Camera under a hot tin roof

[dadsm3]

Going to the southern US and want to travel light, just an M6 with 35/50/90, but was thinking of throwing my M3 and a 50mm with some Tmax100 in the glove compartment....my car will almost certainly be baking the SC sunshine at some point.
Is it not advisable to leave a camera, lens and film under such extreme temperatures?
Thanks,
Mike

 

[rover]

Well, the film will take the brunt of the immediate effects of the heat. Cooking you camera and lens can't be good for the lubricants, seals and stuff.

 

[zuikologist]

Exactly what Rover said - you don't want oil and grease migrating to the aperture blades, lens elements or shutter curtains. If you are using a 50mm, why not take a cheap fixed lens or FSU RF instead. If it gets stolen, then the loss is also minimal.

 

[captainslack]

Don't do it!!! You'll just ruin a roll of film and possibly contribute to problems with your camera & lens.

 

[Nick R.]

Why does the camera have to stay in the glove compartment? Keep it with you in the passenger compartment, carry it when you leave, or leave it wherever you're staying. I drove down to Miami this year with both an M and a hexar and I had no trouble doing just that.

 

[LazyHammock]

I'll occasionally keep a camera in the car in a small cooler with the blue gel "ice" packs (I put the camera in a freezer bag). I'll do this if I ever need to leave it there for a while(I can't take any camera equipment into my workplace). If this method works in Phoenix it should work most places!
Nick

 

[KoNickon]

If you are going to be traveling by car, find a drugstore or supermarket where those cheap styrofoam drink coolers are sold. These are totally not durable, but should be fine for this purpose, and you can throw it out when you're done.

 

[Nick R.]

. . . Hmmm, this thread seems to be of particular interest to people named Nick 🙄

 

[Trius]

memphis: You tried the solar cooler fan? I was going to give it a whirl. If so, what was your experience?

Mind you, my vehicle is white, which does help. Black/dark cars are silly for photographers, IMO.