There’s a reason Sony’s cameras are so popular. They’re feature-rich, well-built, and overall just amazing.
However, they love to overheat. From what I’ve been able to gather, some user’s a7iii bodies perform just fine, but other people report automatic shutoffs after just a few minutes of recording 4k.
So, in this article, I’ll run through a few quick tips on how to stop your a7iii from overheating. Nothing is ever guaranteed to work, but these fixes are worth a shot to try on your own camera.
Let’s jump in.
In-Camera Fixes
Turn Temp. Setting Up
The first simple thing we’ll try is to just turn the “auto power off temperature” up to max. To find it:
- Hit the menu button on the back of your camera
- Go over to the 5th tab (suitcase icon)
- Go to page 2 (Setup2)
- Open “Auto Pwr OFF Temp.” and set it to “high”
What this setting does is it increases the heat threshold that will trigger the camera’s automatic shutoff. Thus, it’ll allow the camera to get more hot until it shuts itself off.
I wouldn’t worry too much about the excessive heat damaging the camera. Electronic components are designed to withstand absolutely extreme temperatures.
Use OEM Batteries
Next, if you use off-brand batteries, consider trying out some OEM ones.
Now, I’m always a huge advocate of buying cheaper third-party batteries, but the simple truth of the matter is sometimes the Sony batteries tend to perform better under harsh conditions.
So, if you own off-brand batteries, consider picking up one of Sony’s OEM batteries.
Use Fast SD Cards
The third in-camera fix is rather weird: use the fastest SD card you own.
This might sound odd, but think of it this way. If you’re using a slow SD card, the camera has to spend more time transferring the images it takes. Thus, this is more strain on the camera (making it hotter).
The Sony a7iii supports UHS-II, so I’d recommend buying the fastest card you can find. I’ve always had great luck with Sandisk cards.
Physical Solutions
Open the Battery Door
As for physical solutions, the most impactful fix would be to pop open the battery door and just leave it open as you shoot. Don’t worry, the battery won’t fall out.
The battery is by far the biggest contributor the the a7iii’s overheating problem, so this is potentially the most impactful method you can try.
Charge via USB-C
If you want to take it to the next level, consider ditching the battery altogether and charging the camera via USB-C.
The way this would work is as follows: purchase a power bank, attach it with a cold shoe “phone” mount, and then charge the camera over USB.
This is definitely tedious, but ditching the battery is the easiest way to stop overheating (on any camera, not just the a7iii).
Flip the Screen Out
Second, simply try keeping the screen extended away from the camera body.
When the screen is flush against the back of the camera, it acts as a sort of “insulating” blanket.
Pulling it out allows the heat to escape out of the rear of the body, potentially helping the camera stay cool.
Buy a Mini-Umbrella (I’m Serious)
This last tip is going to sound absolutely comical, but I’m serious: buy a mini umbrella and mount it on top of the camera.
If you’re shooting inside, this won’t matter. However, if you’re shooting out in the hot sunlight, a dark umbrella to block the sun might be what you need to keep your camera cool.
Try all the other tips first, of course, but this could be all you need if you frequently shoot in hot weather.
Conclusion
Hopefully these tips help you in cooling down your sweating camera. I’ve had mine overheat when shooting 4k video and… well, it’s really annoying.
If you don’t want to try all these tips at the same time, I’d suggest starting with the battery door first. Sometimes, literally all you need to do is just keep that battery door open.
After all this, if you still have problems with overheating, you could perhaps try updating your firmware or, to be frank, sending the camera into Sony for repair.
Thanks for reading, I hope this article was able to help you.