Cool Hack

[Peter C.]

I finished with a simple DIY modification to my A7IV camera. For educational programs film a documentary that involves me going class to class for 4hrs trying capture interesting moments. In the process the camera is on and that I found generates as much heat as recording. As a result the camera can over heat and shutdown because the camera has no internal fan. But what I found worked was to flipout the LCD (this is commonly known method to keep the camera cooler because the cpu that generates all the heat is located behind the LCD.

What I have done to improve on that further was to install a heat sink. The tricky part was there no way to easily to attach it besides tape which doesn't hold well when it get hot. So I got a light weight aluminum heat sink off Amazon and a window screen clip that provides enough tension to hold the heat sink in place while filming and can be easily removed after.

I still haven't done any tests to know if the aluminum finned heat sink will work better the steel plate I had be using. Probably adding a fan would provide even better cooling but it would make it a more complex setup. I'm going to see how this works before adding a fan.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/12w0...usp=drive_link

[Imamacuser]

Clever idea, but I'm having trouble envisioning what a window screen clip looks like. I requested access to your Google drive link, but a Home Depot or Amazon link to the window screen clip would be helpful. Copper heatsinks will work better, if you can find one in the rights size.

Big old aluminum lenses from the 70s and aluminum lens adapters can also help act as a heatsink.

Sony has been making overheating cameras since at least the NEX 5, the A6300 being particularly aggreges, and people have come up with some interesting solutions like taking the camera apart and adding thermal pads, heatsinks & 30mm fans.

Matt from DIY Perks made a custom internal copper heatsink and external fan to resolve the overheating issue for his Canon R5.

[Peter C.]

I posted the image but for some reason it disappeared I gave you permission to view the link annoying that even though it’s in my public folder it still requires me to give permission

Here’s the heatsink I used:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08QF644DK...roduct_details
(I had to edit this link I initially copied it from my phone and it gave me an ad instead of the product link)

[Paul F]

Clever. Good job Peter.

[Peter C.]

Clever. Good job Peter.

Thanks. It's rare when something works this good.

[Bassman2003]

Thanks for posting. $11 for the heatsink is worth a try.

[Imamacuser]

Here's one that's a little overboard:

[Peter C.]

Thanks for posting. $11 for the heatsink is worth a try.

It comes with 4 so if you make a mistake cutting. You have to calculate the size of the opening and then remove enough from the bottom for the spring to provide enough tension but not too much it won't fit. The unpainted silver is cheaper but the black is worth the few extra bucks. It wouldn't be easy to spray paint in between the fins with no drips.

you can get heat sinks with fans too but not as flexible as far as sizing it to fit
https://www.amazon.com/BAY-Direct-He...ps%2C99&sr=8-5
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...389UEJFO&psc=1