Leaving a camera in the car?

[BayAreaPhotog]

I want to leave a camera in my car. I don't park in a garage, but rather outside in the elements. I am just curious if there is anything that the camera can be stored in that keeps the temps fairly constant so you don't get extreme hot or cold? Would a plastic or styrafoam cooler keep the temps constant either in the car or locked in the trunk? I am curious what photo journalists do. I can't imagine these folks constantly lugging their equipment in and out of the home or office every day. Any thoughts?

[Ronin]

At least put it in the trunk. It should be okay in there. Never leave it just lying on a seat since...well, I'd worry about people breaking in rather than the sun getting to it first.

[BearSummer]

Hi Ronin.

I remember someone measuring the temperature in their trunk/boot and finding it got up to over 40 degrees. This would be very bad for film and would not be good for most mechanical/electrical equipment as it may cause the volatile lubricants to evaporate. Also LCDs will turn black when they get this hot.

I would guess that for PJ's as it is their livelihood that is at stake they would take their kit with them in a bag or have it stored in a hard case with lots of padding kept in the boot. The more mass you have the longer it takes for the heat to get inside, and the foam padding would probably act as a good insulator.

Personally, I take it with me. We book either a big table for two or a table for four at restaurants and the equipment sits with us at the table. We never open the boot and put bags into it when in a carpark (we have learnt our lesson after wife had handbag stolen from the boot after we put it in their whilst the carpark was "empty"). Even though our insurance covers stolen equipment left in a locked boot its just not worth the agro of replacing it all. My walk around bag is about 80% of my sig file, or I decant what I need to create a small pack (2 cameras and 6 lenses in a lowepro dry zone) for specific shoots. When driving with camera gear in the car the bags are seat belted into the back seat. Stops them flying around if we have an accident and means they are cushioned from any bumps on the rough road.

There are not many places that you cant go with a rucksack on your back if you look totally at ease, and those places that ask are told that its camera gear and we want to keep it with us. If they get snotty then we just go elsewhere (which has never happened yet)

Best regards

BearSummer

[PhotosGuy]

I remember someone measuring the temperature in their trunk/boot and finding it got up to over 40 degrees.

Actually, it was 140 degrees (F). If it's a sunny, hot day, I won't leave mine in there.