I'm off on a shoot where day temps are currently 48C - the EX1 handbook says operating temp up to 40C - so will my camera go into meltdown? Has anyone worked anywhere this hot ?

Paul

No , but someone did a -20 in Norway.

http://www.sonybiz.net/biz/view/ShowContent.action?logicalname=ssw-bc-xdcamex-arctic-0608

Wow! I almost can't believe it.

..but then again I have my own testimonial about how durable flash media is. I once left a Sandisk USB pen drive in my pants pocket when I threw it into the laundry bin. It went through an entire wash cycle and dry cycle. I popped it in and wa la - still fully functional. And clean!

I'm pretty sure the media will survive, it's camera failure at these high operational temperatures that bother me. Example: Handbook says "don't cover the camera when operational as it may overheat"

Paul

Perhaps you need to mount an umbrella in your cold shoe -- assuming it's not too windy, of course. :-)

Seriously, regardless of the ambient temperature, the sun can affect the heat of the camera drastically. Keeping it out of the sun will help tremendously, but of course you can't block airflow around the camera either.

I had a very hot outdoor shot a month ago. I set up a golf umbrella in a C-Stand to cover myself and the camera. It made a difference of at least 10 degrees. The umbrella I had was black (It's what I already owned) but getting a white, wind-shedding umbrella should make a major difference in the temps hitting the camera.

I've used an EZ-UP tent before.

Keeping the camera cool is of extreme importance, keeping the operator cool - doubly so.

Stay cool

Peace. Out.

I worried also about the temperatures in the camera specs from Sony. Then I had a look at the specs of my old PD-170 which were very similar to the EX1 specs (and I used my PD-170 for a lot of extreme shootings). I think Sonys max/min temperatures are very, very safe calculated.

Now with my Ex1 I was filming in temperatures under -20°C in the Mountains around Denver this winter during a snow storm (weather.com said felt temperature was -40°C, cause of the wind). I didn’t use any protection for the equipment. Also my PD170 and a Canon Eos5D were used to these shootings! So I had much more problems to “survive” in this condition that my equipment.

Also I filmed in Death Valley and in other deserts this summer (but only 43°C when I was there this time). The only thing is, that a black camcorder needs some cooling shadow after a while. So don’t let it on your tripod when you take a rest.

I highly recommend that you shield the camera from the heat.

Be careful using certain materials.

For example, I feel that it is better to shield it with a solid (light blocking) material, such as foam-core.

Many EZ-Up tents allow the sun to shine through the thin material, and then do not allow the built-up heat to escape. A thicker, reflective or solid material is much better.

A better tent, one that has vents to let the heat escape, is great.

In my experience, it is sometimes hotter under some of the pop-up tents than it is in the surrounding area.

We face those kind of temperatures pretty often during the summer here in Arizona.

Get a Super clamp and an umbrella holder then pick up a nice big golf umbrella at the local sporting goods store. Solid black is best, but you can use black & white or grey or anything else that isn't a strong color that might cast colored light into your lens during white balancing - but solid black is best.

You can find mounting parts by searching for Golf Umbrella Holder, or Baby Stroller Umbrellas.

There was a grip company a long time ago that used to make a molded aluminum clamp rig that took a standard straight umbrella handle and secured it with hose clamps and I bought half a dozen of them when they local professional photo house closed them out a decade or so ago. That's the best I've ever found.

The adjustable mounting gear is important because you need to be able to move the umbrella position and angle throughout the day, positioning it between the sun and the camera ALL THE TIME when you're outside.

With that in place, I've never had a problem with any of the plastic on my camera rigs.

Good luck.

A quick update: after spending three days on the ground in Basra, Iraq, with temperatures in excess of 50 celsius, I can report that both me and my EX1 have returned in one piece.

I took my Sony Vaio, EX1 and Nikon D40x - all performed flawlessly under the harshest and most extreme conditions I have ever encountered, not only in terms of heat, but also dust and my own personal "operating system"

Glad to be home.

Paul