X-T3/4 overheating 4k with longer record times?

[kwa_photo]

I'm about to jump back to Fuji 10% but need answer to this question and not sure if this information is valid or not. https://www.fujirumors.com/fujifilm-x-t4-vs-x-t3-overheating-tested/

My question is, have any of you found overheating issues with the X-T3/4 when shooting 4k non-stop for say 60-90 minutes? I shoot a fair bit of theatrical productions on stage and they are usually about 2-3 hours long with 1 intermission. So non-stop about that 60-90 min with a 15-20 min break in-between. I'd be recording out to a Ninja V for unlimited time to an SSD. Anyone have direct experience with overheating or longer record times???? For this work, I do shoot at 4k 24fps so I get a more natural / cinematic feel vs. 30 or 60p.

I really want to come back to a 100% Fuji setup I used years ago, but left because of the poor video...well, we all know that has been fixed! Time to come back but this one issue could keep me away for another generation or two...thoughts??? Is the X-H1 better in this regard?

--
Ken
FujiFilm FinePix Moderator (Please PM vs. a public post if you have concerns or questions about the forum)

 

[bstaley71]

I have a XT3 and I would shoot my daughter's soccer games in 4k60p. I would frequently have trouble with overheating. What I did was get a "dummy" battery and use a Anker PD charger connected to the dummy battery and my overheating problems almost disappeared entirely. If you get the dummy battery, keep the LCD screen pulled away from the body to let some air get in there you may be ok shooting at only 24p.

 

[srb7109]

I have an X-T4 and a Ninja V external recorder. I did a test run the other day at room temps recording 4k/60p to the Ninja V for about 45min without over heat issues. The camera was warm, but the recorder was hot! As I understand it the external recorder offloads the compression work the camera would have to do for internal recording which reduces heat build up in the camera. I'm not sure if he could record indefinitely at 4k/60p, but I think you would be ok at 4k/24p. I'm new to this video stuff and I'm still learning lots.

 

[kwa_photo]

I have an X-T4 and a Ninja V external recorder. I did a test run the other day at room temps recording 4k/60p to the Ninja V for about 45min without over heat issues. The camera was warm, but the recorder was hot! As I understand it the external recorder offloads the compression work the camera would have to do for internal recording which reduces heat build up in the camera. I'm not sure if he could record indefinitely at 4k/60p, but I think you would be ok at 4k/24p. I'm new to this video stuff and I'm still learning lots.

Thank you both! The info on the Ninja is handy. That makes sense that it offloads a lot of the work for the XT to the Ninja so the heat should be less. The battery approach may work as well....I have one for my current camera that works well. For those long shoots I'm at 4k, 24p and usually a 100 bit rate to keep the file size low. For example, the last one I shot, the first act of the production created a 77.4GB file.

--
Ken
FujiFilm FinePix Moderator (Please PM vs. a public post if you have concerns or questions about the forum)

 

[ikaika777]

From what I’ve heard from people who do video with the X-T4 is that you will get a warning at 15-20 minutes of record time in 4K/60p which is what Fuji mentions in the manual so it is doing what’s its said according to spec. The users said they have had no overheating problems in 4K/30p or anything else. Also one YouTube reviewer and T4 owner said how he got around the overheating in 4K/60p which is when the warning comes on he switches the LCD screen off and it doesn’t shut down. So what it all comes down to it only overheats in 4K/60p when you do straight 15-20 minutes of recording and no problems beyond that, of course if your camera in the hot sun on a hot day you might get a warning in the other record modes during long record times which would be understandable.

 

[Peetz]

I tested my X-T2 with 4K 25P, and there was no overheating even after 5 hours using the grip and AC power. Bear in mind, this test was done during winter. For summer, I have bought a small PC silent fan to cool the camera.

I don't know how this compares to the performance of the X-T3 and X-T4.

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4505251

 

[Justin Cider]

Having the screen off and flipped out helps over heating. What seems to help a lot with my XT4 is having the battery grip with two batteries in it but with no battery in the camera itself.

