Leaving your camera in the car....

I like the cooler idea, but I would have to take my camera bodies out of the bag, a cooler big enough would be too big.

I have been thinking about getting one of the 12VDC power coolers that plug into a cigarette lighter plug and removing the cooling element and using it to cool my entire trunk maybe with some insulation and a second battery. I sure would love to keep a case of bottled water in my car and not have to deal with it getting really hot when I might want one.

Bill Roberts wrote in post #5983391
And, some insurance companies can be less than helpful in the event of a claim, refusing to pay out unless the equipment is kept in the boot (trunk) and that this is inaccessible from the car interior (unlikely in most of the cars I know).

I have insurance that covers me for equipment left in the car (while I'm on a job)

However, it never ceases to amaze me (here in the UK at least) just how many car boots (trunks) ARE accessible from INSIDE the vehicle, simply by pulling the back seat release lever and dropping the seat forward.

Why oh why don't vehicle manufacturers put a simple bolt inside the boot so that the seats can be LOCKED in place and not dropped forward without releasing the bolt in the boot first??

Some years ago we had a bag (containing cheque book and keys) stolen by theives breaking the side window, pulling the lever and dropping the rear seat down and grabbing the bag. We thought that locking the bag in the boot would make it "safe".

To that end, if I am carrying equipment with me, it's stored in a locked PELI caes, which in turn is locked with a motorbike chain through it's handle, to a welded ring inside the boot compartment. This is flexible enough to allow me to pull the case forward and open it without having to unlock the chain.

OK, you could argue that if the car were stolen, they can take all the time in the world to get at the contents of the Peli case, but it sure does stop the opportunist thief from doing a "smash and grab" and all the inconvenience that goes along with that scenario!

TJ

Yeah, I leave it in my car, but only when required.
I usually only carry camera gear when I know I need it or might need it.
Depends on the circumstances and plans after a show can always force me to have no choice.
When this happens leaving it out of site in the trunk, is the best way. I had my previous car totalled with about $6,000 of camera gear in it, and the boot was still closed and everything in tact. Stupid easter drunks.

I have leaving my old Nikon 5700 in my trunk for a couple of years and no problems so far. I live in So Cal and temps get into the low 100s F

Actually mine is in the car right now ( dont tell anybody!!!) It was hight 80s today so probably over 100 in the car. I have never had a problem with the heat. I want to get some shots of a church near where I work tonight. Its probably built in the 40s and has a neon cross on the roof. Hope it works out.