Camera Bag - Keep indoors or in the car boot?

Shiskine

Shiskine

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David
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One the one hand, I want my equipment to always be accessible so keeping the camera bag in the boot is preferable, but on the other hand, some of the night time temperatures we've seen north of the border have been so low that the batteries are unlikely to survive. As a result, I've been taking the bag indoors at night.

What would people suggest is the minimum day/night temperature difference to safely allow kit to be left in the car overnight?

Are batteries the only thing to worry about or can temperature changes affect lenses and bodies?

I have no security concerns about leaving kit in the car. I am just thinking about the practicalities of lugging a camera bag into the house whilst trying to handle a load of shopping, etc..
 
two trips - mine gets put away safely in the house/work, but I've mostly been carrying it around this weather.

beware of the immediate temp difference if you want to use it though. Going from cold to warm usually steams up the lenses
 
Although you say you have no security concerns on leaving your kit in the car, I found to my cost that most insurance policies don't generally cover kit left in an unattended vehicle, even though I had a police note to back up the theft!

I always take mine indoors for the night now.

Sorry this doesn't answer the main part of your query but thought is was worth mentioning.
 
Ribbo said:
Although you say you have no security concerns on leaving your kit in the car, I found to my cost that most insurance policies don't generally cover kit left in an unattended vehicle, even though I had a police note to back up the theft!

I always take mine indoors for the night now.

Sorry this doesn't answer the main part of your query but thought is was worth mentioning.
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Perhaps a word with my insurers is in order ...
 
After reading a few threads on people having stuff stolen from their cars I would never leave my gear in the car, not even for a few hours let alone overnight. I would suggest taking it inside with you and keeping your 'mobile' kit small enough to keep handy. you can get a car charger for the batts (i have one)

I know you state you have no security concerns but it would still freak me out to leave my kit in the car boot.

Batts will suffer in the cold but as I said, get a car lighter mains adapter and give them a boost as you drive.

all the best with this
 
Definitely woth a quick check could save you a lot of hassle. I had specific out of house cover as well which I thought was pretty comprehensive, it was all down to the unattended wording!

A little hassle in the short term could save you a lot in the long!
 
besides the obvious misting lenses, are you properly insured to leave your kit in your car.
we have commercial camera insurance, and even ourss insists that cameras are not left in the car overnight.
we dont leave kit in the car, in the daytime, even though it is insured.
we'd get replacements, but imagine how much hassle it is sorting gear out at short notice for a big job.
not to mention the next years premiums.
why risk it?
carrying a bag from the front room to the car is no real hassle.
 
My camera kit insurers won't insure anything left outside my house in the car.

My car insurers will cover stuff up to about £100 in a locked boot.

I would personally get it indoors.
 
My insurance policy covers me for the gear being left in an unattended car but not overnight.
 
inaneredstripe said:
carrying a bag from the front room to the car is no real hassle.
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If only I didn't live in a top floor flat ... :D

EDIT: Just spoke to Direct Line and there are no exclusions on my policy. Personal possessions up to £2,000 are covered.

If I continue to get more and more into this photography lark, and the value of my kit increases, I can see it being a different story. At least I'm covered for now ...
 
sheer feer and panic would make me take it indoors
and safety
 
I doubt I'd be so blasé if my kit was top end like some of your guys ...
 
Seriously I wouldn't like to routinely leave my kit in the car boot. OK for an hour or two, but not as a matter of course. And I don't live in a "dicey" location either.
 
You need to check your insurance (Istill havnt added or sorted out a policy yet), to see if you are insured if your stuff did get stolen.

or your car gets stolen.
 
I think you'll find that camera gear left in an unattended vehicle has certain clauses.

Most of the camera insurers work to the same set of policy wording because they are underwritten by the same group of underwriters (you deal with a company, they don't actually insure you, even big names like AXA, or Adviva as they are now, then sell that risk on to underwriters...they are a bunch of gamblers, basically!)

The in vehicle cover will have specific times - mine is from 07.00 - 20.00. After that it is not insured. The policy also specifically doubles the excess and halves the insured amount. Maximum of £5000 cover in an unattended vehicle and only if it has an approved alarm fitted. The excess goes from £250 - £500 too for any unattended vehicle theft.

