Sony Camera Overheating? Here's How To Prevent It!

If your Sony camera like an a7siii, a7iv, or a7iii has been overheating, here are 3 ways to virtually guarantee you never deal with an overheating camera again.

BATTERY GRIPS

DUMMY BATTERIES

HOT SHOE SCREWS

Music licensing sites I recommend:

0:00 3 ways to prevent overheating
0:35 Overheating Prevention Technique 1
2:00 Overheating Prevention Technique 2 & 3
3:33 Overheating Prevention Accessory 1
4:40 Overheating Prevention Accessory 2
5:27 DIY Overheating Device (Make Your Own Shade!)
8:58 Film Weddings And Use YouTube?

I’m required to state that I'm a part of affiliate programs for Amazon, B&H, Best Buy, Adorama, SoundStripe, ArtList, Sweetwater, Musicbed, and Adobe and that some of the links above are affiliate links.

[whoismatt]

😎 Hope this helps you keep your camera cool!

[josephfriedman]

Let me add to an earlier comment re: USB fans. I bought the Sony A6300 six years ago. I shoot long interviews, sometimes back to back. I tested the camera early on and it heated up/stopped at around 33 minutes with 4K. So I looked at all the possibilities and decided on using a 4" USB fan that was supported independently adjacent to the rear of the camera with the camera screen pulled away from the body. I could shoot now indefinitely with absolutely no temperature warning. These fans are absolutely quiet.

[veronicaobrien]

Probably the best camera tutorial/help video I have ever watched. Thank you for getting straight to the point and your advice!!

[gn]

Thank you, so, so much, Matt!! I recently got my A7IV for weddings and events filming, and I haven't experienced overheating, but due to the ton of videos and posts about it on Internet, I don't feel 100% relaxed about it, but you're a referent for me and I really appreciate your advices, I will enjoy more my next filming adventure with the A7IV which btw gives an extraordinary image quality. Kind regards from Uruguay.

[Evengard]

Switch to V90 SD. Ok, guys, I'm posting that comment under every video related to Sony A7IV overheating issue, because it solved the problem for me and I'd be happy if it helps you. I've browsed through dozens of videos on that subject and most of them didn't mention that particular thing.
Yes, auto power off temp works. Opening the screen and battery door works too. Eventually it allowed me to record 35 min instead of 15 min in 4K 100M. Better, but not perfect. External recorder, switched off linking, camera grip, etc. probably does its job as well.
But V90 SD card instead of V30 allowed me to record a 2-hour take easily. The battery exhausted earlier.
Maybe that's dumb, but having been an A7III user, I never thought the card would be such a gamechanger. In fact, yes. Slow cards just don't have enough capacity, being overheated while trying to process the recording, they overheat the camera internally even though it stays cool on the surface.
Don't bother with CFExpress, just a regular V90 128G card would do the thing. At least it worked like a charm for me. Thanks for the video, Matt! 🙌

[edithgonzalez]

Thank you for this!! I just shot a wedding this weekend outside in the middle of august in Austin…it was a nightmare. Wish I had watched this before, but now I know!

[aenosfox]

Thanks Matt ! An other solution to avoid over heating is to change battery if you have the chance during the event, and to have a cage for your camera to spread the heat of your hand. Thanks 👍

[dylan]

This is the best video I've seen in ref to Sony's cams overheating. If you see this, I hope you can give me some quick advice:

I was very close to buying the new Sony ZV-E10 II having already been familiar with its predecessor. However, I was also aware overheating was a big issue with these cameras.

My big problem being I will almost exclusively be using it outside in a tropical climate (Thailand). And I wanted to record at 4k (24 or 30). My understanding is, even with making the setting change you mentioned, opening up the screen/memory card slot, and attaching an aftermarket fan, I will likely still have overheating issues.

So I considered either getting the FX30 (which has a fan), or staying with the ZV-E10 II but dropping the resolution down to 1080. I'd really like to record in 4k, but as my only usage is YT videos, and knowing something like 65% of viewers watch on on smartphones, dropping the res down to 1080 seemed acceptable.

I'm kinda confused as I won't know if the II will work outside in that heat at 4k until I try (and I'm also prepared to make the sun shield as you demonstrated in this video). Knowing my luck, even if I paid the extra and went for the FX30 (with its fan), it'd still overheat!

[checkeredflagfilms]

Have possessed an A7iii since the beginning of the Sony revolution and never have I experienced over-heating issues.

[sean-victoria]

Reducing the frame rate makes a big difference. Recording at 25fps, I've never my A7IV overheat, even whilst filming a 1.5 hour ceremony in the hot sun. Filming at 50fps, I've had the camera overheat a number of times. Never had either of my A7Siii overheat though :)

[MikesManCave]

I have been using the Sony ZV E10 for years in Australia where it is VERY hot, the camera never overheated ever, I was using it the other day on a mild comfortable day filming indoors, I had the screen out in selfie mod and after about 10 minutes the camera shut down from overheating. The only thing I have changed was I stopped using 1080 25p50 and went to 4k 25p50, went back to 1080 and all has been fine since. I believe the 4K processing is what overheats the camera.

[FlowingCamera]

Well here it is 2 years after you posted this and am just now watching it.
A few days ago I experienced for the first time both my Sony A7III and a7SIII overheat...the fun part is they were Cam A and B for the same shoot. They alernately shut down during the recording. I waited a few seconds and after it fired up (pun intended) I did the only thing I could think of in the moment... started "quietly" blowing the back of the camera. Well, sure enough when I went into the menu of each camera the Auto Power Off Temp was set to Standard on both cameras.
Fortunately I was able to salvage the 20 minute presentation in post. But it was scary. And this was inside an air conditioned room. Thanks Matt ! Can always trust your advice.

[redcoupe]

Have been using my new Sony 7rV for video for a while and last night was the first time I had heating and power issues, and it was also the first time I left the screen against the camera base and not pulled out from the body. Thank you!

[noeltensilofficial]

Thank you very much for your great advice. Love from India.

[FitnessMarketingMastery]

Matt you are a LIFESAVER! In the middle of a video shoot and this solve my issue - at least for now!!

[andrewsaraceni]

Definitely a camera-dependent thing based on a few factors (e.g. my a7S III vs. a7 IV vs. a7 III, it's really never been a concern with my a7S III), but great tips here.

[Cristobal_productions.]

Your videos have made my work flow easier!! Thank you so much!

[ShashankShekhar-]

Thanks a lot for the tips...i was in the middle of shooting a YouTube video (my first with a professional camera), and this saved me :p

[VoyageurMotionPictures]

you're a lifesaver Matt! Thanks for this!

[lg.studio]

My other solution was, when I started doing wedding with my a6000 and a6500, to put small silver heat-sinks over the camera body. 2 on top, 2 under the monitor. It did help a lot. Not in the summer sunshine, but at least indoors I had no problems with them. Later I also added a dummy battery, and that solved the issue even on warm summer days outside.