Shooting In 103 F Degree Weather

C_Jones · 01-30-2015, 09:49 PM

Hi,

I may bring my K5IIs and Sigma 150-500 on a trip where the temperatures average about 103 F weather (Las Vegas) during July. Does anyone have any opinions or experience with similar equipment on shooting in those type conditions? I do not want my camera or lens harmed due to heat exposure. It mentions 104 F degrees is the top of the operating range for the camera in my manual, and I am thinking I can most likely do it safely if I avoid any long period of direct sunlight on my equipment. Thanks ahead of time for any advice or opinions. I might want to possibly do some birding when I am there.

Casey

**Odinz** · 01-30-2015, 10:12 PM

Wow, thanks for the heads up, I'm going to have to look into this one as well. I too am heading to Vegas the last week in July with my K3 and Q7 in hand and hadn't considered the heat issue. I was out there for a week at the end of June a couple of years back and used my K20 all week without issue, but the temps were in the upper 90's at best. I have used my K10/k20 cameras in +103 degree heat in the past and the cameras and lenses did get very warm when in the sunlight, a black camera and lens doesn't help. I tried to minimize their exposure by covering them with a light colored cloth between shots when shooting, and putting them back the bag whenever possible. My guess is the 104 degrees is a little conservative, but by how much I don't know.

Steve

Adam · 01-30-2015, 10:15 PM

Originally posted by C_Jones

Hi,

I may bring my K5IIs and Sigma 150-500 on a trip where the temperatures average about 103 F weather (Las Vegas) during July. Does anyone have any opinions or experience with similar equipment on shooting in those type conditions? I do not want my camera or lens harmed due to heat exposure. It mentions 104 F degrees is the top of the operating range for the camera in my manual, and I am thinking I can most likely do it safely if I avoid any long period of direct sunlight on my equipment. Thanks ahead of time for any advice or opinions. I might want to possibly do some birding when I am there.

Casey

Just avoid direct sunlight exposure when the camera is not in use (i.e keep it in a bag or in a car when moving about) and you should be fine. More importantly, be sure that the extreme heat doesn't affect your photos. Hot air rises and things such as asphalt can get so hot that you can actually see the heat coming out of it. If this heat gets caught between you and your subject, your image might end up looking very unclear

MadMathMind · 01-30-2015, 10:23 PM

103ºF is the air temperature. You need to not let the camera itself get that hot. Keep it out of the sun and it will be fine. In time, if you let the camera stay exposed to that air temperature, it will eventually match the air temperature, but that will take a while. Convection is not a terribly fast process unless you have something to accelerate it (like direct sunlight). It would take at least a couple hours for the camera to heat up to 103º in the shade.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the camera is made of metal, which is an excellent conductor. When you touch it, more heat will transfer to your fingers and the surface will feel hotter than it may actually be. Your camera may feel 100º+ but be considerably cooler thanks to this phenomenon.

You can observe this behavior on a warm or cold day (doesn't matter which). Take two benches, one metal and one wood. If they've been exposed to the ambient temperature long enough (i.e., you didn't just start heating them for an hour), both will be the same temperature. But the metal bench will feel significantly colder/warmer than the wood one.

C_Jones · 01-30-2015, 10:23 PM

Originally posted by Adam

Just avoid direct sunlight exposure when the camera is not in use (i.e keep it in a bag or in a car when moving about) and you should be fine. More importantly, be sure that the extreme heat doesn't affect your photos. Hot air rises and things such as asphalt can get so hot that you can actually see the heat coming out of it. If this heat gets caught between you and your subject, your image might end up looking very unclear

Thanks Adam, your advice is really appreciated.

---------- Post added 01-31-15 at 12:26 AM ----------

Originally posted by Odinz

Wow, thanks for the heads up, I'm going to have to look into this one as well. I too am heading to Vegas the last week in July with my K3 and Q7 in hand and hadn't considered the heat issue. I was out there for a week at the end of June a couple of years back and used my K20 all week without issue, but the temps were in the upper 90's at best. I have used my K10/k20 cameras in +103 degree heat in the past and the cameras and lenses did get very warm when in the sunlight, a black camera and lens doesn't help. I tried to minimize their exposure by covering them with a light colored cloth between shots when shooting, and putting them back the bag whenever possible. My guess is the 104 degrees is a little conservative, but by how much I don't know.