I would check your policy documents carefully folks.

Would I leave my kit in the car overnight? Nope. You say you live on a high flat...but you don't have high end gear. So where is the problem in taking it with you? I would let it acclimatise carefully IN THE BAG before taking anything out of the bag in the house/flat though. Allow the temperature to gently permeate the bag through the material. This might take some hours (so anyone going to a gig - keep your gear warm on the way there!) It is perfectly common for condensation to form on your sensor if the ambient temperature is raised suddenly. There is air in your body, it contains some water vapour - it will condense. Let alone your lenses steaming up, they are less vulnerable.
 
Always take it indoors with me.
Much safer that way, from the elements, and thieves.
Better safe than sorry!
Besides, who knows when an opportunity might arise indoors and yiu are without your kit :p
 
Why would you leave it in the car? You cite the practicalities of lugging the kit around with all the shopping - so make two trips...it's not difficult. Or sling it on your back/shoulder.
If you're worried about misting-up, as long as it's kept in a closed camera bag you won't get any problems with the cold kit going into a heated apartment.
 
Maybe the OP's house has a mile long driveway with reinforced steel gates and armed guards to open the gates. And the keys to said car are not left on the hall table, but rather kept under the pillow of the OP whilst sleeping?:D
 
awec said:
Maybe the OP's house has a mile long driveway with reinforced steel gates and armed guards to open the gates. And the keys to said car are not left on the hall table, but rather kept under the pillow of the OP whilst sleeping?:D
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Close ... :D
 
awec said:
Maybe the OP's house has a mile long driveway with reinforced steel gates and armed guards to open the gates. And the keys to said car are not left on the hall table, but rather kept under the pillow of the OP whilst sleeping?:D
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:lol::lol:
 
get a backpack or slingshot and you can still carry the shopping in as well
 
Just make sure nobody sees you put it in the boot, my neighbours are top peeps but you never know who's just moved in or are watching as a regular routine, i once transferred mine from the passenger footwell to the boot in a supermarket car park, it left me cold thinking someone might have seen around 2k going to a place that could easily be got at through the back seat of my ford focus hatch :suspect: :eek:
 
Just be careful as some insurance companies are quick to find some small print that their sales force don't tell you about. As said earlier be careful who sees it being left there, only takes one idiot one minute and it'll be gone.

It might be worth noting that a few car manufacturers run the boot remote release cable in very accessible places that I suspect many of our dodgy friends will know only to well
 
We're all getting hung up on the security issue. I've spoken to my insurer and they assure me I'm covered, irrespective of where the car is left. It's only some camera equipment and if nicked, it can be replaced.

My original question was aimed at identifying issues relating to changes in temperature or humidity if kit is left in the boot ....
 
Take it indoors with you, but close the bag first...the equipment will gradually adjust to the ambient indoor temperature and humidity with no adverse effects - it will take up to three hours depending on the temperature differential.
 
i live in a 4th floor flat with no lift and have a 1yr old baby to carry everywhere, but I NEVER leave my gear in the car, its worth 3x what my car is worth and i know i wouldnt be covered by insurance if left there overnight.

A couple of time I have forgotten to bring it up from the boot before now and remembered at 2am in the morning, put slippers and dressing gown on and gone down to get it !!


On a long drive to one event, as soon as i got my kit out it all steamed up and that buggered me up for about 45 mins, not too long but long enough to miss some competitors !
 
Also worth mentioning to put a few of those little moisture crystal things in your bag too. The ones that come in some product packaging to pull in condensation.

I actually have one in every lens pouch in my bag, never had any problems.
 
MG TF 135 said:
Also worth mentioning to put a few of those little moisture crystal things in your bag too. The ones that come in some product packaging to pull in condensation.

I actually have one in every lens pouch in my bag, never had any problems.
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There's absolutely no point. Unless your bag is air-tight, all it's doing is pulling moisture from the surrounding atmosphere - it gets saturated within a couple of days and is then even more useless...

If you keep your kit in an air-tight Peli-case then silica gel bags are a good idea.

You're better off keeping the bag unzipped (once the equipment is at ambient temperature) in a warm (but not hot), dry cupboard to prevent moisture build-up and mould in the optics.
And check it regularly.
 
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