It’s no secret that cameras overheat. Some are more prone to heatstroke than others, but in general, nearly every camera is capable of overheating.
Manufacturers are aware of this and provide cooling solutions themselves. One example of this is the $199 Fujifilm FAN-001. This first-party fan screws directly into the Fuji X-H2 & X-H2S cameras just behind the sensor to help cool down these recording behemoths. $200 is a lot of money for a fan though.
I decided to try out a considerably less expensive option, the Upgraded Ulanzi Cooling Fan.
Fig. 1. Upgraded Ulanzi Fan
My Recorded Specs:
Weight
77 grams / 2.7 oz
Dimensions
Width
7 cm / 2 13/16” - Fan Only
9.1 cm / 3 5/8” - Fan & Spring
Depth
2 cm / 13/16” - Fan
.5 cm / 3/16” - Mounting Spring
Height
5.2 cm / 2”
Power
Battery: 200mAh
Input: 5V : 1A
Run Time: 76 min @ Fan Speed 1 / 59 min @ Fan Speed 2
Charge Time 0-100%: 70 minutes
Can Run While Charging
Noise Level
Room Noise: 36 dB
Fan Level 1: 43 dB
Fan Level 2: 46 dB
Fig. 2. Ulanzi Fan installed correctly into the recessed screen area with the screen open
To test if this fan made any difference to recording times, I tried it with 3 cameras: Sony ZV-1; Fujifilm X-H2; Nikon Z8.
The Sony and the Fuji were prime candidates since they have fully articulating screens which allowed the Ulanzi Fan to be installed as intended. (Fig. 2)
Fig. 3. Ulanzi Fan resting behind the Nikon z8 screen
The Nikon does not have a fully articulating screen so I tried using the fan to just blow air behind the screen. (Fig. 3)
I benchmarked the 3 cameras in a controlled environment. Each was set to record at its maximum video size and quality. The Nikon and the Sony were able to overheat at 75℉, while the Fuji required 85℉. Once that baseline was recorded, I let the cameras cool to ambient temperatures before running the test again, this time with the fan installed.
The fan has 2 speed options. I ran the tests on the slower, speed 1 setting.
As seen in the chart below (Fig. 4), all 3 of the cameras experienced improvement. Both the Fuji and the Sony did not overheat at all. The test only ended when their batteries died. Neither displayed a Temperature Warning during the test. The Nikon managed to gain 2 minutes of runtime, despite the fan’s less than ideal installation. During both the control and the fan test, it was the CF Express card that overheated first.
Fig. 4. Run Time Tests
Fig. 5. Temperatures at the end of the tests
In conclusion, this fan is very impressive. For a reasonable price, it significantly extends camera recording times, effectively allowing continuous operation until the battery depletes in some situations. The fan operates quietly, ensuring minimal noise interference that is not easily picked up by microphones. Its ability to run while charging adds to its versatility and convenience. Overall, this fan receives a strong recommendation from me for anyone looking to enhance their camera's recording time and reliability.
Purchase an Ulanzi Fan on Amazon
This article and video were not sponsored. I purchased this unit myself and have no communications with Ulanzi at the time of writing.
If you’re interested in picking up one for yourself, please consider using this affiliated link to help support this website: Upgraded Ulanzi Fan. Note that older reviews and some of the specs reference the first generation fan that used suction cups instead of the springs for mounting to the camera.