p.1 #1 · How avoid Z6ii overheating recording 4k60p video?
Any video shooters having issues with the Z6ii overheating recording longer 4k60p clips? Getting an overheat warning and shutdown after about 5-10 minutes, recording indoors mild temps out of direct sunlight.
Rig is set up with external dummy battery to v-mount, running an external monitor. LCD is pulled away from body in monitor only mode.
No issues recording an hour plus in 4k24 and 4k30 using an external atomos Ninja V, just have issues with 4k60. I suppose I could always just rig the Z8 but I use it too much for general photography.
p.1 #2 · How avoid Z6ii overheating recording 4k60p video?
sungphoto wrote:
Any video shooters having issues with the Z6ii overheating recording longer 4k60p clips? Getting an overheat warning and shutdown after about 5-10 minutes, recording indoors mild temps out of direct sunlight.
Rig is set up with external dummy battery to v-mount, running an external monitor. LCD is pulled away from body in monitor only mode.
No issues recording an hour plus in 4k24 and 4k30 using an external atomos Ninja V, just have issues with 4k60. I suppose I could always just rig the Z8 but I use it too much for general photography.
My only answer, give up on the Z6II and the external recorder and either rent or buy a Z8 and get full frame shooting back.
p.1 #3 · How avoid Z6ii overheating recording 4k60p video?
MRomine wrote:
My only answer, give up on the Z6II and the external recorder and either rent or buy a Z8 and get full frame shooting back.
I'm recording 4k60p directly to a 512 GB CF Express B card. I don't have issues with records 3+ hours with the Ninja V and 4k30p. I probably will just swap out the Z6ii for another Z8 eventually, but it's nice to have a little behind the scenes rig ready to go without much cash in it. Aside from the 4k60p overheating (card gets pretty hot as well) I've been really happy with it.
p.1 #4 · How avoid Z6ii overheating recording 4k60p video?
sungphoto wrote:
I'm recording 4k60p directly to a 512 GB CF Express B card. I don't have issues with records 3+ hours with the Ninja V and 4k30p. I probably will just swap out the Z6ii for another Z8 eventually, but it's nice to have a little behind the scenes rig ready to go without much cash in it. Aside from the 4k60p overheating (card gets pretty hot as well) I've been really happy with it.
Have you tried recording to a fast SD card instead? It should generate less heat, for both the card and the body, provided it can keep up with the 360 Mpbs data rate for 4K60 video.
p.1 #5 · How avoid Z6ii overheating recording 4k60p video?
snapsy wrote:
Have you tried recording to a fast SD card instead? It should generate less heat, for both the card and the body, provided it can keep up with the 360 Mpbs data rate for 4K60 video.
Good suggestion, yeah I switched from the CF Express B to a Sony Tough 128GB V90 card (300 read/299 write) and still was having overheating issues, but it was in the middle of a shoot so didn't have a chance to set the camera down to let it cool down. Switching to 4k30 solved it for the remainder of the shoot.
p.1 #6 · How avoid Z6ii overheating recording 4k60p video?
The fan is definitely worth a shot. I would also maybe try keeping the media card door open, esp if there's any fan/ambient circulation that might be able to get into the media bay to help cool the card and its compartment down.
p.1 #7 · How avoid Z6ii overheating recording 4k60p video?
snapsy wrote:
The fan is definitely worth a shot. I would also maybe try keeping the media card door open, esp if there's any fan/ambient circulation that might be able to get into the media bay to help cool the card and its compartment down.
Going to do a few bench tests with media door open and comparing the CF Express B and Sony Tough V90 SD. The CF Express cards are Sandisk extreme pro 1700 read and 1400 write, so isn't a media issue on that end.
So far the media card door open seems to help. I'm at 10+ minutes recording now at 4k60p and no overheating warning yet. Makes me wish we could just remove the media card door completely, as when it's in a cage the flap can't open completely anyways lol
Unfortunately looking more into the fan options, clearance around that area on the Z6ii is pretty tight so likely nothing that would work without actually removing the LCD hinge from the back.
p.1 #8 · How avoid Z6ii overheating recording 4k60p video?
sungphoto wrote:
Going to do a few bench tests with media door open and comparing the CF Express B and Sony Tough V90 SD. The CF Express cards are Sandisk extreme pro 1700 read and 1400 write, so isn't a media issue on that end.
