hot and cold and the 10D, a question

[jim monroe]

I have been reading this forum regularly for the past 6 weeks or so and much else on the internet trying to educate myself, being a newcomer to photography to some extent and completely to digital photography.
two questions.
1.) this one I should have asked the day in July when I purchased my 10D. Can keeping the camera in a car in the summer on say a 90 degree day do harm to the camera? More specifically is an hour okay, two hours, etc. In general how much can the camera take and one can feel safe there will be no harm to the camera?
2.) on the opposite side in won't be long here in PA that I have to deal with the opposite temperature condidtions. So, is there any problems with leaving a camera in a car for several hours when the temperature is below freezing?
I have not seen anything on either item (well a little bit regarding batteries in the winter) since becoming part of the forum but I may have missed something if so my apologies for bring up an old question.

[defordphoto]

You really don't want to subject your camera to any extreme temperatures. That's pretty much the rule for any electronics doo-dads we have. But, a short time in a car should not cause any long term damage.

Before using the camera however, let it adjust to the temperatues in which it is being used before shooting. Extreme cold temps cans also cause moisture to form in the lens and camera. Moisture and electronics don't mix.

The trunk is the best place, if you have to leave a camera in a car, to keep it as it is less exposed to temp extremes than if the passenger compartment.

Several hours for either temp extreme and you're walking the thin line. Definitely not advisable.

[Belmondo]

I think this is all pretty much a 'common-sense' issue. Where I live, daytime temperatures during summer will often get close to 120 degrees and occasionally exceed that. I'm told the interior temperatujre can get up to 140-150 or higher. Also, there is very little shade to park under here.

Except for brief stops, the camera never gets left in the car. That's a firm rule that has caused some 'unusual' situations such as taking the 10D to the movies, to the grocery store, and once, even to church. (I carry my equipment in an old, well-worn Halliburton case that is anything buy inconspicuous).

I would be far less concerned about extreme cold except as it might affect performance.

In any event, if the camera has been exposed to either extreme of temperature, It would be a good idea to let it normalize before trying to use it. Heat can affect the electronics, and cold can slow down the moving parts.

[bnpndxtr]

For instance driving around in a rental car in Florida with the A/C on got things comfy, cool, and dry. As soon as I got out of the car and whipped out the camera it immediately fogged up and it was probably 15-20 miniuts before I felt safe using it.

[ChrisNardone]

I guess I'm breaking all the rules here. I live in South Texas. Once my camera leaves the house it's subject to a minimum of 90 degree temps all day, in the car or slung from my shoulder. The only time I worry is walking from an A/C environment to a hot, humid outside environment. I give it a couple minutes to adjust before I remove the lens cap and turn it on. I'm not saying it's smart, but it sat in my truck all afternoon yesterday in 90+ temps. I bought it to use it. It's going to have to keep up with me.

[Belmondo]

I probably could have been a little clearer. I use my camera, too. I just don't leave it in the car to bake when it can possibly be avoided. Fortunately, we have very little humidity here---just heat.

Tom

[robertwgross]

My rule of thumb is that I do not subject my digital camera to any conditions worse than what I would subject a family member. When I am forced to leave my equipment in my car, I leave it in the case, inside the trunk, and with a sleeping bag around it as insulation from heat or cold.

Cold temperatures will have some effect on battery life.

---Bob Gross---

[kafene]

robertwgross wrote:
My rule of thumb is that I do not subject my digital camera to any conditions worse than what I would subject a family member. When I am forced to leave my equipment in my car, I leave it in the case, inside the trunk, and with a sleeping bag around it as insulation from heat or cold.

Cold temperatures will have some effect on battery life.

---Bob Gross---

Yup, same here, but it may not only be a question of temperature. I would always put my gear the in trunk because I don't want to leave my gear in view of "suspicious characters". I've had both my cars broken into for a pair of sunglasses and a cellphone power cord. When my brother got his car stolen, we had all our studio gear in the trunk (umbrellas, power supply, two flash head units, etc) and it was all gone of course when the police recovered the car. Can I help it if I'm a little cautious, now? :-/

kafene.

[boBquincy]

For the times when I have to leave my camera equipment in the minivan, I put it in a cooler (as in Coleman). A cooler in a minivan is not likely to attract much attention and it keeps the internal temperature a lot lower than in the minivan itself.

If some ne'er-do-well was interested in stealing my cold beer and found a camera instead, they would probably just leave it in disgust... ;)


boB

[defordphoto]

bobquincy wrote:
For the times when I have to leave my camera equipment in the minivan, I put it in a cooler...


Excellent idea!!! Well, just as long as there isn't any ice in it! :)

[robertwgross]

kafene wrote:
Yup, same here, but it may not only be a question of temperature. I would always put my gear the in trunk because I don't want to leave my gear in view of "suspicious characters". I've had both my cars broken into for a pair of sunglasses and a cellphone power cord. When my brother got his car stolen, we had all our studio gear in the trunk (umbrellas, power supply, two flash head units, etc) and it was all gone of course when the police recovered the car. Can I help it if I'm a little cautious, now? :-/

kafene.

A good friend of mine had just shot a wedding. When he was packing equipment up to leave the wedding hall, he noticed some strangers hanging around the parking lot. He drove his Dodge Durango most of the way home, and then stopped momentarily at a strip mall. The strangers showed up, smashed the vehicle windows, and stole about US$15K worth of equipment. Well, hell, it was only Nikon equipment, anyway. I guess if you look like a wedding photographer, then somebody is going to try to rip you off.

For the next wedding, I think I'll rent a Bradley.
(military vehicle)

---Bob Gross---

[defordphoto]

robertwgross wrote:
For the next wedding, I think I'll rent a Bradley.
(military vehicle)

---Bob Gross---


Or try an M-16 (military weapon) ;)

[phidong]

If you're going to leave the camera in the car on a hot day, I'd say pop your trunk and put it int here. The trunk usually remains pretty cool compared to the inside of the car which is like an oven. :/

[Motorsports Photo]

Now to shed some light on the original question...

I do not know about temperature extremes on CMOS, but I do know about LCD's. In extreme cold LCD's turn black and usually recover from this abuse. Extremem heat causes the same effect BUT also can damage the seals between segments. This will cause a dark blob on your status screen on top of the camera, or on the review screen on the back. Of course extreme heat will also effect plastics and can cause misalignments in components attached to them. (lenses and bodies)

Bottom line is the least thermal stress on your equipment will let you use it troublefree for the longest time.

-Pete

[martcol]

robertwgross wrote:
...I do not subject my digital camera to any conditions worse than what I would subject a family member. When I am forced to leave my equipment in my car, I leave it in the case, inside the trunk, and with a sleeping bag around it as insulation from heat or cold.

---Bob Gross---

Sod it! Carry the camera: Leave the wife and kids in the trunk! Eh Bob?

lol

Martin