Quick update after I sent the camera in to BM as an RMA. I was told by their tech support that they are unable to test the camera under the conditions where I experience the crash and have offered to replace the fan as a "courtesy." I asked how they determined the fan was the culprit and was told it was not. In effect they are unable to diagnose or resolve the issue. When asked if the issue always occurred in 90 degree heat I replied:
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Yes. It never occurred indoors with aircon or outside when cooling the camera during operation. It always happened outdoors in 90 deg sun. In fact we stopped using the camera in outdoor shoots because it was crashing on every shoot reliably. We do not have this issue with other cameras (including other BM cameras) in the same conditions. Only this camera.
Nick
On 6/27/2023 12:43 PM, RMA Department USA wrote:
> Hi Nick
>
> In your experience, did this only happen while running in 90 degree heat with direct sunlight on the camera?
>
>
>
> Gilbert Lopez Jr
> Technical Support Representative
> Blackmagic Design Inc.
>
www.blackmagicdesign.com----
Next they continued to ask me to test more SSD drives -- which I have already done and noted in my original RMA request. I wrote:
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Hello,
We tested 3 separate ssd drives all with the same outcome (camera crashes).
May I ask how you concluded the internal fan was the cause of the issue? Do I have assurances this camera will not crash anymore in the field then?
Nick
On June 27, 2023 1:58:14 PM PDT, RMA Department USA <rma-usa@blackmagicdesign.com> wrote:
Hi Nick
Our testing to confirm whether or not the camera is functioning properly generally doesn't include exposing it to 90 degree heat and direct sunlight. However, even though our testing did not show any problems on this unit, we will replace the internal fan as a courtesy.
We also recommend testing with a different model of SSD when you get this back to see if that helps with this behavior as well. We have run into situations where overheating of the drive causes similar behavior.
We will get this replacement going and let you know when it is ready to ship back. Let us know if you have any questions in the meantime.
All the Best
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I pressed if I could trust the camera with a replaced fan in the same filming conditions and was told:
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Hi Nick
In that type of environment (
90 deg, direct sun), it is difficult to guarantee that you will not run into this problem. If you are able to keep it within the operating range of 32° to 104°F as listed in the tech specs for this device, then we would expect this to continue working.
https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/produc ... s/W-CIN-16If you have this in the field in 90 degree heat, with direct sunlight on it, we expect the combined external heat, and the heat generated by the camera could possibly raise the temperature above 104, unless you took measures to keep it below that. If it does get above 104, then you would run the risk of seeing this same behavior.
Let us know if you have any other questions.
All the Best
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I have never ran the camera in temps above 98 deg F. So it seems the camera is not suited or expected to work in 98+ F based on this response. I next asked for more clarification regarding the fan and it's inability to properly regulate the camera in these conditions and am waiting for BM to respond.