A7R IV overheating in camera bag

[zoomless]

I have just taken delivery of a brand new A7R IV

I took the first batch of shots this morning, then placed the camera (without switching it off) in my camera bag (same bag as I have used for the A7R II for years). The battery was at about 90%.

When I approached the bag two hours later it was warm on the outside, I then took the camera out and it was piping hot, back screen on. I guess it was about 50 degrees all over including the lens. Battery was at about 20%.

I have had problems in the (distant) past that cameras drained in the camera bag when not switched off (over a period of days/weeks), but this is the first case of this kind. I googled "overheating" of the A7R and I could only find it related to people using it too long in video mode or leaving it in the sun.

Anyone able to give advise? Thanks!

[VTC]

In the distant past previous cameras didn't have the processing powers of todays units. My unscientific understanding is that the camera was cranking away trying to extract an image out of total darkness in an environment that couldn't dissipate the heat from an endless attempt at imaging something from a dark nothing.

I placed a Blackmagic recorder in a bag without turning it off. The fan couldn't keep the unit cool and that puppy wound up close to unhandleably hot. Thought I cooked the unit but all was well after it cooled down. Now it's standard practice for me to dislodge all batteries briefly before storing gear which shuts them off and keeps them from cooking or grabbing the gear later only to discover a depleted battery. Auto Power Off after X minutes might be your savior here.

[zoomless]

I am pretty sure Auto power off was set to 1 Minute (default), will check.

I used to have a Canon 6D whose battery was drained after a week even if switched off because the GPS was working in the background, so it was a matte of either taking battery out or going into submenus and switching GPS off...

Regardless, an advanced camera like to the A7R IV should not require work arounds like you describe. I am worried because nobody else has had this problem, makes me wonder! 

[zoomless]

power safe was set to 1 minute

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[LiveShots]

Check for pre-AF setting. If that is set on then any movement near the viewfinder will keep the camera active

[zoomless]

33 minutes ago, LiveShots said:

Check for pre-AF setting. If that is set on then any movement near the viewfinder will keep the camera active

good point.

it was all in default, so I assume anyone would run into the same problems in case the camera bag is touching any of the controls, that is what must have happened. As I say, the exact same bag has been used for years with the A7R II with no problems putting the camera "on" into the bag.

[zoomless]

seems like the camera is OK, but I am very surprised it did not shut off before it got that hot!

[Bokehbobo]

I had a similar experience just yesterday. I stowed my a7rIII (power on but asleep) into my flexible ThinkTank bag. As is my habit while riding on a subway car I keep the bag on my lap with my crossed arms resting on top. Near as I can tell this put enough pressure on the shutter release to wake the camera causing to to try and find focus. When I got around to removing the camera from the bag about 2 hours later it was quite warm and when I checked the battery indicator and found that it was at 40%, down from 80%. Lesson learned.