Steve

Thanks Steve.

---------- Post added 01-31-15 at 12:30 AM ----------

Originally posted by MadMathMind

103ºF is the air temperature. You need to not let the camera itself get that hot. Keep it out of the sun and it will be fine. In time, if you let the camera stay exposed to that air temperature, it will eventually match the air temperature, but that will take a while. Convection is not a terribly fast process unless you have something to accelerate it (like direct sunlight). It would take at least a couple hours for the camera to heat up to 103º in the shade.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the camera is made of metal, which is an excellent conductor. When you touch it, more heat will transfer to your fingers and the surface will feel hotter than it may actually be. Your camera may feel 100º+ but be considerably cooler thanks to this phenomenon.

You can observe this behavior on a warm or cold day (doesn't matter which). Take two benches, one metal and one wood. If they've been exposed to the ambient temperature long enough (i.e., you didn't just start heating them for an hour), both will be the same temperature. But the metal bench will feel significantly colder/warmer than the wood one.

Thanks. I appreciate your advice. It is very helpful.

**wizofoz** · 01-30-2015, 10:32 PM

103f? extreme heat? Pffft... That's just a nice summers day in some places

Seriously though I wouldn't worry about it. We shoot in temps like that all the time during the Australian summer. It's not a problem. Have you seen all the photo's taken of the Australian Open Tennis? It gets mighty warm in Melbourne in January sometimes (not this year though, for some strange reason) and all the hard surfaces and confined spaces of the tennis arena makes things even hotter. It doesnt seem to bother the 'togs who take the shots.

The only issue I ever had was when I left my camera on the back seat of a car in 45degC, (which is what? about 120f??) out in the outback, a place called Silverton. In the direct sunlight, windows up, without any air movement, it would have gotten into the high 50's C in there. The only effect it had on the K-3 was it seriously effected battery life. You will be fine

**Digitalis** · 01-30-2015, 11:15 PM

Originally posted by wizofoz

The only effect it had on the K-3 was it seriously effected battery life.

You're lucky the lithium battery cells didn't rupture, then you would have had a problem.

Last edited by Digitalis; 01-31-2015 at 03:36 AM.

**southlander** · 01-30-2015, 11:43 PM

Ah, 103F ...barely warming up! Wait till you get to 43-44C (110-112F).

Seriously though, just don't leave camera or lens in direct sunlight for any great length of time where they can get a real baking. It you slip the camera out of its bag for a few shots and then pop it back in while you walk to the next point of interest, you'll be fine.

Also try to avoid leaving gear in a locked car in full sunshine for long periods. The interior of a car can get to 60C or more. A camera bag out of direct sunshine wrapped in a towel will stay reasonably cool for a hour or more, but eventually will start moving towards the interior temperature of the car.

And as Adam suggests, the worse part is the effect on the actual photos. Middle of the day when 100F+ means intense sun, lots of glare and flat photos. Beginning (up to say 10am) and end of the day (5pm+) are best when the light is softer. Birds are also likely to be quiet and out of sight in the hottest part of the day - they're not stupid when it comes to self preservation. First couple of hours after dawn are probably best for birds, or towards dusk when they come in numbers to watercourses or waterholes to drink. If you must have the 150-500 out in the midday sun for prolonged periods, one of those wrap around camo covers would keep direct sun off the lens and keep its temperature reasonable - you would want one of those whitish ones intended for snow rather than a dark colour.

A polariser filter can really help if you have to shoot in the middle part of the day. Polarised lens sunnies over your own eyes also greatly improve your own viewing when you aren't using a camera - much better colour saturation and contrast without any unnatural tinting that other types of sunglasses create.

More importantly, protect yourself with a wide brimmed hat and a quality sunscreen lotion - bad sunburn really does hurt (and not a pretty look to boot). And carry water with you - dehydration sets in reasonably quickly, even mild dehydration equals a headache and fatigue which I'm sure you can do without. Guzzling can after can of soft drink in those conditions isn't necessarily the best.

