Thoughts sought on Scope + heat

[KCFoggin]

It has been so much easier for me to keep the scope in the trunk of my car during the winter and spring months but I am a bit hesitant about leaving it there with our close to 100 degree summer days which are fast approaching. Rightly so?

[Screech]

Hi KC,

I use a small luch pack with insulating material to use as a camera bag. It has a zipper pouch on top for my 5x Zoom Lens.
The main pouch big enough for camera with hood, Nikon lens pack , 3 sets of batteries, plus 3 net bag enclosure's for whatever.
The thing I like the most is that it looks like a "Lunch Pack and not a camera case.
I agree with Kevin apaut breakdown of rubber parts in your heat,
should read 100++, I remenber Parris Island in July at Marine boot camp!

My Leica, non APO, shows heat shimmer on a hot day when at the shore during a day of digiscoping. The tube itself is "hot" to touch, got to affect the image.

My advice, keep it out of the trunk, better to be safe than sorry!

[KCFoggin]

Thank you both. Honestly? I was not even thinking about the heat with the rubber eyepiece. *smacking herself on her blonde head* I was concerned about the optics but hadn't given the consequences of the heat on the rubber a thought. It will be taken in during the summer months then.
Kevin, *now I am knocking on wood*, my area is fairly safe and well patrolled by the local law enforcement but why tempt fate.
Bob, last year we had almost a month of 100 + temps and it is positively debilitating.

[Screech]

Kevin, Great idea about the shade. I usually try to find shelter under trees for shade, but a large golf umbrella attached to the car roof rack would work great.

KC, I don't envey you with those temps of 100++!

[Andy Bright]

Good question K.C.
My Swarovski (according to the handbook) can be stored at temps between -30c to 70c (-22f to 158f) and can operated at temps between -20c to 55c (-4f to 131f). I couldn't say if this applies to your scope.
I expect there is drift in focus when the temps change quickly, given that here is a fair amount of metal in a scope.
They do stress that humidity is the main problem for storage, so storage in an airtight bag with silica gel is vital in those sticky places

[Adey Baker]

Leica used to stress, in their camera literature, that their 'Apo' lenses used only 'E.D.'-type glass as Fluorite changed its refractive index with different changes of temperature - no great problem with a scope, of course, as they often focus 'beyond' infinity to accomodate different people's eyes. Incidentally, they also claimed that a sudden, large change in temperature could even shatter the fluorite elements! (Never heard of it, myself!)

Adey

[stevo]

I know someone who has welded a metal tube to the frame of a camping chair,when the sun gets to hot he slots an small umbrella into the tube,gives him more than enough shade.

[Screech]

Great Tip stevo, simple solution to the problem.
It's amazing what you learn from everyone's input at this site.
Thanks!

[Hanno]

Having birded in some really hot countries (try the UAE in summer!), I have never noticed any adverse effects on the optics. High humidity seems to be worse, rapidly degrading all rubber. This applies especially to the carrying-strap, I suspect the combination of heat and sweat is not very good for the neoprene straps.

[KCFoggin]

I've heard enough here to decide the trunk/boot of my car during the very hot days of summer here is not the place for my scope. Thanks everyone.