Overheating R1

[Michael Romano]

Just recently did a job in Honolulu (Read: HOT) where we had an MX body in a plastic bag mounted to a jib over a pool. In the past I've used hot/cold packs (The passive kind you just leave in the freezer) to prevent overheating but on this one there was none as it was a last minute deal.

So you guessed it: The camera overheats.

Without the packs I thought we might be a bit screwed. Using an old trick from hot striking HMI lights, I grabbed a can of duster from the 1st AC and flipped it upside down. Spraying into the fan vents (being careful to not to let it condense into that white frost) I had the camera back up in under a second. Literally a second was all it took.

Other suggestions for overheating:

Keep it in the shade!

Have a grip get a flag and fan that sucker.

Keep it out of plastic bags (When possible)

Thought this might be useful info in case you're ever in a pinch.

 

[Rick Darge]

Good info. Also, power down the camera when convenient.

 

[Dustin Cross]

Michael,

If you are using a plastic bag, try to cut holes and tape it around the intake and exhaust on the bottom sides of the camera. That way air can get in and out to cool, but it still protects the camera from splash or rain. This works if you are trying to protect from rain or splash, but if you were protecting from falling in the pool...


Mahalo,
Dusty

 

[Dylan Macleod CSC]

Sounds like the plastic bag was the problem. I made the same mistake two years ago.

Heat shouldn't be a problem. I just finished a shoot where we were lighting to really high levels. The camera was incredibly hot to touch. We used a metal flag to shield it from the roasting hot lights. But she kept on purring. Not even a warning that she was getting hot.

 

[Cail Young]

We have shot a commercial on a summer's day at a racetrack with ambient temperature 42°C (108°F) - kept it shaded, ran fine. Got some heat lines inside the racecar though - (over 50C).

Heat is only an issue under 45C if you let the camera get the sun, or if you block the vents (or put it in a bag).