Well, my insurance will cover theft out of my car as long as it is locked (which it always is) and the gear is not in plain sight (which it never is). Plus, my car has a security system. It also covers theft if I'm mugged, accidental breakage, my camera bag going overboard, etc. Essentially everything except intentional damage or loss, or careless loss (leaving it on the back seat of an unlocked car wouldn't likely be covered.)
Plus, where I work is a private parcel of land with essentially zero public traffic, so it's really not much of a risk as the only people around my car at any time during the day are my coworkers, and I know all of them (small company). If I am going somewhere in the city (and I'm not going to be out photographing), I rarely bring my camera in the car with me, and if I'm going to be parking for any length of time in a high traffic area, and I do have my camera with me, I will usually bring my bag with me; but for going to work, it's really not necessary.
JimN wrote:
I think it was pretty well covered before it went somewhat off topic. Do you have anything to add or additional on topic questions?
A Tad, Canon's 40D white paper says operating temps from 32f to 104f degrees. Nothing about damaging temps though.
I'm concerned about it because I have no choice at times rather I leave it in a hot vehicle or not.
I tried a 1 inch thick Styrofoam container today and outside was 90f, the interior was 120 (I have a foil type windshield shade).
I had a 8 inch thermometer probe stuck through the lid centered between two bodies and lenses. It read 99F.
I was hoping for cooler if not just for the batteries. I think they take the brunt of the hit.
I usually have them in a large thin closed cell lined bag and they are always pretty warm to the touch. But at only 6 degrees above body temp they felt much cooler than without the cooler.
therock wrote:
A Tad, Canon's 40D white paper says operating temps from 32f to 104f degrees. Nothing about damaging temps though.
I'm concerned about it because I have no choice at times rather I leave it in a hot vehicle or not.
I tried a 1 inch thick Styrofoam container today and outside was 90f, the interior was 120 (I have a foil type windshield shade).
I had a 8 inch thermometer probe stuck through the lid centered between two bodies and lenses. It read 99F.
I was hoping for cooler if not just for the batteries. I think they take the brunt of the hit.
I usually have them in a large thin closed cell lined bag and they are always pretty warm to the touch. But at only 6 degrees above body temp they felt much cooler than without the cooler.
Many many photographers have used Canon camera bodies well outside the stated temp ranges with no ill effects. That doesn't mean you won't have a problem, just that it isn't likely. I have never had a problem with heat, but I had a 20D die on me in the cold of Alaska in early March.
Ben Horne wrote:
Just to test my assumption, I was able to look up addresses (likely home) for about 4 of the people here who admit to leaving their gear in their cars frequently. That's why you really need to be careful about where you leave your gear, and if you admit to where you leave it. I don't even keep my gear at my home, and it's not in my car, so I am quite safe in that respect. It would be quite easy to look up my info. I just found it online after a quick search.
OK, I can understand not leaving it in the car (this is one reason when I'm on trips I always park the car in view of where I'm sitting in a restaurant if the stuff is in the trunk, which it typically is.) But why don't you keep it at home? (And where do you leave it, or is that a secret?) Surely there are ways to safeguard it at home (gunsafes, good security safes, etc.) BTW, bet you can't find my address or license plate This is why I don't use my full name on the website. Kind of a PITA because I like to provide some info about me but got squirrely about saying who I was when I registered.
jlandaue wrote:
I live in Miami, Fl. COLD, or HOT, I would not leave the camera in any place inside my car, specially with a L lens. attached.
I'm with you. I live in Tampa and beside hot and humid. we have a plague of Johnny Nare-Do-Wells and they won't think twice about busting out a window to see if there is something worth stealing.
If I have my cameras with me, they are on my shoulder. Makes the mall interesting, but it beats losing the gear and filing the claim...
I'm with you. I live in Tampa and beside hot and humid. we have a plague of Johnny Nare-Do-Wells and they won't think twice about busting out a window to see if there is something worth stealing.
Love Tampa, my home town. Have you shot the bird sanctuary islands at the mouth of the Alifia River?
A little update on using a styrofoam cooler. It's great. I have been using it since the OP date and it's been getting hotter out.
The cooler never gets over 90f degrees inside. The interior goes over 120f a tad with a sunshade on the dash and tinted glass. The vehicle is an 05 Silverado ext cab dark Storm Gray. I left the sunshade off once and it was 10 degrees hotter but the cooler was still 90f.
It's nice to grab the camera and it feel neutral to the touch.
I'll post a pic of the box this PM. It's a specialty unit for shipping perishables and can hold two 40Ds', one with a 70-200 2.8L IS Hood reversed, and the other with a 300 F4L IS side by side with no room to flop or bounce using a cloth between them.
This is why I don't use my full name on the website. Kind of a PITA because I like to provide some info about me but got squirrely about saying who I was when I registered. 
