Why is the video on my T6s winking out?

[Myke]

My T6s is winking out when I shoot video and it is driving me insane. It's not ""hot" when it does it, and the screen blacks out, loses focus, and then resumes after a couple of seconds. I am using a Tamron 18-270mm lens on it, but have used Canon lenses as well. I am mystyfied. The camera is only a few months old.

Any one else with this problem? And if so, what is the fix?

[Waddizzle]

There could be one of a few things going on.  Most prominent is the files size, and recording length.  The following chart is for an EOS 80D, but it is pretty typical for current EOS DSLRs.  The highlighted line is the default in most cameras.

Depending upon the duratoin of the incident, another possibility is that the AF, auto-focus system, could be re-acquiring a target to focus on.  Try turning off AF after the lens acquires focus to see if the issue continues to occur.

[Myke]

Thanks Waddizzle for your quick reply. The issue about the length of the video taken is not the reason. However, I appreciate the info you included about this. Second, I have tried with AF on and off, including shooting video in manual. The blinking out of the screen while shooting video happens rather fast, in about 2 minutes or less. I also don't use the video clip mode where the camera only takes video for several seconds and combines others taken that way to form one video. It's pretty strange, especially the way it sounds when it does blink out yet is still running. The screen will turn black, then briefly come back on but totally OOF, then turns white for a fraction of second and then goes back to the regular scene. I am starting to wonder if I have a defective camera. I bought it in October of 2015 so it is stilll under warranty.

In any event, I appreciate your assistance.

Thanks

[Waddizzle]

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@Myke wrote:

Thanks Waddizzle for your quick reply. The issue about the length of the video taken is not the reason. However, I appreciate the info you included about this. Second, I have tried with AF on and off, including shooting video in manual. The blinking out of the screen while shooting video happens rather fast, in about 2 minutes or less. I also don't use the video clip mode where the camera only takes video for several seconds and combines others taken that way to form one video. It's pretty strange, especially the way it sounds when it does blink out yet is still running. The screen will turn black, then briefly come back on but totally OOF, then turns white for a fraction of second and then goes back to the regular scene. I am starting to wonder if I have a defective camera. I bought it in October of 2015 so it is stilll under warranty.

In any event, I appreciate your assistance.

Thanks

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Your camera could be defective.  You can contact Canon Support at 1-800-OK-CANON.

What you describe sounds exactly like the camera is re-acquiring a focus target and an exposure settilng.  Are you sure this happens when the camera is in fully manual mode, when video is being shot, and this still occurs?  Refer to your instruction manual to see how to implement and engage manual video mode of operation.

Does this "blink out" still occur when the camera is sitting on a tripod, filming a static scene?  I would bet that it doesn't.  There are a handful of settings, and image conditions, that affect the behavior of the camera when it is recording video.  Refer to your manual. 

[Myke]

Hi Waddizzle:

I am going to go back through the manual about video, and use the tripod to see if it stops. I'll let you know if this cures the problem.

I appreciate you taking the time out to address this issue for me.

Thanks

[Myke]

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@Waddizzle wrote:

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@Myke wrote:

Thanks Waddizzle for your quick reply. The issue about the length of the video taken is not the reason. However, I appreciate the info you included about this. Second, I have tried with AF on and off, including shooting video in manual. The blinking out of the screen while shooting video happens rather fast, in about 2 minutes or less. I also don't use the video clip mode where the camera only takes video for several seconds and combines others taken that way to form one video. It's pretty strange, especially the way it sounds when it does blink out yet is still running. The screen will turn black, then briefly come back on but totally OOF, then turns white for a fraction of second and then goes back to the regular scene. I am starting to wonder if I have a defective camera. I bought it in October of 2015 so it is stilll under warranty.

In any event, I appreciate your assistance.

Thanks

---

Your camera could be defective.  You can contact Canon Support at 1-800-OK-CANON.

What you describe sounds exactly like the camera is re-acquiring a focus target and an exposure settilng.  Are you sure this happens when the camera is in fully manual mode, when video is being shot, and this still occurs?  Refer to your instruction manual to see how to implement and engage manual video mode of operation.

Does this "blink out" still occur when the camera is sitting on a tripod, filming a static scene?  I would bet that it doesn't.  There are a handful of settings, and image conditions, that affect the behavior of the camera when it is recording video.  Refer to your manual. 

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Hey Waddizzle: There is something wrong with the lens that is causing this. I tried my other lenses again and they do not do that. The Tamron 18-270mm, which is only a few months old is causing the problem. I cleaned the contacts and the camera still winks out. But it is definitely the lens that is causing this. Thanks for your help.

Peace...

[Waddizzle · Accepted solution]

"Hey Waddizzle: There is something wrong with the lens that is causing this. I tried my other lenses again and they do not do that. The Tamron 18-270mm, which is only a few months old is causing the problem. I cleaned the contacts and the camera still winks out. But it is definitely the lens that is causing this. Thanks for your help.

Peace..." 

I am not certain if there is anything actually defective with the lens.  Your zoom has an unusually wide range.  The ratio of the longest focal length to the shortest is 15:1.  The best performing zoom lenses typically have ratios of about 3:1, or less. 

It is common for a zoom lens to struggle to achieve focus at one end of the zoom range, or the other, most especially when the subject is very out of focus.  Sometimes the lens needs a little help from you to get it into the ball park.

As I have suspected, the camera/lens is simply re-acquiring focus on a subject, and as a result, it is re-acquiring an exposure setting.  I expect that you will find that the lens will exhibit similar focusing behavior, or failure, when the camera is shooting stills, too.  This doesn't mean something is wrong with the lens, though.  It is just simply how it may perform.

[Myke]

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@Waddizzle wrote:

"Hey Waddizzle: There is something wrong with the lens that is causing this. I tried my other lenses again and they do not do that. The Tamron 18-270mm, which is only a few months old is causing the problem. I cleaned the contacts and the camera still winks out. But it is definitely the lens that is causing this. Thanks for your help.

Peace..." 

I am not certain if there is anything actually defective with the lens.  Your zoom has an unusually wide range.  The ratio of the longest focal length to the shortest is 15:1.  The best performing zoom lenses typically have ratios of about 3:1, or less. 

It is common for a zoom lens to struggle to achieve focus at one end of the zoom range, or the other, most especially when the subject is very out of focus.  Sometimes the lens needs a little help from you to get it into the ball park.

As I have suspected, the camera/lens is simply re-acquiring focus on a subject, and as a result, it is re-acquiring an exposure setting.  I expect that you will find that the lens will exhibit similar focusing behavior, or failure, when the camera is shooting stills, too.  This doesn't mean something is wrong with the lens, though.  It is just simply how it may perform.

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I'm going to have to agree with you. I never thought of that, but then again, I am far from a wizard on camera quirks and defer you yopur knowlegde. Thanks again for your help, and peace...