Is there a SLEEP MODE? at DVinfo.net

Agapito Sanchez · July 24th, 2009, 10:24 PM

Sometimes I forget to turn off my camera and it drains the battery. Is there a sleep mode after it idles say for 1 hour?

Jeff Harper · July 26th, 2009, 04:37 AM

Don't think there is.

Ed Sharpe · July 28th, 2009, 09:40 PM

Does it stop spinning the heads though or are they spinning in the one spot on the tape forever?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Agapito Sanchez

Sometimes I forget to turn off my camera and it drains the battery. Is there a sleep mode after it idles say for 1 hour?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Harper

Don't think there is.

Greg Laves · July 29th, 2009, 08:27 AM

I know the Z7 slacks the tape slightly and stops the heads after a while. I think they all do something along those lines to protect the heads. The "quick record" mode may override that function.

Ed Sharpe · July 29th, 2009, 12:06 PM

sure would like to know... ever spinning heads are no good.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Laves

I know the Z7 slacks the tape slightly and stops the heads after a while. I think they all do something along those lines to protect the heads. The "quick record" mode may override that function.

Adam Gold · July 29th, 2009, 06:03 PM

On every Sony I've ever owned -- and I'm sure this is the same with all mfrs -- the heads spin down after three to five minutes, and STBY disappears from your LCD.

Only the consumer models (HC Series), to my knowledge, do the full power-off shut down thing, and you can disable that if you wish. FXes and Zs don't.

Stelios Christofides · July 30th, 2009, 12:36 AM

and of course the easiest way to check it is to leave your camera "ON" ans see if it drains the battery. I have forgotten to switch off my camera several times and after a while the battery was completely drained, and this means that it never shuts down as Adam mentioned.

Stelios

Ed Sharpe · July 30th, 2009, 01:06 AM

well yes.... if any of the electonics are on it will drain battey... but... ae the heads spinning againt stopped tape?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stelios Christofides

and of course the easiest way to check it is to leave your camera "ON" ans see if it drains the battery. I have forgotten to switch off my camera several times and after a while the battery was completely drained, and this means that it never shuts down as Adam mentioned.

Stelios

Adam Gold · July 30th, 2009, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Sharpe

well yes.... if any of the electonics are on it will drain battey... but... ae the heads spinning agent stopped tape?

As I noted above, no, not after about three minutes.

Zach Love · August 4th, 2009, 12:45 AM

Honestly I don't want a pro camera that goes to sleep. I'm the pro, the camera does what I want, if I forget to do something (like turn it off) I don't want the camera to think that it is smarter than me.

If you want a camera that has auto-everything, then stick with something from Target. Plus batteries are pretty cheap and last a long time compared to full size AB bricks. So hopefully even if your battery dies, you should have a couple spares ready to go.

Jeff Harper · August 4th, 2009, 08:47 AM

I agree with Zach. Turn the camera off if your not going to be shooting with it. Turn it on if you are.

And as Adam says after a few minutes everything stops. The quick record feature prevents this I think, but I leave if off, it's not a good thing, IMO.

This is not rocket science. If you have a habit of leaving your camera on unnecessarily then you need to train yourself to stop doing so because there is no auto power down with these cams.

If you are leaving your camera on for lengths of time when you are worried about the heads, then you probably should be turning if off anyway to save battery power.

If you are paying attention you will have plenty of time to turn the camera on and start shooting again.

If things are that unpredictable then you should be recording to begin with so as not to miss action.

It's pretty simple.

Adam Gold · August 4th, 2009, 01:24 PM

Yeah, without wanting to be too cranky or judgmental, I can't figure out how someone could "forget" to turn a camera off. It's not exactly a mystery; all you have to do is look at it to tell what state it's in. If the LCD/VF is lit up, it's ON, if not, it's OFF. There are no screen savers on a cam that I know of. When I'm going to be away from the cam for more than five minutes, I turn it off.

It's like saying I forgot to turn off my bedroom light when I went to bed last night.

Stelios Christofides · August 4th, 2009, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam Gold

Yeah, without wanting to be too cranky or judgmental, I can't figure out how someone could "forget" to turn a camera off. It's not exactly a mystery; all you have to do is look at it to tell what state it's in. If the LCD/VF is lit up, it's ON, if not, it's OFF. There are no screen savers on a cam that I know of. When I'm going to be away from the cam for more than five minutes, I turn it off.