It was just starting to cool down from 45C (113F) when I took these photos at the end of the day a couple of years ago: A warm day in Adelaide | Photo Morsels

**PJ1** · 01-31-2015, 01:30 AM

I have used my K-01 and K10D in temps of 103F and better. No problems but I wouldn't leave them in a locked car in those temps. Just don't leave your camera anywhere it will "cook"!

**wizofoz** · 01-31-2015, 02:00 AM

Originally posted by Digitalis

You're lucky the lithium battery cells didn't rupture, then you wold have had a problem.

Good point. It was remiss of me, too eager to gain the shelter of the local hostelliery.

Sagitta · 01-31-2015, 02:36 AM

I doubt humidity will be an issue, but do be careful about hopping from an air conditioned car into the heat. Any moisture in the air could then condense on the lens (after all, a 70 degree car is over 30 degrees off from a 103 degree day) and cause problems. If you have a large enough lens, you could also get air circulation kick in inside the camera body a lens that could cause IQ issues as well as the camera acclimates to the ambient temperature.

Think of it as being the same as setting a cold soda can out on a warm day - it'll be the same effect, only less pronounced.

Sandy Hancock · 01-31-2015, 02:55 AM

I would echo the comments of my fellow Australians. 103ºF isn't even 40ºC. Hot, but not extreme. I have shot several all-day outdoor music festivals in hotter weather with no problem with my Pentax gear. Far more important is to maintain your own hydration and sun protection.

Kendigitize · 01-31-2015, 06:24 AM

I use my K-30 all summer long in Palm Springs where it's 110 degrees. Never had any problems.

AquaDome · 01-31-2015, 06:40 AM

The camera can probably take it longer than you can.

Drink plenty of water and bring more water with you when you walk outside.

Oldbayrunner · 01-31-2015, 06:46 AM

In the past I didn't have equipment problems shooting in places during the summer around 110 F or so like the Mojave, Anza- Boreggo deserts or Death Valley. One thing is if you attempt to use Live View it can heat up real quick and shut off or at least that is what I encountered with my Oly dslr's. The heat wave pattern can be used for some pretty cool bokeh effect.

01-30-2015, 09:49 PM	#1
C_Jones Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,085	Shooting In 103 F Degree Weather Hi, I may bring my K5IIs and Sigma 150-500 on a trip where the temperatures average about 103 F weather (Las Vegas) during July. Does anyone have any opinions or experience with similar equipment on shooting in those type conditions? I do not want my camera or lens harmed due to heat exposure. It mentions 104 F degrees is the top of the operating range for the camera in my manual, and I am thinking I can most likely do it safely if I avoid any long period of direct sunlight on my equipment. Thanks ahead of time for any advice or opinions. I might want to possibly do some birding when I am there. Casey

01-30-2015, 10:15 PM	#3
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,595	Originally posted by C_Jones Hi, I may bring my K5IIs and Sigma 150-500 on a trip where the temperatures average about 103 F weather (Las Vegas) during July. Does anyone have any opinions or experience with similar equipment on shooting in those type conditions? I do not want my camera or lens harmed due to heat exposure. It mentions 104 F degrees is the top of the operating range for the camera in my manual, and I am thinking I can most likely do it safely if I avoid any long period of direct sunlight on my equipment. Thanks ahead of time for any advice or opinions. I might want to possibly do some birding when I am there. Casey Just avoid direct sunlight exposure when the camera is not in use (i.e keep it in a bag or in a car when moving about) and you should be fine. More importantly, be sure that the extreme heat doesn't affect your photos. Hot air rises and things such as asphalt can get so hot that you can actually see the heat coming out of it. If this heat gets caught between you and your subject, your image might end up looking very unclear Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

