The Sony A7iii is one of the best cameras you can get for a full-frame shot that’s a reasonable price. This camera uses Sony’s E-mount lenses, and the auto-focus is very fast and accurate. Unlike their competitors, Sony has had three generations to work out the problems they have run into with their cameras. That is why Sony is one of the most trusted brands to turn to when it comes to getting a great quality camera for a fair value.
Unfortunately, no camera goes without its flaws. You may be able to get some of the best frames with your Sony A7iii camera, but the only downside is how quickly it heats up. If your camera overheats, eventually it will shut down. Imagine having your camera power down in the middle of shooting. Your subject wouldn’t be too pleased and it would also make you look a little less professional. We can’t let that happen!
There are a few reasons why your Sony A7iii might be overheating. They could be internal or external factors causing your camera to heat up. If you’re shooting outdoors on a nice sunny day, then the sun exposure could be one of the key reasons you camera overheats. If you are indoors shooting then your overheating problem is most likely internal and if you don’t let it cool down then your camera will shut itself down.
We’re going to share some tips with you on how to prevent your Sony A7iii from overheating. Before we dive into those there’s one thing you must know about shooting outdoors. The number one rule for using your camera outdoors is to cover it up when you’re not shooting. A gear bag is the best solution for keeping your camera in the shade, but a light-colored cloth will do the trick too.
Next time you’re shooting and your Sony A7iii starts to overheat, try out some of these tips to cool it down and get back to your shoot. Additionally, all of these tips and tricks can work with the Sony a7, Sony a7R, Sony a7S, Sony a7ii, Sony a7Rii, Sony a7Sii, Sony a7iii, Sony a7Riii, Sony a7Riv, Sony a7Siii, Sony a7C, and any future additions to the Sony a7 camera range too.
Mini Umbrella
Give your camera some shade by bringing a mini-umbrella along on your next shoot. It will make a huge difference, even if it is a cloudy day. Don’t allow sunlight to ruin your perfect frame. Mini umbrellas can be clipped onto your camera and weigh next to nothing. You don’t have to worry about hiring an assistant to hold it for you.
Mini umbrellas are also a cost-friendly solution for minimizing sun exposure to your camera. You can find them for under $20, which is a fair price for something that will extend the life of your shoots. Once you start using one you will notice how much it helps out and it will eventually come along on for all of your shoots.
Wrap It Up!
If external reasons are why your Sony A7iii is overheating then wrap it up with a towel. On really sunny days you should have your camera wrapped up while you’re using it. This will help out tremendously for blocking the sun rays from heating your camera up. If you beat the problem before it gets to you then your camera will last longer during shoots.
The most beautiful days for a clear outdoor shoot can often be the worst for your device. Cameras dislike heat just about the amount as water. Keep it away from both. You can avoid water, but some days it’s hard to avoid the sun and heat while shooting.
For days you can’t avoid the heat, try this tip that many photographers swear by for cooling down their overheated camera. If the sun causes your camera to get too hot then wrap it up in a towel and place a cold gel pack next to it. You can even place it back in your camera bag with a gel pack. Don’t leave it for too long because you don’t want your camera to get too cold either.
Change The Battery
When it comes to internal sources, one of the main causes of overheating is your camera’s battery. It is the fastest element on your camera to heat up. One thing you can do to help with the overheating is to open the battery door and let it air out. A lot of photographers will put a fan nearby to help cool it down a bit quicker.
If you’re crunched for time then you may not have time to wait for your battery to cool off. This is why using external batteries can help you squash two problems at once. You have solved the overheating issue by keeping the main source of energy outside of the camera. This also extends your battery’s life and can get you many more hours worth of footage.
You can actually use the same portable external battery that you would use to charge your phone. The external battery will give your phone 2/3 more energy, and that’s also how much heat it will reduce. External batteries are the best solution to the Sony A7iii overheating problem when the problem is caused by internal factors.
USB power banks are a great lightweight external battery. They are easy to bring along on any adventure and don’t take up very much room in your camera bag. Most professional photographers prefer using dummy batteries. They are the most efficient solution for preventing the issues with your Sony A7iii overheating.
Easy Ways To Release The Heat
Imagine working out in a room with no fans and no open windows or doors. When you begin, the room is a moderate temperature and you have no problem moving. Once your body heats up, the room starts to get warmers and eventually it becomes unbearable to work out in there. That is essentially how the battery is working inside of the camera.
If you want to extend the life of your battery, you will need to cool things off in there. As mentioned above, when things start to heat up you should open your battery’s door. This will allow some air to get at it to cool off a bit. You should always keep it open for longer shoots. The battery produces a lot of heat when you’re using the camera so you don’t want to have the heat trapped in there. An open battery door can give your camera’s battery an extra 30 minutes of life.
There are a couple more things you can do to release the heat from inside your camera. You should open the flash door for the same reasons. Also, you should swivel the LCD screen away from the camera’s body while you’re shooting. The LCD screen is another one of your camera’s features that heats up, so if you aren’t using it you should keep it away from the camera’s body.
Get A Faster Memory Card
Older memory cards are slower and make your camera work harder. This is another reason why your device could be overheating. Making sure your memory card is up to date is a simple solution to keep your camera working at its best. Your battery has to work too hard if the memory card is out of date. Stop the problem before it happens by only using an up to date memory card.
When You’re Not Using The Camera…
The one rule that all photographers live by to extend the life of their camera is to always put it back in the camera bag when it’s not in use. The camera bag is designed to be the ultimate shelter for your camera. This rule is especially important during outdoor shoots.
If you use a black or dark-colored camera then you really need to make sure you get it back into the camera bag. It doesn’t take long for the sun to heat up your camera. Giving it a break in a concealed camera break might be something you have to make time for.
Bring A Back-Up
If it’s a really warm day and you plan on being out on a shoot for a long period of time then you might want to bring a backup camera. Even while taking all the precautions, there will be times when your camera needs to cool off. If timing is key to getting your shot, then bring a backup camera just in case you have to switch.
If would be really unfortunate if you missed out on a great shot because your camera was cooling off in its bag. Even though you may not like your spare camera as much, it’s still worth having a backup just for these moments.
How To Prevent A Sony A7iii From Overheating: Final Thoughts
To extend the life of your Sony A7iii so you can always get the best full-frame shots, then consider the advice above for your next shoot. It’s important to allow your camera to cool down or it will shut itself down, leaving you nothing to work with. Follow these useful tips so you never find yourself in that situation.
