across the pond :p ) for security purposes.

[ron chappel]

From what i've done to lenses and seeing how well they survived,i'd say that a well padded bag would be no problem at all.
I'd only start to worry if it was a thinly padded bag and you had rough roads

[Andy_T]

Just a thought ... if the photo gear is in your trunk, you won't have it ready to take a shot anyway.

You might consider getting a good small camera bag (e.g. Tamrac Velocity 7 or 9) that holds your most used lenses (e.g. camera + 24-70 and 70-200) and keep that with you in the passenger compartment when in the car and on your person (slung around your neck/in your office cupboard) when not in the car.
That's how I do it.
When I leave the car, I might leave the company laptop in the trunk, but never my private photo gear.
Sufficient for one bad guy to see you put it in the trunk, and you're $ 5000 poorer (unless you're well insured and don't mind the part you have to pay yourself)

Best regards,
Andy

[toyguru]

I really don't think that you have to worry too much about vibration in the vehicle. As long as you don't have equipment rubbing against each other without something between them. Electronics are pretty durable. Working in electronics for over 15 years you tend to realize their durability. Keep in mind that the boat, plane, truck and/or train that shipped your electronics not to mention all the people inbetween (USPS, FedEX, UPS, dockworkers, truck loaders, fork lift operators, sorters, retail kids) could care less what was in the box that you now cherish! I know as a fact the abuse that was sustained before you opened the box of your camera when it was new far exceeds the abuse that you will impose on it on your own (unless you happen to be a war photo journalist)!

I'm not saying the camera can be thrown around like a rag doll. As long as there is a decent photo bag around it (doesn't have to be a bag with more padding than a king sized pillow) and all your gear is separated, you should be ok:D

[ACDCROCKS]

We give our camera more damgage possibillity in our hands than in a trunk of a car.A sidewalk is padded with concrete, A football field is padded with muddy field etc. etc... A trunk of a car is padded with carpet and the camera BAG should keep it safe. If you have the 300MM 2.8 + Lenses, they have cases. Always protect your investment, always.

[grego]

I put it usually in the backseat of my car, on the ground, of course inside my bag. So it doesn' thave much leverage to move, except if the car flipped over. But then, i doubt you'd be worrying about the lens in that situation.

[ACDCROCKS]

I would be afraid of to bring equipment into a un well known area.

[rdenney]

No they won't be damaged. If you're using something padded, like a lowepro, then the're no way you're going to get more than a g in vibrations.

I would be worried about heat. The lubricant may trickle down in too high temp.

I'm with you. I've hauled camera equipment on everything from Interstates to jeep trails, and any reasonably well-padded case will protect quality lenses sufficiently. The only time I had a vibration problem was decades ago when a Vivitar 75-300 (back when Vivitar was like Sigma is now) came apart in the rack box of a bicycle over about 15 miles of riding.

But the heat can do real damage. My cameras have endured it, but once a zoom lens locked up because of thermal expansion and would not function until it cooled a bit, and what you say about grease getting runny is right on the mark. Been there, done that.

Rick "and then there's the swings in humidity..." Denney

[BTNorris]

My boss has kept a 1V, 28-70L, 70-200 2.8L in a pellican in his trunk for years (and still does). He also had a 10D (now a 20D) with a 24-70L and 17-40L in a Lowepro 4 soft bag going on 2 years. We are in Los Angeles where it does get warm sometimes, and he has never had a problem.

I'll tell you what, however, I will never look at a Toyota Camry the same way again.:)

[lostdoggy]

Simple, inexpensive, & safer solution. get yourself a plastic sealable container like a rubbermaid, couple of cheap blanket one in the bottom of the container throw the camera bag over it and then throw the other blanket over the camera bag. Put a light weight (cheap) jumper cable and cheap flashlight over that and then put the lid back on securely. Now you have a well padded case that looks likes a survival kit to anyone else opening your trunk. Pelican case looks like something expensive.

[NBEast]

I would be more concerned about heat than minor rolling, considering you have a decent bag. A pelican case would help a lot there.

Had my rear view mirror melt off at Lake Powell once - gets dang gall hot sometimes! Amazing what an insulated case will do.

In liu, you could pile a bunch of dirty cloths around the lense case. In truth, that's what I've been known to do.:p

[nathanwauk]

I live at 1311 Newport Drive. It's the blue honda civic. Spare key box under the driver's side wheel rim. :)

Thanks for your help! It's good to know about the heat effects. I'll definately be careful during summer.

[ImagineTNT]

Everyone keeps mentioning the heat effects. Any suggestions on how to minimize those effects? Like what about putting your camera bag in a cooler (without ice)?

[Wren]

Yeah.. the heat creates fungus in lens. I do keep my tripod on my trunk all the time. I don't usually leave my camera bag in the trunk unless I know I'll be out on a shoot.