01-30-2015, 11:43 PM	#8
southlander Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Adelaide Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,364	Ah, 103F ...barely warming up! Wait till you get to 43-44C (110-112F). Seriously though, just don't leave camera or lens in direct sunlight for any great length of time where they can get a real baking. It you slip the camera out of its bag for a few shots and then pop it back in while you walk to the next point of interest, you'll be fine. Also try to avoid leaving gear in a locked car in full sunshine for long periods. The interior of a car can get to 60C or more. A camera bag out of direct sunshine wrapped in a towel will stay reasonably cool for a hour or more, but eventually will start moving towards the interior temperature of the car. And as Adam suggests, the worse part is the effect on the actual photos. Middle of the day when 100F+ means intense sun, lots of glare and flat photos. Beginning (up to say 10am) and end of the day (5pm+) are best when the light is softer. Birds are also likely to be quiet and out of sight in the hottest part of the day - they're not stupid when it comes to self preservation. First couple of hours after dawn are probably best for birds, or towards dusk when they come in numbers to watercourses or waterholes to drink. If you must have the 150-500 out in the midday sun for prolonged periods, one of those wrap around camo covers would keep direct sun off the lens and keep its temperature reasonable - you would want one of those whitish ones intended for snow rather than a dark colour. A polariser filter can really help if you have to shoot in the middle part of the day. Polarised lens sunnies over your own eyes also greatly improve your own viewing when you aren't using a camera - much better colour saturation and contrast without any unnatural tinting that other types of sunglasses create. More importantly, protect yourself with a wide brimmed hat and a quality sunscreen lotion - bad sunburn really does hurt (and not a pretty look to boot). And carry water with you - dehydration sets in reasonably quickly, even mild dehydration equals a headache and fatigue which I'm sure you can do without. Guzzling can after can of soft drink in those conditions isn't necessarily the best. It was just starting to cool down from 45C (113F) when I took these photos at the end of the day a couple of years ago: A warm day in Adelaide \| Photo Morsels Last edited by southlander; 01-31-2015 at 12:05 AM.

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01-30-2015, 10:12 PM	#2
Odinz Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Virginia, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 259	Wow, thanks for the heads up, I'm going to have to look into this one as well. I too am heading to Vegas the last week in July with my K3 and Q7 in hand and hadn't considered the heat issue. I was out there for a week at the end of June a couple of years back and used my K20 all week without issue, but the temps were in the upper 90's at best. I have used my K10/k20 cameras in +103 degree heat in the past and the cameras and lenses did get very warm when in the sunlight, a black camera and lens doesn't help. I tried to minimize their exposure by covering them with a light colored cloth between shots when shooting, and putting them back the bag whenever possible. My guess is the 104 degrees is a little conservative, but by how much I don't know. Steve

01-30-2015, 10:23 PM	#4
MadMathMind Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Houston, TX Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,717	103ºF is the air temperature. You need to not let the camera itself get that hot. Keep it out of the sun and it will be fine. In time, if you let the camera stay exposed to that air temperature, it will eventually match the air temperature, but that will take a while. Convection is not a terribly fast process unless you have something to accelerate it (like direct sunlight). It would take at least a couple hours for the camera to heat up to 103º in the shade. Another thing to keep in mind is that the camera is made of metal, which is an excellent conductor. When you touch it, more heat will transfer to your fingers and the surface will feel hotter than it may actually be. Your camera may feel 100º+ but be considerably cooler thanks to this phenomenon. You can observe this behavior on a warm or cold day (doesn't matter which). Take two benches, one metal and one wood. If they've been exposed to the ambient temperature long enough (i.e., you didn't just start heating them for an hour), both will be the same temperature. But the metal bench will feel significantly colder/warmer than the wood one.

01-30-2015, 10:23 PM	#5
C_Jones Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,085 Original Poster	Originally posted by Adam Just avoid direct sunlight exposure when the camera is not in use (i.e keep it in a bag or in a car when moving about) and you should be fine. More importantly, be sure that the extreme heat doesn't affect your photos. Hot air rises and things such as asphalt can get so hot that you can actually see the heat coming out of it. If this heat gets caught between you and your subject, your image might end up looking very unclear Thanks Adam, your advice is really appreciated. ---------- Post added 01-31-15 at 12:26 AM ---------- Originally posted by Odinz Wow, thanks for the heads up, I'm going to have to look into this one as well. I too am heading to Vegas the last week in July with my K3 and Q7 in hand and hadn't considered the heat issue. I was out there for a week at the end of June a couple of years back and used my K20 all week without issue, but the temps were in the upper 90's at best. I have used my K10/k20 cameras in +103 degree heat in the past and the cameras and lenses did get very warm when in the sunlight, a black camera and lens doesn't help. I tried to minimize their exposure by covering them with a light colored cloth between shots when shooting, and putting them back the bag whenever possible. My guess is the 104 degrees is a little conservative, but by how much I don't know. Steve Thanks Steve. ---------- Post added 01-31-15 at 12:30 AM ---------- Originally posted by MadMathMind 103ºF is the air temperature. You need to not let the camera itself get that hot. Keep it out of the sun and it will be fine. In time, if you let the camera stay exposed to that air temperature, it will eventually match the air temperature, but that will take a while. Convection is not a terribly fast process unless you have something to accelerate it (like direct sunlight). It would take at least a couple hours for the camera to heat up to 103º in the shade. Another thing to keep in mind is that the camera is made of metal, which is an excellent conductor. When you touch it, more heat will transfer to your fingers and the surface will feel hotter than it may actually be. Your camera may feel 100º+ but be considerably cooler thanks to this phenomenon. You can observe this behavior on a warm or cold day (doesn't matter which). Take two benches, one metal and one wood. If they've been exposed to the ambient temperature long enough (i.e., you didn't just start heating them for an hour), both will be the same temperature. But the metal bench will feel significantly colder/warmer than the wood one. Thanks. I appreciate your advice. It is very helpful.

