Overcoming NEX 5N overheating. a cheap and real fix!

Thanks for this awesome post. I tried out the heatsinks, but I also removed the label as well. I recorded a wedding this weekend. I had the camera on for just over 2 hours. I was recording on and off for the first 30 minutes, then continuously for the next 1 hour and 30 minutes. It finally shut down on me after that time. I never received the icon about overheating it just shut down. I turned it off, then back on and I was able to shoot for another 30 minutes. Weather was close to 90 degrees a little humid with a slight breeze. In my book I'd say that was a win. I was able to get through the whole wedding no problem, and it only shut down on me when they were pictures afterwards.
 
majego said:
Thanks for this awesome post. I tried out the heatsinks, but I also removed the label as well. I recorded a wedding this weekend. I had the camera on for just over 2 hours. I was recording on and off for the first 30 minutes, then continuously for the next 1 hour and 30 minutes. It finally shut down on me after that time. I never received the icon about overheating it just shut down. I turned it off, then back on and I was able to shoot for another 30 minutes. Weather was close to 90 degrees a little humid with a slight breeze. In my book I'd say that was a win. I was able to get through the whole wedding no problem, and it only shut down on me when they were pictures afterwards.
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Glad you are happy with the results:) It does indeed work well. removal of the sticker is definitely an added bonus. carefully remove it and stick it onto some wax backing paper (as you get on stickers to protect the sticky side before application) then store the sticker flat inside a book incase you need to re apply it when sending your camera back for repair under warranty. sticker removal will void warranty.

problems solved!
 
rawfa said:
Did anyone else try this out? I´m very interested in finding out if this works.
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it costs less than 10gbp for a set of ram heatsinks. I wouldn't have posted the topic if it didn't offer an improvement. just try it. if it doesnt work for you, at least you'll have given it a go.
 
You´re right. I was just wondering if more people other then you have tried and what the results were.
 
I have tried it with small RAM heatsinks and removed label with no improvement at all. Still too unreliable for me. Testing can be fine for 29 minutes but actually using the camera I can get 3-20 minutes. I think there's a firmware bug that sometimes unnecessary limits recording.
 
Does anybody experienced overheating issue with the Sony electronic viewfinder on it? Overheating never happened in my case maybe because I always have the EVF on top. One interesting thing I use to do is hit the "finder/lcd" button on the left of the viewfinder ever since I won't use the LCD screen anymore fo a few minutes. What it does is turn off the screen and even the viewfinder is off except if you move your eye cloe to the eyecup. So if you don't need the screen after a take just think of hitting this little button on the left and it will shut off the screen, avoiding the Nex-5n to overheat...
 
My 5N overheats real quickly while recording, even with the copper heatsinks. Luckily, unlike the canons, it doesn't overheat at all if it's on but not recording, and this kind of behavior fits my needs quite nicely (I hardly ever shoot takes of more than 3 or 4 minutes, which is all my 5N can manage in current Spanish summer weather).
 
I have experienced 5n overheat with EVF, with external monitor, with manual lens, with all auto options turned off, even at air conditioned room, sadly for me i still love this little bastard ;)
 
As I was reading through the thread I had a thought someone with more knowledge might want to consider. If the camera is heating up to the point where shutting down is needed so that things don't get damaged, start melting, ect. What if all the heat sinks are doing is pulling the heat away from where the temperature sensor is in the camera? The reason I bring this up is because you're then essentially tricking the camera into thinking it's cooler when other parts (image sensor, processor) may not be any cooler. I doubt this is the case, the body is so small removing any heat would help all around I would imagine, but I just thought I'd see if anyone else had thoughts concerning this.
 
I don't think there's any risk: as far as I know, the heatsinks are just at the heat source (sensor, processor, screen) and the heat sensor is probably embedded in the sensor and/or processor
 
Other's people's needs may be different, but I don't want that fan coming anywhere close to my camera :huh:
 
With that kind of money you can get an A65 with in-body IS or a VG20 and rig them up to look bad ass pro.
 
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rawfa said:
And most don´t want to pay 4 times what they´ve paind on a camera just to keep it cool. For that kind of money you can buy a VG20 or an A65 with a lot of nice glass. Besides the fan solutions seems to work better than the us$2500 case solution that is out there, so go figure.
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It's a pity you have decided to speak for 'most people'. ignorant to the fact that the housing offers many more benefits beyond just a fan. and ignorant to the price too. 4 times the price?? At current price it takes the camera and housing to around the same price as the canon 7D. And surpasses the canon on every level for video. Dont even talk about the VG-20 -doing a corporate job with a camera that looks like it's for a family holiday? no thanks. A65? = DSLR - people think you are taking photos and pose for the still shot, -often ruining the look of the video.

