EOS R5 Mark II locks up when at the bow of the ship

[mphelpsmd]

I'm on a cruise around Norway, and so far I've experienced my R5 Mk2 locking up twice now.  The viewfinder turns black, and the camera becomes unresponsive and can't be turned off.  Pulling the battery has been the only way I've found to reset it.

The firmware version is 1.2.0, and I'm using canon batteries.  I've tried two different batteries and two different storage cards and the camera has still locked up.

The one thing I've noticed, though, is that this only occurs when I'm on the outside front of the ship.  It hasn't yet had a problem on other parts of the ship or on land.  So that makes me wonder if this might be related to the radar or direct cold wind.

Any thoughts on how to resolve this?

Mike

[shadowsports]

Greetings ,

I visited Norway on a viking cruise ship in 2024. I did Alaska the year before.  Granted this was with my R5 C.  I was all over the ships, and on the bow's much of the time.  I didn't have any lockups.  I shot photos and video.  I'm sure there was plenty of radar.  This is a very odd behavior you describe.  Seems very unlikely. 

Have you tested with multiple lenses? Do you have any accessories attached?  Are you using RF glass or do you adapt, and if so are you using a Canon brand adapter and lenses?

Are you using Bluetooth or Wireless? If so, disable both and revisit the bow.  The radar used on a ship is much higher than where you're standing on the deck.  I think this phenomenon is explainable and has some other cause.  

[wq9nsc]

Ships use high power transmitters operating in the high frequency, very high frequency, and also the super high frequency satellite range.  It also has multiple radar systems in operation.  It is highly likely you and your camera are in a very high RF (radio frequency) environment at that point causing it to lock up.

Antenna arrays on passenger ships are usually as far removed as possible from public areas but it sounds like the bow is close enough to create issues.  This can be an issue with ANY consumer electronics devices which will fault and glitch in a very high RF power environment.

If you have anything connected (flash, remote release, etc.) that can pick up and bring RF energy into the camera, remove it to see if that helps.

Different craft have different communications and radar equipment with different layouts and antenna configurations so you may be on one that is just enough to trigger issues with your camera.

Rodger

[stevet1]

mphelpsmd,

My only advice for you is to hang out in the stern of the ship, and instead of taking pictures of what's ahead of you in life, take pictures of what you've left behind. 

😃

Seriously though. That is very strange. If the wind blowing directly on the camera is causing your problem, maybe you could try shielding your camera with a covering of some kind.

Steve Thomas

[SignifDigits]

I worked in an radio frequency/high-power microwave lab for a few years and we worked with a few radar companies.  I would expect that the bulk of the ship's RF energy is forward-facing for collision avoidance.  Personally, if there is enough RF energy to lock up a camera I would avoid that area as I would not want to expose myself to that level of RF energy.  I am not saying it is unsafe, nor am I saying it is safe, just that I would be personally uncomfortable being in that area.  High-powered radar equipment is capable of damaging humans.  Turning off your WIFI and Bluetooth might help or it might not, as RF energy gets into your camera electronics via the antenna, not the application.  

I would mention it to the captain and/or the radio operator on board if there is one.  They almost certainly would assure me that their systems are 100% safe and my concerns were unfounded, as that's SOP for their jobs.  They would think I was a real kook when, given that response from them I asked to see the latest power output tests that had been performed on their radar array and asked for the make and models of the various components that compose their radar and anticollision systems.  My view would be that if there is an issue with any of those systems I would be doing them a favor pointing it out.  Many years of experience lead me to doubt whether that would be their point of view.

Please do what is comfortable for you and I hope you enjoy your cruise!  Based upon your description I doubt there anything wrong with your camera.

[mphelpsmd]

Thanks for the responses so far!  This has happened with two different lenses, an RF 27-70 F2L USM and RF 70-200 F2.8L, so I doubt it's a lens issue.  And I don't have anything like a remote trigger connected to the camera.  I will try disabling the network functions and see if that changes anything, although my other devices (a smartphone and a Fuji X100V) work fine there.

I'll also try going to a lower deck and see if the problem exists there, too, and try to collect some more information as I change certain variables.  

Thanks for the input so far!

Mike

[mphelpsmd]

I did some more experiments.  I'm now 6 for 6 in having this happen at that specific location (and nowhere else)..  The front of the ship 3 decks down doesn't have any problems.  I tried putting the camera in Airplane mode and it didn't make any difference.  I'm sometimes able to get off about 2 shots before it locks up.  Sometimes the lockup occurs when I'm composing the shot, and the image turns red for a couple seconds and then black.  

I attached an image looking back from the location where these issues occur.

Is there a way to retrieve error logs from the camera to get more details on exactly what is happening?  When I go to Menu --> Wrench --> Show Log, it is basically just networking connections that show up in that log.

Mike

[SignifDigits]

I've already stated my personal recommendations so I won't repeat them.  I'm not surprised that settings have no effect.  Electromagnetic field energy will find your camera antenna regardless - even if it is off.  On top of recommending you personally avoid the area I would definitely not take your camera into that space as it could do permanent damage to your camera even if it is off.  I will freely admit that is it is unlikely that the electromagnetic fields are that strong, but I would err on the side of caution.

You're also placing your memory cards at risk just like when sending them through the airport x-rays.  Again, unlikely, but possible.

Those are radar antennae - I assume they are rotating as they don't look like phased array antennae (non-rotating, pointed via phasing of the beams). 

If the lock-ups happen when a circuit is overloaded due to the electromagnetic field effect (generating electricity inside your circuits) there would be no message as the shutdown is anything but graceful.

[TomRamsey]

Simply avoid using the camera in that area.   You might ask one of the ships technical crew about it

[ebiggs1]

" I'm now 6 for 6 in having this happen at that specific location ... "

I have no idea but I do know if it happens I would stop doing it. It can't be good for the camera. You might try, if you are still willing, to ground yourself and the camera to a good ships ground. That might prevent it.