It's like saying I forgot to turn off my bedroom light when I went to bed last night.

Adam, Don't be so sure about it. There were several moments when I shoot, using the VF only and for example waiting for the next scene to shoot (christening, wedding, etc) but somehow the scenarios change and you have to move, from the church to the reception hall, and in the tension of the moment you forget to turn the camera off. It happens.

Stelios

Jeff Harper · August 4th, 2009, 11:14 PM

Actually Stelios, you are correct...it can and does happen. I've done it. But after so many times you eventually catch on that you must double-check these things. I've opened up my case more than once to double check that I did turn the camera off, because eventually you learn. As a professional I know I can't blame the camera, I have to take responsibility.

I hated the auto shut off with the VX2100. I love NOT having that "feature".

July 24th, 2009, 10:24 PM	#1
Agapito Sanchez New Boot Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Chicago Posts: 10	Is there a SLEEP MODE? Sometimes I forget to turn off my camera and it drains the battery. Is there a sleep mode after it idles say for 1 hour?

July 30th, 2009, 12:36 AM	#7
Stelios Christofides Trustee Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Nicosia, CYPRUS Posts: 1,080	and of course the easiest way to check it is to leave your camera "ON" ans see if it drains the battery. I have forgotten to switch off my camera several times and after a while the battery was completely drained, and this means that it never shuts down as Adam mentioned. Stelios __________________ My Blog: http://steliosc.blogspot.com "I hope for nothing, I fear nothing, I am free" Nikos Kazantzakis

August 4th, 2009, 12:45 AM	#10
Zach Love Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 944	Honestly I don't want a pro camera that goes to sleep. I'm the pro, the camera does what I want, if I forget to do something (like turn it off) I don't want the camera to think that it is smarter than me. If you want a camera that has auto-everything, then stick with something from Target. Plus batteries are pretty cheap and last a long time compared to full size AB bricks. So hopefully even if your battery dies, you should have a couple spares ready to go. __________________ Nothing says you're a serious video maker like S-VHS

July 26th, 2009, 04:37 AM	#2
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Don't think there is.

July 29th, 2009, 08:27 AM	#4
Greg Laves Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Posts: 640	I know the Z7 slacks the tape slightly and stops the heads after a while. I think they all do something along those lines to protect the heads. The "quick record" mode may override that function.

July 29th, 2009, 06:03 PM	#6
Adam Gold Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 3,467	On every Sony I've ever owned -- and I'm sure this is the same with all mfrs -- the heads spin down after three to five minutes, and STBY disappears from your LCD. Only the consumer models (HC Series), to my knowledge, do the full power-off shut down thing, and you can disable that if you wish. FXes and Zs don't.

August 4th, 2009, 08:47 AM	#11
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	I agree with Zach. Turn the camera off if your not going to be shooting with it. Turn it on if you are. And as Adam says after a few minutes everything stops. The quick record feature prevents this I think, but I leave if off, it's not a good thing, IMO. This is not rocket science. If you have a habit of leaving your camera on unnecessarily then you need to train yourself to stop doing so because there is no auto power down with these cams. If you are leaving your camera on for lengths of time when you are worried about the heads, then you probably should be turning if off anyway to save battery power. If you are paying attention you will have plenty of time to turn the camera on and start shooting again. If things are that unpredictable then you should be recording to begin with so as not to miss action. It's pretty simple.

August 4th, 2009, 01:24 PM	#12
Adam Gold Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 3,467	Yeah, without wanting to be too cranky or judgmental, I can't figure out how someone could "forget" to turn a camera off. It's not exactly a mystery; all you have to do is look at it to tell what state it's in. If the LCD/VF is lit up, it's ON, if not, it's OFF. There are no screen savers on a cam that I know of. When I'm going to be away from the cam for more than five minutes, I turn it off. It's like saying I forgot to turn off my bedroom light when I went to bed last night.

August 4th, 2009, 11:14 PM	#14
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Actually Stelios, you are correct...it can and does happen. I've done it. But after so many times you eventually catch on that you must double-check these things. I've opened up my case more than once to double check that I did turn the camera off, because eventually you learn. As a professional I know I can't blame the camera, I have to take responsibility. I hated the auto shut off with the VX2100. I love NOT having that "feature".