Leaving K-x in car, need quick answer please!

kmets · 08-12-2010, 06:35 PM

We are going to an amusement/water park tomorrow. I am undecided about taking my camera. I really want to, and if I do, I won't carry bag, because it is too heavy. Will just wear it around my neck. I think I will only need my zoom, would like to get photo's of the kids on waterslides, etc.

If I decide to take the other lens, or if I get sick of carrying the camera, is it safe to leave camera or lens in the hot car? It is supposed to be around 85. I don't want to damage it by letting it get too hot. I also know I will regret not bringing it.

Thanks for your help!

Jodokast96 · 08-12-2010, 06:42 PM

It's not all that advisable, but I've done it on many occasions. Just make sure it's out of direct sunlight and cover it if possible.

**boriscleto** · 08-12-2010, 06:44 PM

I don't think a day in the trunk at the Darien Lake parking lot will do it any harm. I have left my Panasonic in the car through summer and winter weather for several years without any problems.

opiet70 · 08-12-2010, 06:45 PM

85 degrees isn't going to hurt anything. just cover and keep out of sunlight (i.e. toss it in the trunk)

you are more at risk, in my opinion, of theft than those temps damaging your camera.

twitch · 08-12-2010, 06:51 PM

I think it's a bad idea. 85 outside translates to much more inside a car left in the sun all day.

kmets · 08-12-2010, 06:53 PM

That is what I worry about, not the 85, but what it will be in car.

lol, boriscleto, not darien lake, waldameer!

**boriscleto** · 08-12-2010, 07:15 PM

Ah, Presque Isle. I was there a couple of years ago. Didn't go to the Waldameer, went to the Tom Ridge Environmental Center then drove out to the Perry monument.

thazooo · 08-12-2010, 07:56 PM

Small cooler with one of those freezer packs wrapped in a towel. Works well.
Just be careful bringing the camera out of the cooler if it's humid. It'll fog the lens.

kmets · 08-12-2010, 08:28 PM

Oh, great idea! Thanks!

JeffJS · 08-12-2010, 08:28 PM

Most camera bags are pretty well insulated (the padding). Just put the camera in the bag, in the trunk. You should put it in there anyway when you'll be away for awhile. Don't want to come back, find your windows smashed out, and your camera gone.

bigdog104 · 08-12-2010, 09:02 PM

I have nothing to add really, except to say, I wish I was somewhere where 85 was "hot".

It's midnight here and still 88 with a "real feel" temp of 100 because of the humidty.

Like others have said, it should be fine in the the trunk.

RioRico · 08-12-2010, 10:33 PM

I follow my father's example: cheap foam cooler boxes with a towel-wrapped Blue-Ice pack in each. This worked for him for decades in Los Angeles and the Southern California deserts, which become rather warm at times. And he drove cruddy-looking cars that nobody bothered to break into. Leave the Ferrari Dino at home, eh?

mlatour · 08-13-2010, 04:29 AM

I keep a spare Fuji S9100 (DSLR type bridge) stored in my vehicle
year round, in my region that means a range of -30°Celcius to +30°C.
(you"ll have to convert that to F°)

Appart from AA batteries running down after a couple of weeks
and a slow LCD display in extreme cold for the first minute or so,
I cant say I've ever experienced any problems.
My K-x will also stay all day in the car but not left overnight.

I've figured that the more you baby equipment, the more it's likely
to break, I treat my camera gear as if it were an appliance at not
a piece a jewelry, the only area I'm slightly concerned of scratching is the lens.

Most of the members here would not buy anything used from me...

bdery · 08-13-2010, 04:58 AM

I think during transportation from the factory to the retailers, the cameras have undergone more extreeme temperature variations than what you are suggesting. You're safe, I'm pretty sure.

Standard manufacturing parameters (at least in telecoms) is that storage temperatures should be -40 to +70 celcius.

kmets · 08-13-2010, 06:38 AM

Thank you all! Most likely it will spend the day around my neck. Just wanted a back up plan if I got sick of carrying it around or decide to bring my other lens.

