In a message dated 5/11/2003 6:08:54 PM Central Standard Time,
gmcgrath@xxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
Anyone on the list actually keep a "car camera?"
Greg,
I do, but only on longer trips and not when driving to/from work or around
town. Kit for the longer trips (usually on the back seat):
OM-4 loaded with Kodachrome 64
35-105/3.5~4.5 (mounted on OM-4)
50/1.2 with hood for very low light
24/2 with hood; next lens wider than the 35-105
135/2.8; next lens longer than the 35-105 but can be easily hand held
Rest of the OM system, along with tripod and medium format system is in the
trunk. For "grab shots" during the trip, getting something else out of the
trunk is very rare. Most of the time I don't even have to switch the zoom
for one of the others. The 35-105/3.5~4.5 is quite versatile, especially
with its close-focus feature (a short, variable extension tube; approx.
0-5mm). If I stop for any length of time it all goes into the trunk for
security. For short stops I simply cover it with a coat or towel. Likely
not exactly the answer you were looking for.
I do not keep a camera in the car all the time. Continuously changing
temperatures is hard on cameras, especially summer heat and humidity which
is also very hard on film. I don't recommend keeping one inside the
passenger compartment during the time of year when temperatures push toward
80F or above (hard to avoid with a truck or SUV). Temperatures inside a
passenger compartment can exceed 150F . . . during mid-summer up to 180F .
. . when parked in the sun. Even under a seat or in the shade doesn't
mitigate the greenhouse effect of the windows. The trunk remains much cooler.
*If* I were to keep one permanently in the trunk, and thinking you're
looking for just one body/lens, it would be my Rollei 35S with its 40/2.8
Sonnar. It's very small and its solid mechanical design makes it very
hardy in extremes of heat and cold. The lens is ideal for making do with a
single, fixed focal length and it's fast enough during daylight when loaded
up with ISO 100 film (I use Provia 100F in it; lens is too slow for
Kodachrome 64 at dusk/dawn). At one time I had two Rollei 35's. The other
was a 35T that went everywhere with me while in the military through all
seasons in every manner of very hot and very cold climates and weather
conditions. Never had any trouble with it; sold it as I eventually only
needed one of them and the 35T had become a dust holder on a shelf. The
35S would likely survive well in the car trunk, but still not certain the
film in it would fare well very long during the summer. Quite likely this
choice is for similar reasons others have for keeping a compact RF in the
car versus a larger SLR.
-- John
< This message was delivered via the Olympus Mailing List >
< For questions, mailto:owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >
< Web Page: http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright/olympuslist.html >
|