Hot swapping lenses?
I swap out lenses while recording all the time on my C100, I haven't given it much thought and haven't experienced any problems. My friend seems to think that this is dangerous for the lens however there is no way I can power down the camera to swap a lens every time. Should I be worried?
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Not if it's not broken yet but yeah it's not a good idea to continue
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Problem is it's not something that I can stop doing. I film live events & shutting down the camera to change lenses takes about 10 seconds which is a disaster in a live event scenario.
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What would you do when the camera would stop working after you hotswap a lens? Can't you use one lens that covers all focal lengths you need?
A simple google query brings some issues with hotswapping lenses, not c100 but c300: WARNING: Don't hot-swap lenses - Canon Cinema EOS C300 Camera (EF or PL Mount) - Cinema EOS User Forum http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/canon-ci...ty-lenses.html Fuse Blown -- C300 Dead [Archive] - DVXuser.com -- The online community for filmmaking |
Re: Hot swapping lenses?
I have hot swapped lenses on my C100 hundreds of times already if not thousands over the past few months & everything still works. Must be a C300 issue? Oh well I'll be more careful but don't think I'll stop, it's not practical to power down first, I didn't power down with DSLR's either.
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I think it's more of an issue with DSLRs where the sensor is totally exposed in live-view mode and the mirror's moving parts can by damaged by any protruding parts of the lens (I know because I broke my Mk-II by hot-swapping).
What is more of a realistic problem for the C-100, in my opinion, is that the sensor generates a fair amount of static electricity when the camera is powered on. So if you remove the lens, it can literally suck the dust out of the air onto itself. No big deal until you get back to the editing room and discover irreparable spots on your footage that you missed when you were on set! |
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If people are reporting it, it's usually an issue, whether you have had it happen to you or not. My best practices advice is to NOT do something that is being reported as an issue. |
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I read in one of the forums here that it can be an issue when hot-swapping non-Canon lenses?
Don't know. I guess I just avoid it just in case. (Though I hear you, Nicholas, on the lengthy power-down/power-up.) |
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Not a good lens solution for live event coverage.
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When the c300 was first released there was talk of blowing fuses by hot-swapping lenses. This required a factory repair. I don't know if it's been fixed or not, but I wouldn't risk it.
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I regularly hot swap lenses on C100s. I have a system with my assistant to cover the lens mount each time with their hand, while I line up the next lens. We don't hang about - and waiting to power down would mean missed shots, as we're shooting a lot of observational stuff.
No issues so far. Ben. |
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Having discussed this now & working in the field over the weekend was interesting. My conclusion is that it's not practical to power down the camera to swap lenses at all. I use a ThinkTank Modular Belt system so at any given time I go between three lenses there is no practical solution to power down the camera in a fast paced event environment. Over the weekend I probably did another 50 hot swaps, personally I think any danger is minimal.
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How does the C300 allow for hot swapping? What is different to make it safe for the C300 and not the C100?
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The C300 has a function you can assign to a button that puts it in 'Lens Change' mode which is basically powering off the camera EXCEPT for the TimeCode clock. When in lens change mode, fiddling with it might turn it on again (e.g. opening the CF card doors).
It's as if Canon really want you to power down between lens changes. Even the DSLRs go into a sort of emergency 'Fainting Goat' mode if you twist off a lens with it on. |
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; ) Seriously, though, why are you asking us if you're just going to do it anyway? The IR filter will keep your sensor itself from getting dust on it, sure, but the static will still pull more dust, which is just as dangerous for your IQ if you don't catch it, even if it doesn't ruin your sensor. Ironically, you are even more likely to get dust in there and not catch your mistake in a fast-paced environment than you would be if you had the time to power-down. You will do what you have to, but I have ruined a shot more than once by unscrupulously swapping lenses. And one time I even ruined a camera that way. So now I almost always power down or use a zoom. |
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I always power down on my C100 when swapping lenses.
I note the discussion on dust but I thought I read a long while back in the early days of the C300 that the main issue was fleeting contact/shorting of powered contacts with other contacts in the lens mount area (as the lens is twisted off/on) that was a conern - hence blown fuses on C300s? |
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It seems a few people using a c300 have blown a fuse but I've seem no evidence from c100 users. It's also curious how the 300 has a lens swap button but the camera aimed at fast paced event filmers has none. Maybe because it doesn't need one?
Anyway, I submitted a feature request for a lens change button. Unless they just assume we are all going to use a 70-105 all day ;) |
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I ask because hot swapping lenses is something I do often and a friend has expressed concern so I need to investigate if there is a justifiable reason not to do it. I stand to be corrected by time but I don't see any danger from hot swapping lenses on the C100. After this weekend I also realised that it's impossible to power down in a fast paced environment at the rate I go through lenses so I'll have to take my chances. Having two C100 cameras filming for several months with no issues I conclude it's safe to hot swap. I'd be interested to hear from other C100 owners that might have run into problems. |
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I don't have any other reasons not to hot-swap, you've stumped me. You obviously have the dust issue under control. |
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