08-12-2010, 06:35 PM	#1
kmets Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Buffalo, New York Posts: 104	Leaving K-x in car, need quick answer please! We are going to an amusement/water park tomorrow. I am undecided about taking my camera. I really want to, and if I do, I won't carry bag, because it is too heavy. Will just wear it around my neck. I think I will only need my zoom, would like to get photo's of the kids on waterslides, etc. If I decide to take the other lens, or if I get sick of carrying the camera, is it safe to leave camera or lens in the hot car? It is supposed to be around 85. I don't want to damage it by letting it get too hot. I also know I will regret not bringing it. Thanks for your help!

08-13-2010, 04:29 AM	#13
mlatour Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Montreal Posts: 197	I keep a spare Fuji S9100 (DSLR type bridge) stored in my vehicle year round, in my region that means a range of -30°Celcius to +30°C. (you"ll have to convert that to F°) Appart from AA batteries running down after a couple of weeks and a slow LCD display in extreme cold for the first minute or so, I cant say I've ever experienced any problems. My K-x will also stay all day in the car but not left overnight. I've figured that the more you baby equipment, the more it's likely to break, I treat my camera gear as if it were an appliance at not a piece a jewelry, the only area I'm slightly concerned of scratching is the lens. Most of the members here would not buy anything used from me... Last edited by mlatour; 08-13-2010 at 07:09 AM.

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08-12-2010, 06:42 PM	#2
Jodokast96 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Erial, NJ USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,134	It's not all that advisable, but I've done it on many occasions. Just make sure it's out of direct sunlight and cover it if possible.

08-12-2010, 06:44 PM	#3
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	I don't think a day in the trunk at the Darien Lake parking lot will do it any harm. I have left my Panasonic in the car through summer and winter weather for several years without any problems.

08-12-2010, 06:45 PM	#4
opiet70 Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dallas, TX Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 499	85 degrees isn't going to hurt anything. just cover and keep out of sunlight (i.e. toss it in the trunk) you are more at risk, in my opinion, of theft than those temps damaging your camera.

08-12-2010, 06:51 PM	#5
twitch Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4,571	I think it's a bad idea. 85 outside translates to much more inside a car left in the sun all day.

08-12-2010, 06:53 PM	#6
kmets Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Buffalo, New York Posts: 104 Original Poster	That is what I worry about, not the 85, but what it will be in car. lol, boriscleto, not darien lake, waldameer!

08-12-2010, 07:15 PM	#7
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Ah, Presque Isle. I was there a couple of years ago. Didn't go to the Waldameer, went to the Tom Ridge Environmental Center then drove out to the Perry monument.

08-12-2010, 07:56 PM	#8
thazooo Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 854	Small cooler with one of those freezer packs wrapped in a towel. Works well. Just be careful bringing the camera out of the cooler if it's humid. It'll fog the lens.

08-12-2010, 08:28 PM	#9
kmets Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Buffalo, New York Posts: 104 Original Poster	Oh, great idea! Thanks!

08-12-2010, 08:28 PM	#10
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Most camera bags are pretty well insulated (the padding). Just put the camera in the bag, in the trunk. You should put it in there anyway when you'll be away for awhile. Don't want to come back, find your windows smashed out, and your camera gone.

08-12-2010, 09:02 PM	#11
bigdog104 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: South Carolina Photos: Gallery Posts: 289	I have nothing to add really, except to say, I wish I was somewhere where 85 was "hot". It's midnight here and still 88 with a "real feel" temp of 100 because of the humidty. Like others have said, it should be fine in the the trunk.

08-12-2010, 10:33 PM	#12
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	I follow my father's example: cheap foam cooler boxes with a towel-wrapped Blue-Ice pack in each. This worked for him for decades in Los Angeles and the Southern California deserts, which become rather warm at times. And he drove cruddy-looking cars that nobody bothered to break into. Leave the Ferrari Dino at home, eh?

08-13-2010, 04:58 AM	#14
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	I think during transportation from the factory to the retailers, the cameras have undergone more extreeme temperature variations than what you are suggesting. You're safe, I'm pretty sure. Standard manufacturing parameters (at least in telecoms) is that storage temperatures should be -40 to +70 celcius.

08-13-2010, 06:38 AM	#15
kmets Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Buffalo, New York Posts: 104 Original Poster	Thank you all! Most likely it will spend the day around my neck. Just wanted a back up plan if I got sick of carrying it around or decide to bring my other lens.