Z7 overheating with long video

I have been really enjoying getting to know my new Z7.  Awesome camera.

One issue I am hitting is shutting down from over-heating during long video shoots.  I use an Atomos Ninja Flame with 10-bit NLog HDMI output from the Z7.  After 60-90 minutes, the Z7 shuts itself off from overheating.  Ambient temp is reasonable (around 70-73 degrees) and the Z7 is open to air for ventilation.

Has anyone else experienced this?  Any tips on how to handle?

drt3 wrote:

I have been really enjoying getting to know my new Z7. Awesome camera.

One issue I am hitting is shutting down from over-heating during long video shoots. I use an Atomos Ninja Flame with 10-bit NLog HDMI output from the Z7. After 60-90 minutes, the Z7 shuts itself off from overheating. Ambient temp is reasonable (around 70-73 degrees) and the Z7 is open to air for ventilation.

Has anyone else experienced this? Any tips on how to handle?

Not stretched it that far at all but it may be an external or N log issue. As it seemed to be Ok internally from here ..

https://youtu.be/ekke2klnR9w?t=106

drt3 wrote:

I have been really enjoying getting to know my new Z7. Awesome camera.

One issue I am hitting is shutting down from over-heating during long video shoots. I use an Atomos Ninja Flame with 10-bit NLog HDMI output from the Z7. After 60-90 minutes, the Z7 shuts itself off from overheating. Ambient temp is reasonable (around 70-73 degrees) and the Z7 is open to air for ventilation.

Has anyone else experienced this? Any tips on how to handle?

This is troubling since I'm getting the Z6.

I have heard of overheating. And the link to the video above showed consecutive  videos with no overheating. Perhaps this an issue with this camera only. At any rate, this post will undoubtedly spur more user tests.

Are you sure it's not the 30 min max limit set in the firmware so the camera will not be classified as a video camera avoiding additional import duty imposed on video cameras?

Bob Jameson wrote:

Are you sure it's not the 30 min max limit set in the firmware so the camera will not be classified as a video camera avoiding additional import duty imposed on video cameras?

There is no limit when using an external recorder.

Thoughts R Us wrote:

nigelht wrote:

drt3 wrote:

I have been really enjoying getting to know my new Z7. Awesome camera.

One issue I am hitting is shutting down from over-heating during long video shoots. I use an Atomos Ninja Flame with 10-bit NLog HDMI output from the Z7. After 60-90 minutes, the Z7 shuts itself off from overheating. Ambient temp is reasonable (around 70-73 degrees) and the Z7 is open to air for ventilation.

Has anyone else experienced this? Any tips on how to handle?

This is troubling since I'm getting the Z6.

I'm no video guy so take this with a grain of salt...

But it seems to me that the OP's use case is really pushing the camera to an extreme that most will never reach (and that's OK). We're talking about filming straight for 60-90 minutes at the highest resolution output.

i shoot the D5300 as a vid cam with the atomos ninja 2.

Again, to me that seems to be stretching it quite a bit. Most people I know who are into video film short segments at a time and then put it together in post.

Not if it’s your wide b cam shooting a long event.  And he doesn’t say if it’s continuous or after 60-90 mins of shooting segments.   I got that from shooting a lot of segments with the V2.

Obviously the OP has his own use case and that is fine. I am not in any way trying to discredit the OP. And if the camera does overheat at such an extreme, that may be a problem for some.

But I would caution anyone jumping to conclusions, because it is just a sample of one and again it may be an operating condition that most will never get to.

Wedding and event video shooters will care.

drt3 wrote:

After 60-90 minutes, the Z7 shuts itself off from overheating.

Sorry - you are making a significant usage error, though what you report can be correct after several successive video sessions.

I presume you are making successive videos as the maximum recording length is usually 30 minutes.

Memory cards and batteries heat up with continuous prolonged use.

There are warnings about this on pages 35 and 197 of the En version of the camera manual.

Electronic VR and movie log output consume extra power.

Using either the viewfinder or rear monitor a fresh battery is likely to run out before 90 minutes is reached - En User Manual page 230

Sorry - to the best of my knowledge any DSLR from any manufacturer is at risk of switching off due to overheating if used continuously for video for an hour or more.

nigelht wrote:

Wedding and event video shooters will care.

Why?

So far there is nothing to suggest the Z7 gets hot enough to switch off taking video than other Nikon or other brand DSLR bodies.

If using a DSLR for an hour or more recording, ideally 2 bodies are already needed as recording usually stops after 30 minutes.

https://kolarivision.com/nikon-z7-dissasembly-teardown/

no heatsink/cooling mechanics whatsoever inside Z7.. so no surprise it will will overheat.

Leonard Shepherd wrote:

nigelht wrote:

Wedding and event video shooters will care.

Why?

So far there is nothing to suggest the Z7 gets hot enough to switch off taking video than other Nikon or other brand DSLR bodies.

If using a DSLR for an hour or more recording, ideally 2 bodies are already needed as recording usually stops after 30 minutes.

I regularly take 60+ min videos using the D5300.  The Z6 will replace this set up.

The thing suggesting the Z7 overheats is this user report from one of the few folks shooting log.  That’s not nothing.

Why would wedding videographers care?  I was at an hours long Indian ceremony that didnt have many breaks.  Having your camera overheat and be dead for 15+ mins as it cools off is really bad even if you are shooting multiple cameras because often you’re shooting multiple angles.

Leonard Shepherd wrote:

drt3 wrote:

After 60-90 minutes, the Z7 shuts itself off from overheating.

Sorry - you are making a significant usage error, though what you report can be correct after several successive video sessions.

I presume you are making successive videos as the maximum recording length is usually 30 minutes.

why are you repeating the same incorrect statements about a topic you don’t know anything about?

Memory cards and batteries heat up with continuous prolonged use.

Unless shooting both internal and external the camera isn’t writing to the card.

There are warnings about this on pages 35 and 197 of the En version of the camera manual.

Electronic VR and movie log output consume extra power.

If shooting from a tripod you can/should turn off IBIS/VR.

Using either the viewfinder or rear monitor a fresh battery is likely to run out before 90 minutes is reached - En User Manual page 23

You don’t need to use either VF or rear monitor when using an external recorder because it has a larger screen.

Sorry - to the best of my knowledge any DSLR from any manufacturer is at risk of switching off due to overheating if used continuously for video for an hour or more.

My D5300 shooting to an external recorder lasts 120 min+. Is it at risk of overheat at 60 mins in 73 degrees F?

Nope.

drt3 wrote:

I have been really enjoying getting to know my new Z7. Awesome camera.

One issue I am hitting is shutting down from over-heating during long video shoots. I use an Atomos Ninja Flame with 10-bit NLog HDMI output from the Z7. After 60-90 minutes, the Z7 shuts itself off from overheating. Ambient temp is reasonable (around 70-73 degrees) and the Z7 is open to air for ventilation.

Has anyone else experienced this? Any tips on how to handle?

Have you thought of ventilating the back of the camera with some USB-powered fans? Deploy the screen first...

Just an idea...

drt3 wrote:

I have been using 4k @ 30fps 10-bit N-Log--so yes, pushing the camera hard. I have not tried other video settings, but perhaps at lower resolution the Z7 won't overheat.

If you haven’t already I’d turn off EVF and LCD as well as IBIS.

After that there’s not much else you can do beyond using flat rather than log and presumably drop to 8 bit.

Which would be disappointing.