Over Heating problems

[Saeons]

If I leave my S40 on for a time it starts to get very hot and the images taken become badly corrupted. This mostly happens for indoor shots. I can only take a few shots before I have to switch the camera off and wait for it to cool.

Is this problem common to digital cameras?

Seems that placing the battery and RAM card so close together was really bad design from Canon.

[Rustle]

Most companies put the memory and batteries in the same place--it's easier to build cameras that way. And since the inside of an electronic device is usually a warm environment, CF cards are built to withstand extremes of heat. It's not unusual for CF cards and larger PCMCIA cards to come out of a device hot to the touch. It is, however, unusual for data corruption to occur due to heat. To be honest, the heat coming from the battery might be perfectly normal, and you just think it's overheating. In that case, it's a problem with your CF card. I don't think that's the problem though, because it sounds like the camera heats up really fast. Perhaps the sudden temperature spike is hurting the CF card.

Do you have multiple batteries and CF cards? If you have two of each, then there are four possible combinations that you can use in the camera. If data corruption occurs for both CF cards, then it's almost definitely a camera problem. Otherwise, it's probably a faulty card. Similarly, if data corruption only occurs for one of the batteries, then that's likely the cause.

You might want to call up Canon Support and ask them directly about this, but it's better to confirm that the problem isn't another manufacturer's CF card, first. Otherwise, they might just try to blame the CF card.

Russ

[archiebald]

Saeons said that it primarily happens on indoor shots.

Can you confirm if you are using battery or the AC adaptor??

I have an S30 and yes it does get warm, or even hot as described in the manual. I put this down in part to the camera having a metal body.

One other point, do you use the auto power off feature??

So far, I have seen no problems like this.

[Saeons]

No, I don't have an AC adaptor. But it's reassuring to know that heat is common to digitals.

Yes, I have the 'auto power off' feature set.

From what I can tell the problem seems to be a combination of low battery power and heat. I've noticed that problems occurs when the camera is hot and the low power indicator is about two minutes away from popping up.

If the camera is cool at low power, images are unaffected until the camera shuts down automatically. The images only appear corrupted in replay mode. They always look fine in the 2 second review. Perhaps something is affecting the Jpeg compression process.

I've just bought a second battery so the next time this problem arises, I'll put in the fresh battery to see what happens.

[rcpage]

Hi
I read somewhere a posting by a guy who was worried about overheating when using the underwater case. He found the camera became hot very quickly. Not surprising as you have to switch the camera on before putting it in the waterproof case (it is not possible to switch it on or off when it is in the case). Now if you immediately take it underwater then the cold water will 'extract' the heat by conductivity with the case and no problem- it is hoped.

However, I am off to scuba in Cozumel Mexico and it requires a 30 minute boat ride to the reef. Obviously it is easier to put the camera in its case etc. on land rather than in a small diveboat where seaspray, boat rocking etc. all increase the risk of getting the camera wet or not getting the sealing rings clean. I have written to Canon asking if keeping the camera switched on in the case for half an hour out of water in the tropics will cause overheating problems. I will report their answer here ... if they answer.

If anyone has any underwater case usage experience please leave a reply here.

Finally a word of warning DO NOT GET YOUR CAMERA WET. Canon do not cover water damage under their warranty. I know! I was lucky and was able to claim on my household all risks insurance (and took the opportunity to upgrade from an S20 to an S40. For scuba diving I am buying insurance that does not exclude water damage! Read the small print VERY CAREFULLY.