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    Cool Hack

    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
    Attached Files
    Last edited by Peter C.; 07-20-2023, 12:51 PM.

    #2
    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.

    Comment


      #3
      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)
      Last edited by Peter C.; 07-22-2023, 06:45 AM.

      Comment


        #4
        Clever. Good job Peter.
        Awarded Best Clear Com Chatter, 2001, PBS Television

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by Paul F View Post
          Clever. Good job Peter.
          Thanks. It's rare when something works this good.

          Comment


            #6
            Thanks for posting. $11 for the heatsink is worth a try.

            Comment


              #7
              Here's one that's a little overboard:

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by Bassman2003 View Post
                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

                Comment


                  #9
                  So you install a small computer fan and a lithium battery, but I don't know what the result will be!

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by Peter C. View Post
                    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

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Originally posted by Peter C. View Post
                      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.
                      This really surprises me, Peter.

                      Like you, I run a similar looking cage on my A7iv. A SmallRig one in my case, and run with the screen out. In this configuration, I've run 4K 422 at 50p for 3 hours 22 mins continuously indoors, with card swapping, without ever getting the heat indicator lighting up. I do have the temp warning indicator in the menu set to high. Without recording, just taking a live feed from the camera in a studio switch, I've run over 6 hours without a heat warning. In all cases, which is many times now, I have been powering via a USB-C PD certified 65 watt battery bank outputting 9 volts at 3 amps, as per the Sony manual. This of course means you must run an internal battery in the camera. So far all good, touch wood!.

                      I must add that in all cases this is with either the 18-110 mm lens in 50p or with a 28-135 mm or 24-105 mm lens when in full frame. All those lenses are quite chunky and have a reasonable amount of mass, so might well be helping out in heat distribution by effectively acting like heat sinks. I haven't tried long runs with a small prime lens or short zoom. Makes me think I should check that out to see if a small lens with much less mass does affect the heat performance on long record sessions.

                      Chris Young

                      EDIT UPDATE:

                      Running the exact same 4K 422 settings as above but this time in FF with the smallest lightest most plastic feeling Sony lens I have, the APSC 10-18 mm zoom. Which works in FF from 12 mm onward, and this time I got the heat warning at 02:06:45:00 or thereabouts. And yes, the center of the back of the camera was the hottest I have felt it. So I think the bigger, bulkier and heavier lenses may well work to wick away heat from the camera body. Hmm! Interesting.

                      I'll do another test as this has got me curious because as I mentioned previously at 50p I've never hit a heat warning. Obviously on the A7iv 50/60p is only available in APSC crop mode. Does the smaller crop shooting generate less heat? As in crop mode the active photosites being used is 4.6K not the full 7K as in full frame mode. So a lot less photosites to process, therefore less data to compress and handle, I would conclude.

                      EDIT UPDATE #2

                      Ran the A7iv in 4K 50p 422 in APSC crop mode with the little plastic 10-18 mm lens, and it ran while swapping out cards until just under 4 hours without a temperature warning. I abandoned the experiment at that point. Again powering from the 65 watt 9 volt 3 amp PD power bank. I think I learned something... I think. APSC runs cooler, and it feels like it to the touch.
                      Last edited by cyvideo; 10-28-2023, 01:06 AM.

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