Was in a camera store today and the sales rep told me that all non camcorder cameras (perhaps just ones they sold) have a 30-minute buffer meaning that one cant use a snapshot still shot camera to record a sermon at a church, school presentation, or anything that is longer than 30 minutes in one file. Checked my power-shot and this is indeed true for it. Why is this? If camera makers expect still cameras to replace camcorders why make such a limitation?
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30-Minute video buffers
- Thread starter jwolf6589
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I don't know, but if I had to guess, maybe the recording is not going to the storage at first, but to the RAM until the recording is completed, processed, then is sent to storage. Maybe the limited size of the RAM is limiting the length that something can be recorded.
Of course, this could be totally wrong.
I don't think anyone expects this.
I dont know why they do it neither. But regardless I learned something new today.
Since camcorders and video cameras are still being made and sold, I don't think anyone expects either a cell phone camera or a DSLR/mirrorless ILC or P&S still camera to replace them. If one wants to video an event which is lengthy, say an hour or so, then best to use a camera dedicated to shooting video in the first place. Wedding photographers use both video cameras and DSLRs/ILCs in order to capture a wedding and reception, all the festivities, in both moving pictures and still photography. That's not going to change any time soon.
My understanding was that it was related to import/tariff rules.
IIRC, the tariff code for video cameras is different(and presumably higher) than for still cameras, and something that can record less than 30 minutes can still be called a still camera.
IIRC, the tariff code for video cameras is different(and presumably higher) than for still cameras, and something that can record less than 30 minutes can still be called a still camera.
See if you can find a second-hand Canon DSLR (or older Powershot) where you can install Magic Lantern or CHDK. I have used Magic Lantern myself to get around the 30min limit, there is a small (maybe 1-frame) gap between files, but for what it is it's quite usable.
Here is an article from PetaPixel back in 2012 on the record limit, it seems that @bunnspecial is correct. A little section of the article "The only reason DSLRs don’t already shoot longer video is because camera manufacturers want to bypass the 5.6% duty applied to video cameras".
https://petapixel.com/2012/05/21/30-minute-video-limit-in-digital-cameras-may-be-on-its-way-out/
As has mentioned, the reason for the 30 minute record limit (technically 29:59) is purely political not technical. At one point any camera that recorded more than 30 minutes of video was considered a "video" camera and thus taxed higher. That tax difference between still cameras and video cameras hasn't existed for a decade, so at this point there is no longer any reason a still camera can't record more than 30 minutes.
So really the only reason your PowerShot still only records 30 minute chunks is because Canon wants to sell more camcorders. There are plenty of companies in the past couple years that have removed that limit (Sony has removed it from all of their cameras, Canon from just a couple, and Nikon have not from any yet)
So really the only reason your PowerShot still only records 30 minute chunks is because Canon wants to sell more camcorders. There are plenty of companies in the past couple years that have removed that limit (Sony has removed it from all of their cameras, Canon from just a couple, and Nikon have not from any yet)
Canon discontinued their $200-$500 model line. But good to know that most cameras still have a 30 minute buffer. A great reason to also own a camcorder.
Heat is another issue with higher resolutions. The Canons were known to overheat when shooting 4k longer than 30 mins.
There are plenty of cameras that do not have the limit imposed. https://www.recordinglimits.com/. I counted 15 with unlimited record time and 12 with over 30min limits from a couple hours to 13 hours.
I don’t shoot in 4K on my canon. But still shooting in HD it won’t go more than 30 minutes.
Black magic???? What type of camera is that? Never heard of them. It would seem that besides Sony most major companies still cameras have the 30 minute limit.
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It’s still a better idea to own a camcorder for video since MOSTA STILL SHOT can only record at 30 mins.
If you are shooting longer than 30 minutes at a time you are doing full time production work and you need expensive gear. Most people are just shooting clips and then editing them later. Any shot longer than 30 minutes will get really boring to watch.
True. I think I have shot like a Mac of 2-3 minutes per clip on my Vixia. Still does Vixia have more power than Powershot for video such as a mic port.
I don't know who would want to record an uninterrupted video take that long, but to each their own I suppose.
As @MacNut mentioned, Canon DSLRs had (I don't know if they still do) time limits on how long a single video clip could be shot, but that was because of heat building up from the sensor working that long. I have used 7D and 5D bodies for video, and I think the limit was ~12 minutes. These have much larger sensors than the Powershot or Sony models you have. I don't know what is different about video cameras that allows them to handle heat better, but perhaps the smaller sensor size is part of it?
When I was shooting video using those DSLRs, they were part of a multiple camera setup, to record an interview for example. And none of the clips were anywhere near 30 minutes long.
Also you mentioned a buffer. That is a different thing entirely.
As @MacNut mentioned, Canon DSLRs had (I don't know if they still do) time limits on how long a single video clip could be shot, but that was because of heat building up from the sensor working that long. I have used 7D and 5D bodies for video, and I think the limit was ~12 minutes. These have much larger sensors than the Powershot or Sony models you have. I don't know what is different about video cameras that allows them to handle heat better, but perhaps the smaller sensor size is part of it?
When I was shooting video using those DSLRs, they were part of a multiple camera setup, to record an interview for example. And none of the clips were anywhere near 30 minutes long.
Also you mentioned a buffer. That is a different thing entirely.
You're missing a crucial word in my statement: uninterrupted. That implies someone would want to sit down for more than 30 minutes and watch a school presentation, for example, where the camera position does not change, there are no cuts or edits, and that every second including pauses for applause, a person walking up to the podium, etc., would be included. To each their own, as I said, but that sounds like torture.
quite literally, 30minutes of crappy audio, Ugh NO!
I've done this with dslrs and external audio recorders/mics the about of extra work putting files together in post is silly. There is a reason to hire pros because they bring both the right equipment and know tricks of the trade to accomplish tasks that many overlook.
I do town meetings for a living, where it's just long form boring. But I have $150,000 worth of gear to make it look good.
Crappy audio is the biggest issue. A school play with a single shot and shaky tripod work with horrible audio. I can maybe live with the shaky camera work but bad audio ruins everything. Even with good gear bad audio is a killer.