Canon 500D doesn't record continuously!! (Class 6 SD card write speed too slow??!!)

[thedunnyman]

Hey guys,

I just bought the Canon 500D/T1i recently, and the movie mode is stuffing up for me big time!

From the instruction manual, it says there's a bar on the right hand side that shows the amount of data not yet written.

Basically when I record video, it will stop at random times.

Sometimes after 5 seconds, sometimes 3 minutes, sometimes 20 minutes.

I've tried on ALL 3 levels of movie quality (640x480, 1280x720, 1920x1080) and they all stuff up!

The SD card I'm using is an A-Data 16gb Class 6 card and I did a test of its writing/reading speed and it is on par with a normal Class 6 card.

From the manual, here are the rates of data transfer:
1920x1080: 330MB/min
1280x720: 222MB/min
640x480: 165MB/min

The write speed of the card is a minimum of 6MB/s (Class 6 standard), therefore in a minute, I should be able to transfer: 360MB/minute!!

So why can't I even transfer 165MB/min?

The SD card was from eBay....BUT....it does register a write speed of 6MB/s using a memory card speed reader.

Could this be the fault of the 500D firmware? Or maybe it's just my camera?

Help please - it's really annoying!!

Thanks,
Duncan

 

[gail]

Do you have anything turned on such as Highlight Priority or Noise Reduction? When enabled, they slow down burst mode so they may slow down video recording too.

Also, try doing a low level format of your memory card. I often do this before recording video, as recommended in the manual of the Canon compact digital cameras I've owned (own).

---
gail ~ http://www.pbase.com/gailb
My digital camera BLOGs :: http://www.digicamhelp.com/topics/camera-logs/

 

[DBoyFlex]

I believe the camera has a maximum video size of 4 gigs, so any video cannot be over 4 gigs. However, since you are having the problem after seconds only, it sounds like a buffer problem or some sort of firmware problem. I would try resetting camera settings and reload the firmware. That would be a good place to start. Also, be sure to have formatted the card in the camera via the menu system.

 

[thedunnyman]

I did have the vignetting (peripheral illumination) feature turned on....tried turning it off...but nothing has changed.

Also, changed the metering time, still doesn't change anything.

Do any other 500D owners get this problem?

 

[uddhav regmi]

I have exactly same card....and same camera
few things

a) make sure your card is formatted NTFS - if you do not want to format via camera after you inserted the card inside the camera.
b) I would advise to format - low level via camera

c) the class 6 card - that particular has write speed of about 20 MB s - in perfect condition....normally I get 17 MB s. The new computer should have card reader these days....or laptop should have......just copy one big chunk of file like may b e ISO file or zip file which is one block file of about 300MB, and if you do copy via vista you can see how fast it is pushing.....it should push around 18 MB/s

d) So, under factory default condition of camera, you should never ever see that bar on right if your card is class 6 and is in good condition......

e) only I have seen is - while doing the video - does not matter 720 or 1080, when you press the shuttuer buttom full and take the picture at the same time.....at that time, if your camera is in RAW set, writing 16, or 18 MB file and your continuous video can be technically bad....I have see in that case, it just freeze or hang.......

e) so buttom line - make sure your card is NOT JUNK.......

Otherwise, there is no problem, I have taken 20 video of various sizes like 300 MB, 400 MB etc.......but have no problem.......I don't know if you taking GB size video.....

 

[TwincitiesJim]

I think it is probably your SD card. I have a relatively low speed sandisk Ultra II 2gb card and I have not experienced any of the issues you are talking about on any of the videos I have done (720P or 1080P up to a few minutes). I would test other cards and see if it makes a difference.
Jim

 

[Pete4]

There is something wrong: first of all each video has different data rate, so it doesn't make sense that you would have similar issues at 640p as you do at 720p and 1080p. The easiest way would be to use another SD card and see how that works, I mean you're really not seriously thinking that 1 SD card is all you ever need? so it won't go to waste and you can always return it, not that they're so expensive. Also I think there is some type of reset in the menu, so I would reset all camera settings to factory.Have you play the files on your computer? some players will show you frame rate and other stuff. One word of warning, video is highly compressed and compression works by recording one full frame and then just the differences between it and next 15-20 frames. This will work properly only if the frames are similar between each other, in other words if you pan very quickly, change scenes rapidly the video will get messy. I also heard about memory cards getting phony stickers. Do some more testing to find an answer.

 

[thedunnyman]

Yay good job guys!

I think it is the 'low level format'...

Btw can someone please give me a summarised description of what a low level format is? I tried researching it but they seem to have a lot of details..

It looks like this has solved the problem for now....

 

[thedunnyman]

Okay...upon thinking it was working...I've realised it still doesn't.

Maybe the clips last a bit longer now though...

Also, I tired copying a 1.1GB file over while plugged in a USB adapter and it works out to writing @ 6MB/s. Is this slow for this card?

