Released in the third quarter of 2016, the Sony A6500 is a premium APS-C mirrorless camera. Packing in a 24.2-megapixel Exmor® CMOS sensor and 4K movie recording capabilities, the camera can produce outstanding visuals even for beginner users. It also features a high-speed Tracking AF Technology, allowing for a quick focus in any situation. Coupled with a 5-axis optical image stabilization, the Sony A6500 truly stands out in its range of mirrorless competitors. Made with a magnesium alloy body, the Sony A6500 was created to last, providing its users with years of reliable shooting with over 200,000 shutter-release cycles.
Out of the box, the camera comes with a 3” LCD tilting screen capable of touch functionalities and a built-in flash of up at 6.00 m. On its own, the body of the camera weighs up to 453g including batteries – so users can even operate the camera singlehandedly. Despite all its ups as a powerful interchangeable-lens camera however, there has been a huge downfall that has been plaguing its users and that is the fact that the camera body tends to overheat while in use. Thankfully, there are ways to fix this issue off the bat, most of which we will get into in this article shortly. Before we go there however, let’s have a quick look at why the Sony A6500 would encounter overheating issues during use and why it’s bad for your camera in the long run.
Why Is Your Sony A6500 Camera Overheating?
If you’re an avid camera user, having your camera overheat after prolonged usage may not be something new to you. This could however be quite annoying if you’re looking to continuously shoot pictures or videos on your camera. When your camera overheats, chances are that it would shut off by itself and you’ll have to wait till it has cooled down before you can shoot again. On the Sony A6500, this isn’t any different as some users have reported that they have had to deal with an overheating camera body as well. Here are some of the reasons why this could have happened:
- The screen was not pulled away: While this may be unlikely, but users have occasionally noticed that the camera overheats quicker when the LCD screen isn’t pulled away from the camera body. This is as the heat may not have anywhere to disperse, causing it to be trapped within which later results in overheating problems.
- The use of a camera cage: Using a camera cage may be good in protecting the camera body, however it could cause overheating problems especially if you’re using the camera under the sun. This converts into overheating issues for the camera and is quickly followed by the inconveniences that overheating brings.
- The camera isn’t powered down: Some users may also prioritize convenience above all during a day out with their camera, and this includes not powering down their camera even when they are done shooting. This causes the camera battery to work continuously, resulting in overheating issues that are common with the camera body.
Ways To Deal With The Sony A6500 Overheating
Thankfully, there are easy measures you can take to deal with your Sony A6500 overheating. Most of these fixes are quick to execute and may not even cost you any money. This allows you to still be on the go with your camera and shoot whenever, wherever, and whatever you need or want to. Without further ado, let’s take a look at how you can fix your Sony A6500 from overheating issues especially while you’re out shooting:
- Pull your LCD screen away from the camera body: Perhaps the easiest way to help with your overheating camera is to pull your LCD screen away from the camera body. This should allow the trapped heat between the screen and body to disperse evenly and easily, thus avoiding the overheating issue altogether. Who knows, this may also help you get the shots you’d like as you can angle the screen to view your pictures more conveniently.
- Leave your battery door open: Camera batteries have been known to emit quite a lot of heat especially with prolonged use. When coupled with camera use under the hot sun, this would cause overheating issues. To combat this, try leaving the battery flap open while you’re shooting for a long period. This should allow any of the heat to disperse quicker than usual and give you a cooler shooting experience with the Sony A6500. This method is best used when your camera is mounted on a tripod to avoid accidentally releasing your battery during shoots.
- Fiddle with your camera settings: To protect your camera from overheating, manufacturers usually include an auto power cut off setting in your setup menu. If you’re looking to avoid having your camera shut down midway through a shoot, you could try fiddling with the auto power shut down setting from your Setup screen. To do this, simply enter the Setup menu and look out for the Auto Pwr OFF Temp setting. Change this setting from Standard to High and this should allow the camera to withstand a higher temperature before shutting off by itself.
- Provide your camera with some shade: If you’re shooting outdoors and will be expecting a sunny day out, it’s recommended that you provide your camera with a little shade. You could easily buy a lightweight mini umbrella from any online sellers and attach them to your camera to avoid overheating. These cameras easily attach to your tripod or even to your camera’s hot shoe if you are not attaching an external flash to the camera body.
- Use an external battery: Of course, you could also consider investing in an external battery while you’re shooting for a prolonged period. This is a good step to help extend your battery life while reducing the possibilities of your camera body from overheating as the heat source would not stem from the camera itself. This may in turn be a costly fix but would be great for any professional photographers who aren’t open to take any risks with the Sony A6500 shutting down midway through a shoot.
- Attach a mini ice pack to the camera: This is an unconventional method to cool down your camera body but can be helpful if you’re looking to shoot under the sun. Do note however that you will have to be careful of water damage from the condensation of the ice pack, so be sure to wrap the ice pack tightly with a paper towel before attaching it to the camera. Once you’ve safely wrapped the ice pack, simply wedge it between the screen and camera body, keeping it as snug as possible. You may have to change the ice packs after an hour or 2, but this should allow your camera to keep cool for a longer period than usual.
- Bring along a portable fan: If you’re able to bring along extra accessories during your shoot, do consider having a portable USB-powered fan with you to cool the camera down. Unfortunately, this would add to the background noise if you’re shooting a video and may not be the best solution if you don’t have access to any USB ports. While there are other alternatives such as battery-powered fans, you may find yourself back to square one when the battery runs out.
Other Measures You Can Take To Care For Your Sony A6500
On top of reducing possibilities for your Sony A6500 to overheat, it would also make for a good practice to care for your camera as well as you can. This allows you to protect the condition of the camera so you can continue making memories with your camera. Here are some easy ways to care for your Sony A6500:
- Turn off the camera when not in use: Aside from overheating issues, turning off the camera also saves you battery while you’re on the go. To help keep your camera in good condition over time, it’s always a good practice to turn off your camera when it is not in use or before storing it in your bag.
- Store your camera in a padded camera bag: Keeping your camera is a proper camera bag reduces the risks of scratches and dings on your camera body and the lenses. As a rule of thumb, try not to keep anything else in your camera bag – especially avoiding keys or coins.
- Clean your lens and device body after every use: When packing up after every shoot, it’s recommended that you clean your lens and the camera with a soft towel. This reduces the risk of dust accumulating on both the lens and camera, allowing for clearer shots every time.
- Avoid bringing your camera in contact with water: Finally, it’s most important that you remember to keep your camera away from contact with water as the Sony A6500 is not waterproof. Should you be shooting in the rain or expect a trip where the camera will come in close contact with water, it’s recommended that you keep the camera wrapped in a waterproof case to avoid accidents.
