Local temperature and using the camera: As I said for a new member, it is almost 40º C here and that has been going for more than a month. My question: do you consider it safe to go...

Anhanga Brasil Loc: Cabo Frio - Brazil

As I said for a new member, it is almost 40º C here and that has been going for
more than a month.
My question: do you consider it safe to go out and shoot? Of course I mean for
the camera circuitry. Thanks a lot.

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

Anhanga Brasil wrote:

As I said for a new member, it is almost 40º C here and that has been going for
more than a month.
My question: do you consider it safe to go out and shoot? Of course I mean for
the camera circuitry. Thanks a lot.

From personal experience of shooting in temps like that yes, at least in a dry climate.

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

Anhanga Brasil wrote:

As I said for a new member, it is almost 40º C here and that has been going for
more than a month.
My question: do you consider it safe to go out and shoot? Of course I mean for
the camera circuitry. Thanks a lot.

The normal temperature range for most consumer cameras is -10C to +40C. You can go beyond that range a little but you might experience issues.

You should avoid leaving the camera locked in a hot car. The temperature can get well above 40C.

Anhanga Brasil Loc: Cabo Frio - Brazil

RichardTaylor wrote:

From personal experience of shooting in temps like that yes, at least in a dry climate.

Thanks. The air humidity here is usually low (55%, now), but, sometimes it gets to up to 80+%.
I always go outside wearing a hat and an old (1950's) pair of Ray-Ban's that was my father's.
The sun is inclement

Anhanga Brasil Loc: Cabo Frio - Brazil

selmslie wrote:

The normal temperature range for most consumer cameras is -10C to +40C. You can go beyond that range a little but you might experience issues.

You should avoid leaving the camera locked in a hot car. The temperature can get well above 40C.

I know. When I left my workplace today it was @ 45º C (~110º F).
I do not even think of taking my camera with me when I am off to work.
I will try a brief excursion tomorrow.
Thanks for your replies, folks.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Anhanga Brasil wrote:

As I said for a new member, it is almost 40º C here and that has been going for
more than a month.
My question: do you consider it safe to go out and shoot? Of course I mean for
the camera circuitry. Thanks a lot.

I think it is, but I would try to avoid keeping the camera exposed to the sun for too long, I would try to shade it while shooting!

Anhanga Brasil Loc: Cabo Frio - Brazil

speters wrote:

I think it is, but I would try avoiding keeping the camera exposed to the sun for too long, I would try to shade it while shooting!

Yes. My main concern. I try to protect it from direct sunlight all the time.

itsnoelb Loc: Edgewater, FL. Originally: FLINT. MI.

speters wrote:

I think it is, but I would try to avoid keeping the camera exposed to the sun for too long, I would try to shade it while shooting!

Why do cameras of higher standards have to be black? Why not a lighter color like grey to help avoid some of the heat issue?

traderjohn Loc: New York City

Anhanga Brasil wrote:

Yes. My main concern. I try to protect it from direct sunlight all the time.

I guess beach pictures are not something you have an interest in. My wife has a greater interest in photography than I. She always had her camera at the ready whether at the beach or other vacations always ready to take pictures of children later grandchildren. She always has Nikon and our disposable income improved so did her camera model. She retired last year and our children bought her an A7R111 and a lens and some other stuff. That camera spent a lot of time on the beach this summer in direct sunlight. No problems in the past none expected. When I retired last December they bought me a case of Macallan Scotch. We have smart children

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Anhanga Brasil wrote:

As I said for a new member, it is almost 40º C here and that has been going for
more than a month.
My question: do you consider it safe to go out and shoot? Of course I mean for
the camera circuitry. Thanks a lot.

NO PROBLEM, go out and shoot, shoot, shoot.

markinvictoria Loc: Victoria TX

itsnoelb wrote:

Why do cameras of higher standards have to be black? Why not a lighter color like grey to help avoid some of the heat issue?

Probably so they will not look so filthy after being handled for years...just my guess.

ppkwhat Loc: Gibsonton, FL

Anhanga Brasil wrote:

As I said for a new member, it is almost 40º C here and that has been going for
more than a month.
My question: do you consider it safe to go out and shoot? Of course I mean for
the camera circuitry. Thanks a lot.

Anhanga, I was born in Brazil, migrated to US 55 years ago, but traveled to Brazil many times all these years. I have photographed in the Amazon region, Pantanal region, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, Campos de Jordao, and several other places like Sao Paulo and Parana in the Winter were is cold and humid. I had Nikkons, D70, D80 at those times and changed lenses from primes to zooms with absolute no problems. Today I have a D-300 as backup to my D-750 and took both to Brazil last year during the Winter. No problems at all with the cameras.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

itsnoelb wrote:

Why do cameras of higher standards have to be black? Why not a lighter color like grey to help avoid some of the heat issue?

Little history here. In the late 60's Nikon was getting many, many, many, requests for professional photojournalists for a black camera. WHY you ask, good question.
Chrome camera's and lenses tended to draw attention when photojournalists were working in a street or crowded conditions. We photojournalists resorted to covering our camera's with black tape.
Nikon listened and started producing black camera's, it soon extended to their less expensive camera's including the Nikkormat line.
Black coatings do not effect electronic components. Most electronic components heat up more than the outside temp.
You can shoot with confidence with Black, yes, it is beautiful.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Anhanga Brasil wrote:

As I said for a new member, it is almost 40º C here and that has been going for
more than a month.
My question: do you consider it safe to go out and shoot? Of course I mean for
the camera circuitry. Thanks a lot.

104F is nothing for a camera to work in. I used mine all the time even at 122F in the Phoenix AZ area.
Just don't let it sit in a car in the sun and when not actually in use have it shaded in a bag.
Otherwise most good cameras will handle 104F with no problem.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Here in South Florida, where most the year the weather tends to be hot I have used my cameras without any issues. We do not easily have 104 (40 degrees Celsius) but I am confident there should be no issues using the cameras at those temperatures. The circuits are going to get hotter sooner but cameras have a safety device that will make them stop working if such a thing happens. If it happens let the camera cool off and start shooting again.
If your weather in Brazil is too humid I do recommend to use a desiccant to extract the humidity from ruining your cameras and lenses. Here in the USA I use a product called DampRid that I change periodically as it gets saturated with humidity. Periodically I expose the cameras to room air and to sunlight making sure that the cameras and lenses had a chance to acclimatize to the outdoor temperature.