Is it normal for a Canon 600D to heat up during long video recording?
Asked 8/26/2016
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I use a Canon 600D to record video continuously for 30–45 minutes, and the camera gets quite warm. Is this normal for DSLR video use, or could the heat damage the camera? Are there any practical ways to keep it cooler during long recording sessions?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
9y ago
2 Answers
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The heat is part of the price you pay for using a camera designed primarily for still images as a video camera.
Dedicated video cameras with sensors the size of most DSLRs cost about as much as a nice automobile or even the price of a small house and have much more cooling ability built in. So do some of the newer high end DSLRs such as the Canon 1D X Mark II that has a computer style heat tube running from the back of the sensor down to a heat sink in the vertical grip at the bottom of the camera.
When production companies started using DSLRs for some broadcast grade products, such as the network drama "House", they used multiple bodies so that each could be swapped out for a cooler one after shooting for about ten minutes or so. Any longer and the heat buildup around the sensor started to detrimentally affect the sensor noise levels and overall image quality.
Most cameras, including your 600D, have temperature sensors and firmware included in the design that monitor the vital statistics of the camera's internals and will shut down the camera before it is allowed to heat up to the point that lasting damage would occur.
Originally by user15871. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user15871
9y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—some heat buildup is normal when using a DSLR like the Canon 600D for extended video recording. These cameras were designed primarily for still photography, and video mode puts sustained load on the sensor and processing electronics, which generates heat.
In general, warmth alone is expected and the camera is designed to tolerate normal operating temperatures. The main concern is extended continuous recording, which can push a DSLR beyond the kind of duty cycle it handles best. In professional use, DSLR video shooters have often rotated between multiple camera bodies to let each cool down.
Practical ways to reduce heat are limited, since the camera has no active cooling system. The safest approach is to give it breaks between long takes, avoid unnecessary continuous operation, and if possible alternate with another body for lengthy sessions.
So: warming up is normal, but long uninterrupted video shooting is not ideal for this type of camera. If your work regularly requires long continuous recording, a camera designed more specifically for video will generally manage heat better.
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