Heat is a major cause of image noise so it might degrade your images but otherwise I don't think it will damage the camera (unless you're talking Death Valley in August kind of heat which may be more than most plastics can handle).
Not sure right off of what the temperature rating is for a digital camera, but think about it like this, it can get anywhere from 90¼-140¼ inside a car, that could do some damage. It melts cds, tapes, etc. So i may do it, I would avoid it, not only for the heat, but from thieves.
I would be very careful. Even if the camera is turned off, there is still a small amount of current used to keep the internal clock and calendar running, so there is already a small amount of heat being released. Excess heat and electronics don't go together very well. Additionally, batteries can suffer physical damage from excess heat. It would be a drag to have a battery rupture in a camera; all you would have is a very expensive paperweight.
You might check the user guide to see if there are 'operating' and 'storage' temperature limits.
If getting a computer hot and keeping it that way wears it out faster, why wouldn't the same be true of a digital camera, which is essentially a computer that records images?
This is an issue for all of us of here in AZ, where daytime highs are already running at 106 and headed higher. My gear often rides around with me in this heat, and spends time in the cargo area out of direct sunlight but still cooking as the interior gets rather hot just parked without AC.
The only trouble I've had so far was with my D70. I'd downgraded this to my backup camera when I got my D200, so I was keeping it in the car with the 18-70 mounted, ISO 400 set, and the camaera in program aauto mode. This makes a great point & shoot for the weird things I see along AZ highways.
The trouble - it completely locked up on me and wouldn't fire. But it returned to normal operation once it spent some time in the AC at home.
On my first visit to AZ, back on June of 1987 or so, I bought a cheap LCD clock to stick in the even cheaper rental Ford Escort I got stuck with. The screen would regularly turn solid black from the heat when the car sat around, but it returned to normal operation with the correct time after running the AC for a while.
Preston, good advise for Pete. Read manuel first. I really like my small Manolta digicam, and I carry it with me always, but I still want leave it in my car, maye for a few minutes, but not at temperatures which can be reach in a close parked car. I still like it and find it come in handy at times, so I really don't want to damage it, go the extra incomvenience to take care of it.
I keep an older digital SLR in the car. Two things that work for me. First, I keep the camera in an insulated container. This reduces peak temperature. And second, I have a grip that use AA batteries. Lithium AA don't discharge, so there's always power.
I've been away from the computer for a week. Thanks to those who replied. There are some good suggestions here.
I did read the manual first. It doesn't answer my question.
"....designed for use between 0°C and 40°C. Recording in extremely hot or places that exceed this range is not recommended."
I can understand the recording issue. The camera has cooled off by the time I use it. I'm asking about "storage," where the camera, battery (Lion) and Sony memory stick may get over 100°F for a time.
I have a soft cooler that I can dedicate to the task, but I have to believe that won't help much. I could borrow a data logger from work and get a record of temp throughout the day, that would be fun.
Discussion
11 repliesI used to avoid leaving film cameras in a hot car, but it seems like it might be ok with a digital. True?
Pete D.
Guy
You might check the user guide to see if there are 'operating' and 'storage' temperature limits.
-PB
The only trouble I've had so far was with my D70. I'd downgraded this to my backup camera when I got my D200, so I was keeping it in the car with the 18-70 mounted, ISO 400 set, and the camaera in program aauto mode. This makes a great point & shoot for the weird things I see along AZ highways.
The trouble - it completely locked up on me and wouldn't fire. But it returned to normal operation once it spent some time in the AC at home.
On my first visit to AZ, back on June of 1987 or so, I bought a cheap LCD clock to stick in the even cheaper rental Ford Escort I got stuck with. The screen would regularly turn solid black from the heat when the car sat around, but it returned to normal operation with the correct time after running the AC for a while.
I did read the manual first. It doesn't answer my question.
"....designed for use between 0°C and 40°C. Recording in extremely hot or places that exceed this range is not recommended."
I can understand the recording issue. The camera has cooled off by the time I use it. I'm asking about "storage," where the camera, battery (Lion) and Sony memory stick may get over 100°F for a time.
I have a soft cooler that I can dedicate to the task, but I have to believe that won't help much. I could borrow a data logger from work and get a record of temp throughout the day, that would be fun.
Pete D.