Overheating Warning Icon in mild temperatures

Ken Diewert · October 1st, 2009, 03:38 PM

Page 13 of the 5d2 manual:

"Cautions during prolonged use

When you shoot continuously for a prolonged period or use Live View shooting for a long period, the camera may become hot. Although this is not a malfunction, holding the hot camera for a long period can cause slight skin burns."

Brian Boyko · October 1st, 2009, 03:47 PM

I have a 7D, though I've not tested it for prolonged video time. (My attitude is that the 7D is to be used only for video shots where you can control, and possible retake if you have to.)

However, I've had overheating issues with the Canon T1i as well, which uses the same APC sized sensor.

Scott Brickert · October 1st, 2009, 04:00 PM

Huh, I didn't see 'built-in handwarmer' on the list of new features. It'll make winter shooting a bit more comfortable... :)

Charles, I know that deflated feeling.

I had it when playing with my new Pentax K7. It could not be treated like a video camera in connection with the temp issue and using the LCD like a normal video LCD. For live events or wildlife work where there is some waiting in between spontaneous shots, it gets tricky. I had to switch out of Live View and use the optical viewfinder to frame shots, then switch back to Live View and hit the trigger. Kinda like needing to pre-roll a tape for a few seconds before a shot. Cumbersome.

I returned the K7 for the 7D.

If Don Miller is correct-- "touch a button and it's ready to go" --then it may not be that crippling (except when near continuous shooting is required). Leave it in still mode, or at least keep LiveView off, then switch to video 'instantly' for the shot.

Looks like there are two heat sources, the processor and the LCD. Too bad they didn't design in a swivel LCD that would've simultaneously self-ventilated by being out in the open, away from the body.

The camera self-protects from meltdown, so I look forward to some experimentation when mine arrives, venturing into the Heat Zone, ie recording while the Temp Light is on, looking for a correlation between image degradation and heat. Falk Lumo, one of Pentax's beta testers, ran his K7 25 minutes while the Temp Warning was lit, in 27C ambient conditions.

Charles Dasher · October 1st, 2009, 04:46 PM

Just went out for an hour shooting in about 85 degrees. Took a little more time to set up some shots using sticks. More time between takes giving the processors a little more time to cool and the temp warning never showed. 1080 24p.

Jon Fairhurst · October 1st, 2009, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Brickert

Looks like there are two heat sources, the processor and the LCD.

I would guess that the heat sources are the sensor, LCD backlight, and the two processors.

If the LCD is dimmable, turn it down all the way. Use a hood or loupe (or HoodLoupe!) to see the LCD better. The 5D2 includes a light sensor that adjusts the backlight automatically. If the 7D has one, cover it with your thumb or with tape.

With the backlight turned down, the battery should last longer as well.

Maybe an external monitor is part of the solution. That turns off the LCD completely.

Dan Chung · October 1st, 2009, 05:46 PM

My finished video done despite the lockups and heat warning is here Shooting China’s 60th anniversary parade with the 7D, 5DmkII and Nikon D700 DSLR News Shooter

Hope I can figure out a work around for this, cool box maybe?? it shouldn't come to that.

Dan

Randy Panado · October 1st, 2009, 05:56 PM

What frame rate were you shooting at? Do you get lock ups at 1080 24p?

*edit* read the excerpt. So the whole day you were shooting 720 60p with 7D? No 108024p at all?

Dan Chung · October 1st, 2009, 06:08 PM

Randy, yes it was 720p all day for this one.

Dan

Scott Brickert · October 1st, 2009, 07:13 PM

I wonder if the flash capacitor creates any heat?

Bill Pryor · October 1st, 2009, 07:32 PM

Dan, have you seen heating problems when shooting 1080p at 24fps or just in 720P 60fps?

Don Miller · October 1st, 2009, 07:46 PM

I was serious about the chemical cold pack.

I shoot with an external monitor in usually cool conditions and have never seen the warning. A camera on rails should cool better than one held in hand.

Brian Luce · October 1st, 2009, 07:46 PM

Is it possible to disable the LCD?

Amazing that some of the guys with preprod units didn't report this.

Bill Pryor · October 1st, 2009, 07:55 PM

I don't see how you could shoot with the LCD disabled, except with a separate monitor and camera on a tripod. That would eliminate lots of hand held work.

Brian Luce · October 1st, 2009, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Pryor

I don't see how you could shoot with the LCD disabled, except with a separate monitor and camera on a tripod. That would eliminate lots of hand held work.

