Why does the DVX 100A stops recording when overheated?

[Roshd Ghalleb]

Hi everyone

I was shooting a video yesterday, and the weather outside was over 92 degrees. I was doing great, but all of a sudden I see the word PAUSE on my screen. Didn't think much of it and I hit the record button, but it wouldn't work. Tried several times by hitting the record button switching from the top of the handle and from the back of the DVX 100 A. Tried to switch to VCR mode to see if anything recorded previously was lost, I tried basically to just do anything to get something else on my screen. Nothing worked except to power off the camera. Everything was locked and the word PAUSE on the last frozen frame recorded was the only thing displayed there. I thought the camera was out of order, but later on I drove my way back home and after the camera was sitting in the car for about 20 minutes in cool Air Conditioning, I gave it another try and sure enough IT WORKED. Every function was back on to normal. Which led me to think that the heat was probably the problem. So I want to ask you if anyone knows what to do to continue working in similar hot weather condition. Is there a special bag I should look for to keep my camera cooled off or any trick at all. Your help would be much appreciated as I have to go back shooting the same video all week long in Charleston, South Carolina where the weather is brutally steaming.

-Roshd-
www.mandrakfilm.com

Thanks again.

 

[Barry_Green]

I doubt it's heat related, as I've used it outdoors in the blazing sun in Las Vegas. I'd suspect that it's more likely related to humidity, and all tape cameras have trouble in high humidity.

 

[NoahK]

Totally agree with Barry. You can wrap a camera in ice packs if the heat is an issue but humidity will do in most tape based cameras. Might be a good excuse to move up to an HVX200- solid state cameras can take a lot more punishment before they fail.

-Noah

 

[Roshd Ghalleb]

Thank you Barry. It might be a humidity related issue after all. I guess I'll have to watch it closely.

 

[Roshd Ghalleb]

I agree Noah. I still absolutely love the DVX100A but I think that now might be a good time as you have suggested to move up to something a little more resistant. I was considering getting one of those Firestore FS-4 to work with the DVX, but the camera would still be a tape based camera even without using tapes, and the same problem could happen again in a middle of an important shoot. I admit that I am a little concerned since we don't know for sure at 100% conviction if the issue was caused by heat or humidity. So maybe the HVX-200 would be an even better step to take.