ClarkJohnson Loc: Fort Myers, FL and Cohasset, MA

Next month, I will be traveling to several places, and the logistics would be greatly helped if I could leave a Sigma 500mm lens in my parked car on Long Island (in a private gated lot) for up to two weeks between uses. I plan to put it in an airtight tote with a silica pack, so moisture will not be an issue, but I am uncertain about the heat that could build up inside a car, and whether this is they type of condition that lenses are built to endure. I understand that this is not preferable, but my question is whether it is possible.

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Put the sun blocker in the windshield, open the windows 1/4”, and bury the lens under plenty of insulation. Put the whole pile on the floor where there’s a bit less midday heat.

With great insulation the lens will always be at or near the average of daytime to nightime temperature which avoids the extremes of midday and also avoids condensation at night. With max summer heat gone by, this will be safe enough.

If given a choice, park near much nicer cars than your own !

djclow

I attended a landscape photography course by John and Barbara Gerlach several years ago and he suggested placing your camera and lens in a small cooler (like an Igloo, for example).

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

I wouldn't do what you're contemplating.

Quixdraw Loc: x

I wouldn't leave an expensive lens in a car as you describe. I believe Airports and bus terminals still have rental lockers. There are also other kinds of facilities with secure check rooms for left luggage.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

I am familiar with the white weather conditions and functions in Nassau and Suffolk Counties on the Island- I worked there extensively at one time.

I would not advise unless there is no alternative, storing any photographic equipment, long term in a parked car in hot weather. On hot summer days, even with some ventilation, reflectors in the windows and storage in a cooler, you can still bake muffins on the seats or roast a chicken in the glove box or trunk on hot summer days. Unless the crime statistics have vastly decreased over the years, my feeling is, even in a gated area, the bad guys still manage to get in. Gates and locks are for honest folks!

Even if you put your lens in an ice-box., condensation will set in as soon as you remove it in a heated environment and that may result in long-term damage.

I do know, having used gear in extremely hot and damp environments during my military service, that the gear was especially lubricated to withstand heat and preclude migration of ordinary lubracants to diaphragm blades and other places where they can cause malfunction. That was a long time ago, so I would suggest that you contact the manufacturer or distributer and see if there is any specification for tropical use.

I understand that big glass is burdensome and unpleasant to lug around but so are nasty repair bills.

Sorry if I soud paranoid or discouraging. Over the years I have begun to respect Murphy's law more and more- based on experience! After a few tours in exotic Vietnam, I have come to detest extreme heat and humidity. So I moved to a cold country- I thought folks here lived in igloos. Today it's 95 degrees F. with high humidity! I better turn up the AC!

Good luck, enjoy your trip!

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Well, being a New Yorker, if you do that I would make sure my insurance is up to date and you have the local Safelite Auto Glass place on speedial.

I wouldn't do it. Weather and heat is hard to predict. The chances a misanthrope will break something to get into your car, much easier to predict, even in a private, gated lot. I have a friend that lives in Suffolk Co and owns an RV - his catalytic converter was stolen, using battery powered cutoff saws, just for the rare and somewhat precious metals contained within. It was in a private, gated lot.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

A bit more information on your trips would be helpful...
Are you parking the car at an airport initially? Will you be returning to the car location simply to get the lens for the next trip? Returning it to the "holding area" for the third trip?
Not following...

Just remember, if it takes 4-5 hours for the inside of a cooler to heat up in a parked car, it will take at least 4-5 hours for it to cool off.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

I concur! Had to laugh! "Misanthrop" is one of my favourite words for bad folks! It surpasses "sociopath, criminal, etc." and does not require professional psychological or criminological training or degrees to diagnose.

Misanthropy is a general hatred, dislike, distrust or contempt of the human species, human behaviour or human nature. A misanthrope or misanthropist is someone who holds such views or feelings.

In my present city, the crime stats are comparatively small compare to the N.Y.C Metropolitan Area. Nonetheless, vehicular smash and grabs are commonplace. I do lots of industrial work in areas that are no the most secure and sometimes have to keep gear in the car. For years I drove a black Crown Victoria station wagon with dark tinted windows, no commercial signage, no fancy trim or wheel covers. It looked like the Provincial Corinor's mortuary transport vehicle. I guess the bad guys are superstitious and afraid of dead folks or ghosts. On a few occasions, they broke into the car in front or in the back of mine and swiped the stereo, etc and spared my "hearse"!

Ford discontinued the Crown Vic wagon, so I settled for an SUV with the same colour combination. I couldn't find a good deal on a used armoured truck!

ClarkJohnson Loc: Fort Myers, FL and Cohasset, MA

OK. I hear you. Many thanks for all the comments. I am not going going to go into the specifics of my arrangements, but believe me when i say that I am very familiar with the parking facility, and that I am not worried about security. People with cars a lot more expensive than mine keep their cars there, and we have not had an incursion in all the years I have parked there. OK, there’s a first time for everything, but it won’t be my minivan that gets hit.

The heat, however, doesn’t care what part of the world my car comes from, and the majority opinion has convinced me to haul the big glass with me rather than leave it to roast in the car. Not that big a deal, it’s just inconvenient and a little more work than leaving it parked. My ultimate destination is week in Cape May for birding, which I am looking forward very much.

Thanks again to all who responded.

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Near Phoenix, neither would I :-(

Mikeazz Loc: I live in Northport, NY

Cars with out of town plates stand out and are candidates for potential break ins. People on vacation usually have personal items in their car or trunk. Food for thought.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

Two things I do. One never put my equipment in my car and walk away. I will always get in the car and drive away, I will not let some see me put the camera in the car and walk away, I get in the car and drive away. It may be to the other side of the area and re-park but I will go out of eye shot so no one is aware that I just put my camera and equipment in a car about to be walk away from.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

It can be hard to wipe that stuff off after it bakes in the sun for a while.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Unless you keep the A/C running, there's nothing that will actually keep the interior cool. Check the owner's manual - or look online - to see the safe temperatures for the lens. You can check ahead of time to see how hot your car gets while sitting in the sun.

It looks like 140°F is an upper limit.

https://www.sunex.com/what-is-the-operating-temperature-spec-for-a-glass-plastic-hybrid-lens/#:~:text=For%20general%20purposes%20however%2C%20it,most%20measures%2C%20well%20beyond%20these