How durable is the Nikon F4 in high heat environments?

WILL WORK FOR FILM · Jul 10, 2017

I have spent most of the last year with my Nikon F learning the basics of photography. It has been nicknamed "The Teacher". But, I have a 10 day flyfishing trip in the Clearwater region of northern Idaho coming up and feel the need to bring the F4s out of hibernation. We will be camping in a large wall tent and experiencing mild temperatures at night and potentially high 90's in the day. I plan to leave it in the truck in the evenings but know better than to cook it during the heat of the day in a vehicle. Film will be protected in a Rubbermaid container in the cooler when not in use and I intend to stash my camera equipment in the shade when possible. Although, it is a tool and I intend to expose it to 10 days worth of heat and dust.

So the question is, how protective do I need to be in regards to exposure to heat? Is there a published heat threshold for the F4?

Alan9940 · Jul 10, 2017

Don't know if there's a published heat tolerance threshold, but I can tell you I've used my F4 out in the summers of the desert southwest with temps in the low 100's without issue.

MartinCrabtree · Jul 10, 2017

That's abut as good an endorsement as you'll find. I'd be more concerned about the film honestly. And it appears you've taken that into consideration.

Alan Gales · Jul 10, 2017

I've used my old Contax 139 electronic camera in the high 90's with high humidity here in St. Louis. I've never had any problems with film or the camera. I did keep my film in a camera bag so it was out of the sun. It's supposed to be in the 90's here all week this week. July and August can get hot!

Paul Howell · Jul 10, 2017

For years the F4 was used by Arizona Republic, I knew the photo editor at the time, as far I as can recall the F4 held up well in 100 degree weather.

BMbikerider · Jul 10, 2017

It will survive better than the Cannon equivalent the EOS1 or 1N.

sepiareverb · Jul 10, 2017

I wouldn't worry one bit.

WILL WORK FOR FILM · Jul 10, 2017

Sounds like I need to be more concerned about my film than the camera. One less thing to worry about.

Luis-F-S · Jul 10, 2017

WILL WORK FOR FILM said:
Sounds like I need to be more concerned about my film than the camera. One less thing to worry about.

++1!

tessar · Jul 10, 2017

The Nikon F was famously used by press photographers in Vietnam during the '60s, so I believe any of the F series would stand up well up to heat (and heat and humidity, even worse).

dynachrome · Jul 10, 2017

My Canon F-1 cameras are rated to work up to 150F. The problem is that I'm not rated to work up to 150F! A few years ago I was using my Pentax DSLR on a very hot day and a temperature warning light showed up on the rear screen.

Paul Howell · Jul 10, 2017

As an Air Force Photographer I used the F quite extensively in Southeast Asia, then while working for the wires F, F2, and F3P in many tropical and desert environments, never an issue. The Republic used F4s, then later I think most Republic PJs shot with N90s with battery grips, the other paper at the time the Mesa Tribune used Canon EOS 1 and 1Ns, never an issue. As a matter of fact last month we had a 119 degree day, I shot a roll of film at dusk with my Minolta 9, it was still 114.

Theo Sulphate · Jul 10, 2017

The Nikon F4 is a professional grade camera, intended to be used by photographers and photojournalists all over the world. So, 90F-110F shouldn't be a problem. However, the camera was also intended to be regularly maintained (usually as a business expense or by one's newspaper/magazine department). So, if the camera is in good shape in regards to a CLA, it should be fine.

RalphLambrecht · Jul 11, 2017

WILL WORK FOR FILM said:
I have spent most of the last year with my Nikon F learning the basics of photography. It has been nicknamed "The Teacher". But, I have a 10 day flyfishing trip in the Clearwater region of northern Idaho coming up and feel the need to bring the F4s out of hibernation. We will be camping in a large wall tent and experiencing mild temperatures at night and potentially high 90's in the day. I plan to leave it in the truck in the evenings but know better than to cook it during the heat of the day in a vehicle. Film will be protected in a Rubbermaid container in the cooler when not in use and I intend to stash my camera equipment in the shade when possible. Although, it is a tool and I intend to expose it to 10 days worth of heat and dust.

So the question is, how protective do I need to be in regards to exposure to heat? Is there a published heat threshold for the F4?

With my Hasselblad, I just keep a white towel in the camera bag and throw it over the camera to protect it from direct sunlight; never had an issue with malfunction due to heat;I'd suspect a similar performance from a Nikon pro camera but to be sure, call up Nikopn USA and sk them.

monst · Jul 11, 2017

It probably all depends on how well serviced they have been in their past life.

zanxion72 · Jul 11, 2017

It used to be one of the most durable electronic slrs ever, but considering its age many things can happen with not loading properly the film being the most frequent these days. Btw, there is no CLA for cameras like these any more. No spare parts, and none to service them. Once it dies on you, it is all over.

tim_walls · Jul 11, 2017

BMbikerider said:
It will survive better than the Cannon equivalent the EOS1 or 1N.

Nice try ;-).

FWIW, my Canon 1V copes admirably with the weather here in summer (you'd call it high 90s/low 100s, I call it mid-30s to 40s in the shade) with no trouble at all, and has indeed survived the humidity of Asian summers as well. I can't imagine the Nikon is any worse, and TBH it's difficult to see what really would trouble it about what are relatively normal temperatures in many parts of the world.

It also copes fine in winter (down to -25c / -13f here) and has survived the central Russian winter .

I'd be much more concerned about one of those D-word cameras.

Chan Tran · Jul 11, 2017

Keep the camera with you. If you don't die the camera would survive.

Paul Howell · Jul 11, 2017

zanxion72 said:
It used to be one of the most durable electronic slrs ever, but considering its age many things can happen with not loading properly the film being the most frequent these days. Btw, there is no CLA for cameras like these any more. No spare parts, and none to service them. Once it dies on you, it is all over.

Here is Phoenix, Tempe Camera Repair will CLA, clean, lube and adjust, if a owner has a donor camera will repair with used parts no warranty.

film_man · Jul 11, 2017

Having visited hot places where the temperatures were 40-45C I have never had a problem using any camera (Nikon, Canon, medium format) even after two weeks. Just make sure you don't leave the camera and/or film in a car getting cooked in direct sun.

sepiareverb · Jul 11, 2017

I have a Nikon binder that has all the info, press releases, published data on the F4. No mention of a high operating temperature.

nyoung · Jul 12, 2017

Second the motion for the white towel, Also, remember the floor board of the car will be 20 or more degrees cooler than the area around your head.

Sirius Glass · Jul 12, 2017

nyoung said:
Second the motion for the white towel, Also, remember the floor board of the car will be 20 or more degrees cooler than the area around your head.

Only if the area is not near the muffler. I have some cars that can get really hot floors. I keep the camera and camera bags on some insulation.

nyoung · Jul 13, 2017

You are quite right. I was thinking only of heat build up while parked.

BMbikerider · Jul 16, 2017

I don't think you will have any problem with the camera, it is the heat effect on film which will be the thing to be careful about - especially colour either neg or slide.

How durable is the Nikon F4 in high heat environments?

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