 

[syrcular]

Yep. That is correct. The Ninja V will allow you not only unlimited record times but should prevent overheating as long as you are not recording internally to the X-T4. That’s really the safest way to sustain long record times with the Fujifilm system or basically any mirrorless camera these days.

 

[Justin Cider]

While we're on the conversation of external recorders I've got a question that I've yet to figure out a solution to with the Fuji system. If you're not also recording internally, are you also only shooting manual focus? The CAF settings only apply when the camera is recording, not when prefocusing on standby right? Unless I've missed a setting somewhere that's always been my impression so if I want to use CAF I've always recorded internally simultaneously. The same issue applies when using the camera with a capture card. Love to know if someone knows a work around for that.

 

[TotallydubbedHD]

I have a XT3 and I would shoot my daughter's soccer games in 4k60p. I would frequently have trouble with overheating. What I did was get a "dummy" battery and use a Anker PD charger connected to the dummy battery and my overheating problems almost disappeared entirely. If you get the dummy battery, keep the LCD screen pulled away from the body to let some air get in there you may be ok shooting at only 24p.

Heya!
Sorry to have to re-live an old thread, but I'm having issues with my XT-4 constantly overheating. I shoot mainly indoors (and worried if I have to shoot outdoors in the glaring sun) at 4K 60fps, OIS/IBIS disabled.

I was wondering how I can get around the dummy battery? Could you link to the dummy battery or explain how that would work?

I've found that the camera overheats both with the screen flipped out and/or with it connected to the mains via USB Type-C.

It's a real struggle and would love to overcome the issue, if possible!

 

[Peetz]

Heya!
Sorry to have to re-live an old thread, but I'm having issues with my XT-4 constantly overheating. I shoot mainly indoors (and worried if I have to shoot outdoors in the glaring sun) at 4K 60fps, OIS/IBIS disabled.

I was wondering how I can get around the dummy battery? Could you link to the dummy battery or explain how that would work?
I've found that the camera overheats both with the screen flipped out and/or with it connected to the mains via USB Type-C.

It's a real struggle and would love to overcome the issue, if possible!

On eBay search for - Fujifilm Dummy battery - plus the code of the battery. There are a few China-made dummy batteries. No telling how well these work.

BH Photo used to sell a genuine Fujifilm dummy battery for the X-T2. You might search to see if Fujifilm offers a similar Fujifilm dummy battery for the X-T4.

On youtube, I searched for - Fujifilm dummy battery - and came across a few videos of people demonstrating their use. There's one in Russian, "Fujifilm X-T3 Dummy Battery CP-W126" that seems to give a clear demo.

I haven't used the X-T3 or X-T4 (only the X-T2), but if you're getting overheating by powering externally with the USB-C connected to mains, who knows if the dummy battery is any improvement.

It's often said that a source of overheating is the heat being generated from the internal battery. My question is: when you're using the USB-C via mains A/C, do you still have the internal battery in the X-T4? Can the camera operate on A/C without the battery being inside (the X-T2 requires the internal battery to be present).

Maybe the dummy battery could minimise heat coming from the internal battery - I merely speculate, since I've never used any of these.

I've only used the X-T2 and grip with A/C power.

 

[TotallydubbedHD]

Heya!
Sorry to have to re-live an old thread, but I'm having issues with my XT-4 constantly overheating. I shoot mainly indoors (and worried if I have to shoot outdoors in the glaring sun) at 4K 60fps, OIS/IBIS disabled.

I was wondering how I can get around the dummy battery? Could you link to the dummy battery or explain how that would work?
I've found that the camera overheats both with the screen flipped out and/or with it connected to the mains via USB Type-C.

It's a real struggle and would love to overcome the issue, if possible!

On eBay search for - Fujifilm Dummy battery - plus the code of the battery. There are a few China-made dummy batteries. No telling how well these work.