So far the media card door open seems to help. I'm at 10+ minutes recording now at 4k60p and no overheating warning yet. Makes me wish we could just remove the media card door completely, as when it's in a cage the flap can't open completely anyways lol
Unfortunately looking more into the fan options, clearance around that area on the Z6ii is pretty tight so likely nothing that would work without actually removing the LCD hinge from the back....Show more →
Sounds promising. That enclosed media bay is an absolute nightmare for heat dissipation, esp at the clock frequencies the PCIe bus runs at for CFE. Fortunately you have this option on Nikon bodies - all Canon bodies have a door latch sensor that shut down camera operation when they sense the door opening, to prevent data loss. They're not as trusting with their users
p.1 #9 · How avoid Z6ii overheating recording 4k60p video?
Thanks for the help! Bench test with CF Express type B, Sony tough brand with 1700 read and 1480 write was able to do a full 30 minute clip without getting an overheating warning at 4k60p. Card is definitely warm but didn't get as hot as yesterday with the media card door open.
I enjoyed shooting with the R5 but I found it too challenging remembering how to navigate Canon and Nikon menus at the same time, and issues with my C70 in a short span.
Update: Camera overheated after 14 minutes of 4k60p with Sony Tough CFE card and media bay door closed (whereas as reported earlier, keeping it open allowed it to record the full 30 without overheating). Going to test the Sandisk now with media bay door open to see if it's a card issue as well.
Looks like we have a workaround that works for sure though with the media bay door open, which is awesome.
p.1 #13 · How avoid Z6ii overheating recording 4k60p video?
RoamingScott wrote:
You'll want a Delkin Black if you want to use CFE, they run very cool (for the format).
I'll check them out thanks. I think this is likely a hardware limitation though :/
Based on some tests I've been running, it seems like once the camera records approx 45 minutes of 4k60p internally, recording times progressively get shorter and shorter between overheat shutdowns. Keeping the media card door open after it gets overheated doesn't seem to make a difference.
1st Test: 30 mins
2nd Test: 14 mins
3rd Test: 12 mins
4th Test: 14 mins
5th Test: 7 minutes (with an SD for sh!ts and giggles)
6th Test: 2 minutes, switching back to Sony CF Express
That said, I primarily record in 4k30p so this isn't a dealbreaker for me (especially considering how inexpensive the Z6ii is), and the Z6ii records to the Atomos ninja V just fine at that frame rate and rez without overheating. If I want higher frame rate, I can always use my Z8 which will do 4k 120 (which I rarely use).
p.1 #16 · How avoid Z6ii overheating recording 4k60p video?
snapsy wrote:
The fan is definitely worth a shot. I would also maybe try keeping the media card door open, esp if there's any fan/ambient circulation that might be able to get into the media bay to help cool the card and its compartment down.
Following up on some more helpful tests, it seems like the main thing that affects overheating is the ambient temp around the camera. All of these tests were done with the media bay door closed, so not sure if it actually has any effect to leave it open now. Today was about 60-65 in the morning when I started the test, and the earlier test was done on a 72 degree day late afternoon.
That said, I found that waiting 10 minutes between recording 30 minute clips (internally only, as you cannot record 4k60 externally to an atomos ninja V for longer clips on the Z6ii) helps a lot to extend recording time. Kind of a bummer if you do a lot of 4k60 I guess. I have found that switching to the Sony SD "Tough" brand 128 gb card doesn't make a difference, and might actually make it overheat faster, but that's just conjecture on my part.
Tests of 4k60 again with media card door closed, Sony Tough CF Express card 512 GB (my fastest and newest card).
1st test: 30 mins
*ten minute wait to cool down camera
2nd test: 30 mins
3rd test: 24 mins
4th test: 22 mins
*ten minute wait to cool down camera
5th test: 30 mins
*ten minute wait to cool down camera
6th test: 30 mins
Hope this helps others that are using the Nikons for video. The Z9 so far has performed the best all around for video for me - will do 8k and 4k 120 without overheating, incredible battery life. The Z8 will overheat if you record long 8k clips, but otherwise is my favorite overall mainly due to the form factor and not having to carry an additional battery charger for the ENEL18s. Looks like I'll probably start using the Z8 as my main video cam going forward though, as I foresee needing to do more 4k60 for a music video project I just started on
p.1 #19 · How avoid Z6ii overheating recording 4k60p video?
MRomine wrote:
My Z6II does not shoot full frame 4K60, it is cropped.
Of course you're right sorry. Didn't notice when I was flipping back and forth somehow because I didn't bother taking the lens cap off ha! Thanks for the correction, I suppose even more of a reason to switch the Z8 over as my main video rig I guess.