 

[Sublog]

Just go and buy a new card (quality card) locally. If it fixes your problem, than good. If not, return the card.

I'd be willing to bet good money its your card.

 

[Robert Plamv]

I don't think it is a camera problem. I used video mode few times and everything were fine. 1080 or 720 video mode is nice and smooth. Even video + 1 raw picture. I use Lexar class6 I bought from nearby camera store. Why don't you try with another Class6 SD card if low label format not help.

 

[ohyva]

I have exactly same card....and same camera
few things

a) make sure your card is formatted NTFS - if you do not want to
format via camera after you inserted the card inside the camera.

AFAIK the camera undertsand only FAT32. Thus the 4GB limit.

b) I would advise to format - low level via camera

My experience, definitely always best to format in the camera.

I format my cards regularly after I have dumbed the pics into PC to prevent any fragmentation.

c) the class 6 card - that particular has write speed of about 20 MB
s - in perfect condition....normally I get 17 MB s. The new
computer should have card reader these days....or laptop should
have......just copy one big chunk of file like may b e ISO file or
zip file which is one block file of about 300MB, and if you do copy
via vista you can see how fast it is pushing.....it should push
around 18 MB/s

d) So, under factory default condition of camera, you should never
ever see that bar on right if your card is class 6 and is in good
condition......

e) only I have seen is - while doing the video - does not matter 720
or 1080, when you press the shuttuer buttom full and take the picture
at the same time.....at that time, if your camera is in RAW set,
writing 16, or 18 MB file and your continuous video can be
technically bad....I have see in that case, it just freeze or
hang.......

e) so buttom line - make sure your card is NOT JUNK.......

Otherwise, there is no problem, I have taken 20 video of various
sizes like 300 MB, 400 MB etc.......but have no problem.......I
don't know if you taking GB size video.....

 

[sam james]

I have had several Canon compacts, all bought mainly for the video function. I love the quality of canon video. Anyway, when I bought the G9 I had the same problem as you. many people suggested it was the card and formatting but nothing fixed it. I bought the fastest cards, still the same problem. I returned it to Canon for repair. They returned it, still with the same problem. They didn't seem to believe me that the video wouldn't record properly - mine often also had horrible jagging and freaking out flashing going on. Finally after the camera completely wouldn't turn on and I returned it and they replaced the main processing unit. Of course the camera video was totally fine after that and worked as it should. You need to harass Canon and get it fixed by them before the warranty runs out. They take time here in Sydney, but you must persist. Good luck and I understand the frustration!

 

[sam james]

Also I have recorded 1024x768 15fps video on the most basic SD card (series 1), nothing like class 6, and it worked totally with no delay, or errors, buffer problems or limited capture. So in my experience the cards were never the limitation. The SD III HD Extreme 4GB performs exactly the same as a basic SD card for me, capturing 1024x768 15fps. That is the equivalent to 1280x720p in pixel amounts, just in 4x3 ratio. And not as compressed as the current 720p Canon codec. Hope that helps.
Sam

 

[steveboatman]

FWIW, in regards to bandwidth issues on your SD card,

I use Downloader Pro now since I can't use the EOS Utility in my Operating System. This program displays the current transfer rate, much like Vista's transfer rate, only with a faster refresh, in IMHO a bit more accurate (Vista once reported 6GB/s from one Hard drive to another, so I don't believe it has a clue).

When copying from the card to the hard drive, it hangs around 20 MB/s in transfer rates. This is accurate in the total size/elapsed time sense, I did the math.

I have a Sandisk Extreme III 8GB card.

I used another off-brand Sandisk replica card, also claiming to be class 6. This card registered about 9MB/s, but slowly degraded to about 7MB/s.

This was transferring approximately 3GB of pictures.

So, just because it says Class 6, doesn't mean diddly.

Also, Sandisk has a higher end card than mine - 30MB/s. I don't have a use, as I only shoot a 450D. But, it is one fast little card.

I would go to any reputable camera shop, and ask to try out a faster SD card, and see if it fixes your issue. At any rate, it WILL be faster when transferring from card to computer, if you use a card reader.

When you're stating those transfer rates, they aren't that impressive to me. I think you may be running into a buffer underrun issue. Too much water, too small a pipe.

--
Steve B.
Grants Pass, OR

 

[denver92]

I have a lexar class2 card, mostly shooting in 720P mode, no prob. at all.

 

[sam james]

Please see my earlier comments on the 7th May, I don't believe it has anything to do with the card, its the camera's processor - its not working.
Sam

 

[sam james]

Apologies,
my post wasn't on the 7th May, rather the 25th May!
Sam

 

[GraemeCooper]

I have a Canon 500D - and to be able to record HD video I have had to use a Sandisk Extreme III 8Mb Card - which is stamped as being 6 rated - but says it is 30Mb/S - which I assume is 30Mb/Second. I used an Ultra II which is noted as 15Mb/S and this could not cope. The Ultra is fine for normal photos - but not for video. Hope this helps.