The nex 5n housing I have been developing is £700. I'm losing money making it for the few people who want it at this price, but i'm doing it out of good nature. Not a money making venture. I find it incredibly insulting that you can make such broad, sweeping and ignorant suggestions that a 'fan and a 9v battery' "seems to work better than my us$2500??? case solution" which I have been breaking my back and bank balance over. And that your comment is made without having been in contact with either solution!

It is this type of opinion which makes me think... why do I bother? So few people willing to back something, so many people happy to sit at their computer screen reviewing stuff they have never been in contact with, being overly critical.

For my own enjoyment and to remind myself why I bother, I'll go head and list the benefits:-

1- fan cooling - lets see you present a standard nex5n recording over 1hour continuous
2- proper 3/8" and 1/4" tripod mount and associated large footprint for very secure and dependable mounting to tripod
3- lens support - via 4 grub screws - preventing e mount play/0.25mm rotation when focusing.
4- improved balance - try mounting a CP2 on the front of your nex 5n. for that mater, try mounting a nex 5n to anything securely - it cant be done! - 2.5cm2 is not enough surface area
5- integrated hand strap
6- full size hdmi and usb ports - your little nex5n wont last 5 mins if you are using it in real life situations with a hdmi lead hanging out the side - the wire is bigger than the camera itself!
7- rugged shell provides protection from drops and an extra skin from the elements
8- initial perception - no one knows you are using a little toy camera. if they did they wont take you seriously and probably wont ask for your card - no matter what the results you present at the end.
9- 1/4" thread on top for mounting of EVF or ldc screen - where do you mount a screen to the nex 5n without the housing? try doing a decent focus pull with the standard screen and peaking - you cant!
 
I do apologize for the price mix up, but other then that I stand by what I said. I don´t mean to offend your work, but the markets' opinion dictates the market.
This is a forum dedicated to sharing knowledge, so if you don´t want to hear what people have to say open up your own forum and moderate it your self. Otherwise you have to just calm down and be ready to hear the best and the worst about your product. Plus the name of the thread is "Overcoming NEX 5N overheating. a cheap and real fix!". From the tests you´ve posted around the internet this is nor a 100% bullet proof solution neither is it cheap. The NEX5N is an amazing camera, but give the people some credit when knocking the A65 and the VG20 (you can rig them up to look REALLY pro). Obviously I cannot speak for everyone (nor do I intend to), but having in mind that the heat issue is not yet 100% fixed, from MY point of view I would think that a person whose livelihood depends on how well a camera performs would prefer to show up for a gig with a camera that they KNOW won´t fail instead of a camera that "looks" professional but it is unreliable. If your solution works 90% of the time, there is still 10% chance that you will miss an irreplaceable moment. For people whose monthly income depends on this these 10% are not going to cut it. Your solution looks very very cool and brings loads of benefits to the table, but if you´re realistic about your target audience I assure you you will sell more of these cases than you are able to manufacture.
Again, this was not meant to offend anyone.
 
The heatsinks worked for me. I picked up a pack of evercool ram heatsinks and placed them on the bottom row only and after a 29 minute record, it did not overheat. The day prior it overheated after about 15-20 minutes of shooting. At about 28 minutes in, the sensor heat indicator showed up, but never shut off. Cheers.
 
I haven't read the whole thread, so apologies if I'm repeating information. Just wanted to share that I just bought the 32GB Sony HX32B Memory Stick and it seems to have fixed the overheating on my NEX-5n! Recording to the stick in 76 degrees indoors for 30 minutes with no thermostat icon. Currently recording my second long clip...it's reached the 10-minute mark with no thermostat icon. Awesome! Memory Stick model number MSHX32B.
 
I bought NEX 5R a few weeks ago. Have been having problems with overheating. Just didn't return it for the camera except for overheating problems is great. I've tried everything from copper heat sink to buying Sony smart stick pro HX32B.
The only time I can get it to go 30 minutes is in absolutely cool environment....ie 50 degrees,early in the morning. When in 70 degrees the warning icon starts to flash around 16 minutes and cuts off around 23.. This is with the heat sink and the fastest Sony smart stick.
Any other suggestions will be much appreciated.
thank you
PS spacing between heat sink really made the difference. I attempted many configurations on the back, like yours but continues to have warning icon comes on and-23 minutes average time before it shuts off. I even take out the battery immediately after and let it cool off and put another,not the same battery. If this is done in approximately 30 to an hour the camera shuts off even earlier. wow..sucks really
I'm the kind of a guy that likes to have the camera on and walk around Hollywood for an hour...straight shooting but noooooo.
thinking about buying panasonic gx7 that just came out. supposed to be able to record over an hour.
And I don't want a camcorder,if you know what I mean. Not so much in your face type of filming with these smaller cameras which I love.
take care. Maybe,just maybe. NEX 5R has a bigger problems with heat than 5N.
Heythere
 
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