If it's on a tripod why can't you use the viewfinder?

Don Miller · October 1st, 2009, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Luce

Is it possible to disable the LCD?

Plug in an HDMI monitor

October 1st, 2009, 03:38 PM	#46
Ken Diewert Trustee Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Vancouver Island, Canada Posts: 1,200	Page 13 of the 5d2 manual: "Cautions during prolonged use When you shoot continuously for a prolonged period or use Live View shooting for a long period, the camera may become hot. Although this is not a malfunction, holding the hot camera for a long period can cause slight skin burns." __________________ C100, 5DMk2, FCPX

October 1st, 2009, 03:47 PM	#47
Brian Boyko Major Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 773	I have a 7D, though I've not tested it for prolonged video time. (My attitude is that the 7D is to be used only for video shots where you can control, and possible retake if you have to.) However, I've had overheating issues with the Canon T1i as well, which uses the same APC sized sensor. __________________ Equip: Panny GH1, Canon HG20, Juicedlink, AT897, Sennh. EW/GW100, Zoom H2, Vegas 8.1

October 1st, 2009, 04:00 PM	#48
Scott Brickert Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Crested Butte, CO Posts: 576	Huh, I didn't see 'built-in handwarmer' on the list of new features. It'll make winter shooting a bit more comfortable... :) Charles, I know that deflated feeling. I had it when playing with my new Pentax K7. It could not be treated like a video camera in connection with the temp issue and using the LCD like a normal video LCD. For live events or wildlife work where there is some waiting in between spontaneous shots, it gets tricky. I had to switch out of Live View and use the optical viewfinder to frame shots, then switch back to Live View and hit the trigger. Kinda like needing to pre-roll a tape for a few seconds before a shot. Cumbersome. I returned the K7 for the 7D. If Don Miller is correct-- "touch a button and it's ready to go" --then it may not be that crippling (except when near continuous shooting is required). Leave it in still mode, or at least keep LiveView off, then switch to video 'instantly' for the shot. Looks like there are two heat sources, the processor and the LCD. Too bad they didn't design in a swivel LCD that would've simultaneously self-ventilated by being out in the open, away from the body. The camera self-protects from meltdown, so I look forward to some experimentation when mine arrives, venturing into the Heat Zone, ie recording while the Temp Light is on, looking for a correlation between image degradation and heat. Falk Lumo, one of Pentax's beta testers, ran his K7 25 minutes while the Temp Warning was lit, in 27C ambient conditions. __________________ Scott Shot-By-Scott

October 1st, 2009, 07:13 PM	#54
Scott Brickert Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Crested Butte, CO Posts: 576	I wonder if the flash capacitor creates any heat? __________________ Scott Shot-By-Scott

October 1st, 2009, 04:46 PM	#49
Charles Dasher Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Juno Beach FL Posts: 169	Just went out for an hour shooting in about 85 degrees. Took a little more time to set up some shots using sticks. More time between takes giving the processors a little more time to cool and the temp warning never showed. 1080 24p.

October 1st, 2009, 05:46 PM	#51
Dan Chung Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Beijing Posts: 665	My finished video done despite the lockups and heat warning is here Shooting China’s 60th anniversary parade with the 7D, 5DmkII and Nikon D700 DSLR News Shooter Hope I can figure out a work around for this, cool box maybe?? it shouldn't come to that. Dan

October 1st, 2009, 05:56 PM	#52
Randy Panado Major Player Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 643	What frame rate were you shooting at? Do you get lock ups at 1080 24p? edit read the excerpt. So the whole day you were shooting 720 60p with 7D? No 108024p at all?

October 1st, 2009, 06:08 PM	#53
Dan Chung Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Beijing Posts: 665	Randy, yes it was 720p all day for this one. Dan

October 1st, 2009, 07:32 PM	#55
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	Dan, have you seen heating problems when shooting 1080p at 24fps or just in 720P 60fps?

October 1st, 2009, 07:46 PM	#56
Don Miller Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 706	I was serious about the chemical cold pack. I shoot with an external monitor in usually cool conditions and have never seen the warning. A camera on rails should cool better than one held in hand.

October 1st, 2009, 07:46 PM	#57
Brian Luce Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,290	Is it possible to disable the LCD? Amazing that some of the guys with preprod units didn't report this.

October 1st, 2009, 07:55 PM	#58
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	I don't see how you could shoot with the LCD disabled, except with a separate monitor and camera on a tripod. That would eliminate lots of hand held work.