BH Photo used to sell a genuine Fujifilm dummy battery for the X-T2. You might search to see if Fujifilm offers a similar Fujifilm dummy battery for the X-T4.

On youtube, I searched for - Fujifilm dummy battery - and came across a few videos of people demonstrating their use. There's one in Russian, "Fujifilm X-T3 Dummy Battery CP-W126" that seems to give a clear demo.

I haven't used the X-T3 or X-T4 (only the X-T2), but if you're getting overheating by powering externally with the USB-C connected to mains, who knows if the dummy battery is any improvement.

It's often said that a source of overheating is the heat being generated from the internal battery. My question is: when you're using the USB-C via mains A/C, do you still have the internal battery in the X-T4? Can the camera operate on A/C without the battery being inside (the X-T2 requires the internal battery to be present).

Maybe the dummy battery could minimise heat coming from the internal battery - I merely speculate, since I've never used any of these.

I've only used the X-T2 and grip with A/C power.

So I can confirm that the XT-4 with no battery inside won't run via power via the mains only, although, I do think it's possible to have a dead battery (ie out of juice) inside, and connected to the main + running. I do suspect that the input current won't suffice for the XT-4 and it, therefore, might die/cause issues with the recording.

I'll look into the dummy battery option, or might just suck up the bill and get myself an external recorder (such as was suggested in this thread) to reduce the load on the camera main body and thus prologue run time.

 

[Justin Cider]

Just a reminder once again that if you have a battery grip attached to the camera you do not need to have a battery in the camera. That's what I do and I've yet to see an overheating warning on my camera more than once.

 

[TotallydubbedHD]

Just a reminder once again that if you have a battery grip attached to the camera you do not need to have a battery in the camera. That's what I do and I've yet to see an overheating warning on my camera more than once.

Correct me if I'm wrong - but the battery grip won't work with a tripod - which is how I record video. As for overheating - I only notice it when I'm recording at 4K 60fps and namely indoors where the ambient room temperature is naturally higher.

 

[Justin Cider]

Just a reminder once again that if you have a battery grip attached to the camera you do not need to have a battery in the camera. That's what I do and I've yet to see an overheating warning on my camera more than once.

Correct me if I'm wrong - but the battery grip won't work with a tripod - which is how I record video. As for overheating - I only notice it when I'm recording at 4K 60fps and namely indoors where the ambient room temperature is naturally higher.

The battery grip has a 1/4 on the bottom of it just like the camera so you can mount it easy peasy. I use an Edelkrone flex tilt 2 between my camera/grip and the tripod which I couldn't recommend enough. That's a very helpful bit of kit when using a tripod.

 

[TotallydubbedHD]

Just a reminder once again that if you have a battery grip attached to the camera you do not need to have a battery in the camera. That's what I do and I've yet to see an overheating warning on my camera more than once.

Correct me if I'm wrong - but the battery grip won't work with a tripod - which is how I record video. As for overheating - I only notice it when I'm recording at 4K 60fps and namely indoors where the ambient room temperature is naturally higher.

The battery grip has a 1/4 on the bottom of it just like the camera so you can mount it easy peasy. I use an Edelkrone flex tilt 2 between my camera/grip and the tripod which I couldn't recommend enough. That's a very helpful bit of kit when using a tripod.

I see! Okay might look into that too, thank you.

 

[TotallydubbedHD]

I'd just like to update people (who might search for this thread) - I got the XT-4 battery grip and indeed it can be used without a battery in the camera.

However, other than 'prolonging' recording time, it hasn't really helped in reducing the heat impact of the camera. I still get the overheating icon and often need to stop recording for a set amount of time in order to recommence. In other words, the grip hasn't really helped. I'm just thankful I didn't pay full price on it and got it at a highly discounted price, or else I'd be quite annoyed.

Now looking into more expensive solutions (ie external monitor), but not sure if I'll invest given the extra faff needed to setup the camera when out of the house.