PMW 300 heats up at DVinfo.net

Steve Siegel · March 21st, 2015, 03:51 PM

My PMW-300 heats up after about 10 minutes of use. I know that some heating is normal, my EX3 did it too. There is no effect whatsoever on the functioning of the camera, but when the body is about the same temperature as a fresh cup of coffee, and hot to the touch, I wonder if that is excessive. It is always most noticeable when filming in the sun. Do others find the same behavior?

Andrew Smith · March 28th, 2015, 12:24 PM

Black will absorb the heat from the sunlight. Same as a black car on a hot day, compared to a white car.

Andrew

Steve Siegel · March 28th, 2015, 01:42 PM

Andrew,

Yes you are correct, but I am amazed at how much heat seems to be soaked up from the sun. Knowing this I wonder why the manufacturers don't go back to the pale gray bodies that Canon still uses on it's lenses, and that their old mini DV tape camcorders had?

Andrew Smith · March 28th, 2015, 08:34 PM

Cameras are black (and we wear black clothes at times) because it gives the least chance of reflecting off any of the subject matter we are shooting ... and revealing the presence of the photog or his gear.

It's also very slimming. :-P

I've had other cameras (and silver/grey metallic panelled tape decks) heat up in the sun at outdoor events. The easy solution is to drape a cloth over the top of them.

Andrew

Paul Anderegg · March 31st, 2015, 11:33 PM

I once kept a Hi8 Sony HandyCam on my dash as a full time dash cam. One hot day I came out to find the black top hatch/button row and pop out tape door warped. The silver body of the camera was unaffected, but then it was much thicker as well. :-)

Paul

John Nantz · April 1st, 2015, 10:09 AM

Steve - what I find to be a very handy tool to have around is a laser thermometer. Harbor Freight has one on sale until April 30 for $35.99.

"Non-contact infrared thermometer with laser targeting, Centech brand (house brand?). Lot 60725
I have a different make and one has to use a correction factor for various surfaces with it.

One way to calibrate it with a correction factor would be to leave the cam in an environment where the temperature didn't change much for several hours, like maybe overnight, then take it's temperature and compare that with the ambient temperature.

Another suggestion, maybe a little umbrella would help for the outdoor shoots. Would help with viewing the viewfinders too.

March 21st, 2015, 03:51 PM	#1
Steve Siegel Major Player Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA Posts: 840	PMW 300 heats up My PMW-300 heats up after about 10 minutes of use. I know that some heating is normal, my EX3 did it too. There is no effect whatsoever on the functioning of the camera, but when the body is about the same temperature as a fresh cup of coffee, and hot to the touch, I wonder if that is excessive. It is always most noticeable when filming in the sun. Do others find the same behavior?

March 28th, 2015, 12:24 PM	#2
Andrew Smith Equal Opportunity Offender Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,065	Re: PMW 300 heats up Black will absorb the heat from the sunlight. Same as a black car on a hot day, compared to a white car. Andrew

March 28th, 2015, 01:42 PM	#3
Steve Siegel Major Player Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA Posts: 840	Re: PMW 300 heats up Andrew, Yes you are correct, but I am amazed at how much heat seems to be soaked up from the sun. Knowing this I wonder why the manufacturers don't go back to the pale gray bodies that Canon still uses on it's lenses, and that their old mini DV tape camcorders had?

March 28th, 2015, 08:34 PM	#4
Andrew Smith Equal Opportunity Offender Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,065	Re: PMW 300 heats up Cameras are black (and we wear black clothes at times) because it gives the least chance of reflecting off any of the subject matter we are shooting ... and revealing the presence of the photog or his gear. It's also very slimming. :-P I've had other cameras (and silver/grey metallic panelled tape decks) heat up in the sun at outdoor events. The easy solution is to drape a cloth over the top of them. Andrew

March 31st, 2015, 11:33 PM	#5
Paul Anderegg Trustee Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: San Diego, Califonia Posts: 1,559	Re: PMW 300 heats up I once kept a Hi8 Sony HandyCam on my dash as a full time dash cam. One hot day I came out to find the black top hatch/button row and pop out tape door warped. The silver body of the camera was unaffected, but then it was much thicker as well. :-) Paul

April 1st, 2015, 10:09 AM	#6
John Nantz Trustee Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Seattle WA Posts: 1,254	Re: PMW 300 heats up Steve - what I find to be a very handy tool to have around is a laser thermometer. Harbor Freight has one on sale until April 30 for $35.99. "Non-contact infrared thermometer with laser targeting, Centech brand (house brand?). Lot 60725 I have a different make and one has to use a correction factor for various surfaces with it. One way to calibrate it with a correction factor would be to leave the cam in an environment where the temperature didn't change much for several hours, like maybe overnight, then take it's temperature and compare that with the ambient temperature. Another suggestion, maybe a little umbrella would help for the outdoor shoots. Would help with viewing the viewfinders too.