01-30-2015, 10:32 PM	#6
wizofoz Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Melbourne, Outer east. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,695	103f? extreme heat? Pffft... That's just a nice summers day in some places Seriously though I wouldn't worry about it. We shoot in temps like that all the time during the Australian summer. It's not a problem. Have you seen all the photo's taken of the Australian Open Tennis? It gets mighty warm in Melbourne in January sometimes (not this year though, for some strange reason) and all the hard surfaces and confined spaces of the tennis arena makes things even hotter. It doesnt seem to bother the 'togs who take the shots. The only issue I ever had was when I left my camera on the back seat of a car in 45degC, (which is what? about 120f??) out in the outback, a place called Silverton. In the direct sunlight, windows up, without any air movement, it would have gotten into the high 50's C in there. The only effect it had on the K-3 was it seriously effected battery life. You will be fine

01-30-2015, 11:15 PM	#7
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	Originally posted by wizofoz The only effect it had on the K-3 was it seriously effected battery life. You're lucky the lithium battery cells didn't rupture, then you would have had a problem. Last edited by Digitalis; 01-31-2015 at 03:36 AM.

01-31-2015, 01:30 AM	#9
PJ1 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Toowoomba, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,484	I have used my K-01 and K10D in temps of 103F and better. No problems but I wouldn't leave them in a locked car in those temps. Just don't leave your camera anywhere it will "cook"!

01-31-2015, 02:00 AM	#10
wizofoz Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Melbourne, Outer east. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,695	Originally posted by Digitalis You're lucky the lithium battery cells didn't rupture, then you wold have had a problem. Good point. It was remiss of me, too eager to gain the shelter of the local hostelliery.

01-31-2015, 02:36 AM	#11
Sagitta Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Maine Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,081	I doubt humidity will be an issue, but do be careful about hopping from an air conditioned car into the heat. Any moisture in the air could then condense on the lens (after all, a 70 degree car is over 30 degrees off from a 103 degree day) and cause problems. If you have a large enough lens, you could also get air circulation kick in inside the camera body a lens that could cause IQ issues as well as the camera acclimates to the ambient temperature. Think of it as being the same as setting a cold soda can out on a warm day - it'll be the same effect, only less pronounced.

01-31-2015, 02:55 AM	#12
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,272	I would echo the comments of my fellow Australians. 103ºF isn't even 40ºC. Hot, but not extreme. I have shot several all-day outdoor music festivals in hotter weather with no problem with my Pentax gear. Far more important is to maintain your own hydration and sun protection.

01-31-2015, 06:24 AM	#13
Kendigitize Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 324	I use my K-30 all summer long in Palm Springs where it's 110 degrees. Never had any problems.

01-31-2015, 06:40 AM	#14
AquaDome Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: New Carlisle, IN Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,475	The camera can probably take it longer than you can. Drink plenty of water and bring more water with you when you walk outside.

01-31-2015, 06:46 AM	#15
Oldbayrunner Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 1,665	In the past I didn't have equipment problems shooting in places during the summer around 110 F or so like the Mojave, Anza- Boreggo deserts or Death Valley. One thing is if you attempt to use Live View it can heat up real quick and shut off or at least that is what I encountered with my Oly dslr's. The heat wave pattern can be used for some pretty cool bokeh effect.