I've been using the JVC HD110 for awhile and love it. my latest ambition is to shoot some rising smoke but have the camera vertical to take advantage of hdv 16:9, like pictured below:

http://www.pohlvideo.com/temp.jpg

but now i found this in the manual (pg. 6):

"Use the unit in an upright position.
If placed on its side, heat release efficiency will deteriorate,
adversely affecting the tape transport. Depending on cir-
cumstances the tape may also be damaged"

so... what's a good way of doing this? it will be indoors but perhaps keep a fan blowing on it? ice pack? should it face "tape side" or "lcd side" up? anyone try this before with success?

I've never tried this, and I'm not a JVC rep, so use this advice at your own risk. But, if it were my camera I would get a good fan and have it blow over the rear portion of the camera during the shoot. If I had a fan on it I wouldn't worry about any heat problems. Without a fan, I'd be really concerned.

I've felt the back of the unit under normal shooting conditions and it really heats up so I think the manual is right and you would ruin the tape at the very least.

Ben

i think its ok if its not prolonged shoot. otherwise tether to your computer or dte and use those instead of tape. You wont be using the transport that way.