K7 video length / size limit

I've just noticed that all the videos I've been taking are getting chopped at 43 seconds (about 240Mb) in 720p mode. It's a 16Gb class 6 card with plenty of space. The remaining time counter says several minutes but every time it stops after 42-43 seconds of recording and writes out to the card.

What am I missing?

What card do you have? That happens when card is not fast enough. Although many brands claim they cards as fast, they are not, no meter what Class it is declared. Only Sandisk Extreme cards worked for me.

Class 6 doesn't mean sh!t. You need a card with a fast write speed. The bad news is they are damn expensive. You'll pay more than what you paid for you 16 and only get an 8.
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Take the time to shoot with a prime.

Damn. That's annoying. I happily recorded for 10 mins at 720p on this card from a little Canon IXUS.. but I'm willing to believe the K-7 files are better quality / less efficient.

Try this card. very reasonably priced at $30 for 8gigs. I bought one and tested it, it can record the full 9.5 minutes without stopping. (that's an internal limit the camera has)

http://www.amazon.com/Sandisk-EXTREME-III-SDSDX3-8192-Plastic/dp/B0018M256G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1258231977&sr=8-1

tim

I got about a minute with a Kingston class 6, 4G card. I just received my 8Gb Sandisk Extreme III 30mb/s class 10 and got bored taking video (no real subject matter) at 4 minutes. Not only does it hold more moving picture, but the save speed is lightning fast (or at least much faster than the kingston). Is the card worth the $50 I paid (newegg)? I'll let you know when I make my first real video but right now, I'd say yes, it is.

Yem wrote:

I've just noticed that all the videos I've been taking are getting chopped at 43 seconds (about 240Mb) in 720p mode. It's a 16Gb class 6 card with plenty of space. The remaining time counter says several minutes but every time it stops after 42-43 seconds of recording and writes out to the card.

What am I missing?

Yem wrote:

I've just noticed that all the videos I've been taking are getting chopped at 43 seconds (about 240Mb) in 720p mode. It's a 16Gb class 6 card with plenty of space. The remaining time counter says several minutes but every time it stops after 42-43 seconds of recording and writes out to the card.

What am I missing?

The online Pentax knowledge base says K-7 video needs 10MB/sec, which is class 10, not class 6. (some class 6 cards may achieve this, but iffy).

This is freaky! I just had the same experience earlier today with my 16GB Class 6 card!! I was so frustrated...I thought something was wrong with my camera! Thanks for asking the question and many thanks to those who responded so helpfully! Time for a faster card! Hmm! Let me see! Something Extreme I think!

Best regards
Leo

Yem wrote:

I've just noticed that all the videos I've been taking are getting chopped at 43 seconds (about 240Mb) in 720p mode. It's a 16Gb class 6 card with plenty of space. The remaining time counter says several minutes but every time it stops after 42-43 seconds of recording and writes out to the card.

What am I missing?

when you talk about Sandisk extreme III, are you referring to the 20mb/s or the 30mb/s edition??

chupachup wrote:

when you talk about Sandisk extreme III, are you referring to the 20mb/s or the 30mb/s edition??

I use 20mb/s version and it works without problems. Someone here said he/she uses Ultra II cards, but my 4 MB version stops recording after 2,5 min. So, I am not sure if every Ultra II card will work

Weird. I was just posting for help on this over at Pentax UK user forum. I am currently holidaying in CA, and for the first real time using video. I quickly found that it would max out at 26 to 38 seconds. Temp made no difference, as I did a test after leaving camera in aircon room overnight.

Through help off pentaxuser.co.uk I found that it is cards causing the problem.

I have:
2x8GB Transcend Class 6, and
1x8GB Panasonic Class 10 - an expensive card...

All cards show the fault. None get past this 30 second limit.

I tested just now with the micro-SD 2GB Toshiba card from my mobile phone in a SD adaptor - and no limit except card size. Over 4 mins with a cheap (free) card?! In a dodgy adaptor?!

I still feel like I'm missing something. All 8GB cards are formated in-camera. The Panasonic Class 10 one is meant to be excellent performance. The Transcend Class 6 ones are cheap, but excellent reputation.

BigKuri wrote:

I have:
2x8GB Transcend Class 6, and
1x8GB Panasonic Class 10 - an expensive card...

All cards show the fault. None get past this 30 second limit.

I tested just now with the micro-SD 2GB Toshiba card from my mobile phone in a SD adaptor - and no limit except card size. Over 4 mins with a cheap (free) card?! In a dodgy adaptor?!

I still feel like I'm missing something. All 8GB cards are formated in-camera. The Panasonic Class 10 one is meant to be excellent performance. The Transcend Class 6 ones are cheap, but excellent reputation.

What's going on I was thinking of buying that exact card (Panasonic 8Gb class 10).

I suppose the only option is a Sandisk Extreme III.

I have been using the following cards without any problems whatsoever:

SanDisk Ultra II Class 4 (8 GB)
SanDisk Extreme III (2 GB)
Lexar Professional 133x Speed (2 GB)

Thanks for that Redbird...I have a Lexar Professional 4 GB 133x speed! I hadn't tried that yet as I thought my ATP Class 6 16GB card would do the job! Nyet! The Lexar card I will give a try tomorrow!

How long did you get to shoot on the 2 GB card? Any information is much appreciated. You have already saved me some money!

All the very best
Leo

redbird007 wrote:

I have been using the following cards without any problems whatsoever:

SanDisk Ultra II Class 4 (8 GB)
SanDisk Extreme III (2 GB)
Lexar Professional 133x Speed (2 GB)