Stop your camera from overheating with the new SmallRig Cooling System
Jul 4, 2024
John Aldred
John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
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Overheating is a pain, but it seems part and parcel of new camera ownership these days. The demand for more megapixels, faster frame rates, higher bit depth and less rolling shutter has meant that cameras use a lot of energy. This means they generate a lot of heat.
While there have been tricks to fake overheating in the past, many cameras now use actual temperature sensors to determine when they are overheating. SmallRig wants to help you keep your cameras cool with its new SmallRig Cooling System ($49.99).
SmallRig Cooling System – Solving a real problem
Cameras from pretty much all companies overheat at some point these days. There are some companies that are more notorious for it than others, but it’s an issue faced by many people, especially those shooting video. The SmallRig Cooling System is designed to help overcome it.
The SmallRig Cooling System, the company says, works with a range of cameras from Canon, Nikon and Fujifilm. Although, in the lists of specific cameras, they list Canon, Sony and Fujifilm models. No Nikons. So, you might want to double-check with the company before you order that your camera is supported – even if it’s listed.
At the moment, the compatibility list looks like this:
- Canon
- EOS 70D
- EOS R5
- EOS R6
- EOS R7
- EOS R8
- EOS R10
- EOS R50
- Fujifilm
- X-S10
- X-T4
- Sony
- A6700
- A7 IV
- A7C
- A7C II
- A7S III
- FX3
- FX30
- ZV-1
- ZV-E1
- ZV-E10
Yes, that’s right. For some reason, it kicks off with a DSLR. I realise the EOS 70D was a very popular camera and probably the most popular YouTuber camera of its day, but is it still all that common? I thought most had switched to mirrorless by now. Anyway, it’s compatible with that, too, as well as the range of mirrorless systems mentioned.
For most stills shooters, you won’t have to worry about overheating. But for video shooters, this can be an invaluable tool to help make the day run more smoothly. As with similar coolers on the market, you simply flip out your LCD, slot in the cooler, and away you go.
This helps more on rigs or unattended cameras where you’re feeding out to an external display anyway. Coolers can get in the way a little bit for some minimalist handheld setups. But if it keeps you shooting, it’s worth it, right?
Price and Availability
The SmallRig Cooling System is available to buy now for $49.99 from the SmallRig website.
John Aldred
John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
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One response to “Stop your camera from overheating with the new SmallRig Cooling System”
For sure would I be sticking a fancy USB-C powered fan to the back of my camera. Folks, let’s be serious here: Professional video cameras are built like they are for a reason.
If you think you can get away with a digital still camera, that also shoots video, that’s entirely your problem and please stop whining. The SmallRig cooling system might save your camera from overheating and it might also not. Depending on the circumstances. Watch Gerald’s video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQlvKGYiY_A if you want to know more. The fact is: You can’t trust that stuff. If that’s OK for for you because you are working on a tight budget and money saved on cheap equipment weighs more than wasted time and talent, all fine.
I have shot my Sony PXW-X70 (and that is by no means a professional camera, it does not even have interchangeable lenses!) at 40°C outside in the sun, in 4K mode until the battery ran out of juice. Next battery, repeat. Not the slightest indication of overheating.
So if you cram S-Log, 8K, IBIS, face detection and stuff in a tiny package, overheating is to be expected. And an add-on fan is not gonna change that.