Lumix DMC-FZ8 motion picture mode (video) limited on 15 min using 2GB SD card

I kindly ask someone to check is there possible to countinuously record motion picture mode ( video ) more than 15 min as is always displayed on my DMC-FZ8 digital camera using 2GB SD card. I have changed few memory cards but without result. In according manuals and reviews, there should be possible to record video up to 3h 15 min in the lowest resolution with 2GB SD card.

Maybe you've already found the answer.
If not here it is:

You must have European model of the DMC-FZ8. With DMC-FZ8 sold in Europe you can record up to 15 minutes or 900 seconds once at a time - regardless of the picture quality specified. So even if you have 2 GB or 4 GB card there is no way to record a movie longer than 15 minutes in one piece even in QVGA 10fps. This is a limitation Panasonic introduced for some reason for us Europeans. Don't ask me why.

I bought FZ8 a month ago together with SANDISK Extreme III 4 GB and I discovered the same problem as you had had. I thought it was the card. But I managed to dig a bit deeper. And I found the answer here:

http://panasonic.co.jp/pavc/global/lumix/popup/sd_memory_card/index.html#fz8
(look for )

Why there was no info on that in user's manual in my language, I simply don't know. Perhaps they used a translation from the international English edition, and forgot about it. But later I saw that German, French, Italian and Dutch manuals all covered the 15 mins issue. Check it if you still have the camera and the papers that came with it. Anyway the camera and the card was OK.
Best regards
MS20

What does the display say in the upper right corner?
I bought my camera in Holland but its an English version.

When I set the motion mode on 16x9 30fs it says 19min 31 sec remaining. At 4x3 it is 22m46s.

--



http://home.tiscali.nl/tonvogels/images/

hi

The display tells you how much time remains to make a movie recording in given resolution at a given rate of frames per second within the free memory space on your card (or internal memory if he card isn't loaded inside the camera).

As the 16:9 30 fps mode takes up the most memory to get recorded per second or minute hence the display shows less time left than it does in the VGA 30 fps mode. The latter takes up less memory (lower resolution) and you can make a longer recording within the same free space in memory. That is why there is the difference in possible lengths.

The link I provided in my message above leads to a table provided by Panasonic, where you can check how long movies you can make with different cards.

The same is covered in user's manual for the camera though not quite precisely in some European countries where they forgot to write that European models can record only up to 15 minutes once at a time whatever the resolution or frame rate.
Hope this helps.
Best regards
MS20

Sorry this was a reply to "idorcic " since he has problems with his movies, I don't.
--



http://home.tiscali.nl/tonvogels/images/

OK. I just thought I closed the issue with my explanation. I hope so.
And indeed, I took your answer as another question. Just a misunderstanding.
Never mind. It's good that you've got no problem with the camera.

I was wondering if I bought an US model. I bought mine in Holland. The English version not the Dutch. The English version was about €75 cheaper.
--



http://home.tiscali.nl/tonvogels/images/

I think the Euro models have this limitation to avoid an import Duty which applies to video camcorders - that used to be the case in the UK anyway. Glad i bought my FZ8 via Ebay from US!

Thank you MS20 for your answer. In official English and Croatian manuals there is not stated any restriction note ( ) and it is evident Panasonic fault.
Best regards.