Confused about GH4/GX8 US model video record limits

[rclatter]

I've looked through discussions on the forum here as well as searching many other sites and still see conflicting information.

If anyone here has a US model of the GH4 and/or the GX8 can you tell me if there is a 30 minute time limit on video recording and if it's for all formats or just specific formats?

I even went as far as using the "chat with a representative" function on the website and got this response:

Me (11/17/2015, 12:38:46 PM): And is there a time limit on the videos for the US models of the GH4 and GX8? Or is that just on the European models?
Me (11/17/2015, 12:39:49 PM): I'd rather not have to buy them both and then return them just to find out what the actual limits to recording time are. The website just says that it varies depending on where it is bought.
Demetry B (11/17/2015, 12:39:49 PM): Yes there is a time limit of 30 minutes.

But I know I've seen several posts that implied the US versions of Panasonic cameras do not have that limit, at least for certain formats.

It seems it would be ridiculously easy for Panasonic to publish a list of formats and constraints for the various models of their cameras, but instead they just list all the formats under full specs and then vague statements like "Motion picture can be recorded up to 29 min 59 sec depending on the recording format and the camera’s sales area" - without actually listing the formats and sales areas specifically.

It's also confusing that they list separate "continuous" and "actual" recording times:

• Continuous recordable time (Motion picture) AVCHD: Approx. 220 min with H-HS12035 / AVCHD: Approx. 220 min with H-FS14140
• Actual recordable time (Motion picture) AVCHD: Approx. 110 min with H-HS12035 / AVCHD: Approx. 110 min with H-FS14140

 

[uRebel Rob]

My understanding is the GH4 (US version) and GH4R have no max time limit, while the GH4(Europe version) and the GX8 have a 29m59s limit.

I find the "continuous" vs "actual" record time a little confusing, too, but my understanding is that the "continuous" is the max time (no focus/refocus, no power on/off, etc), while "actual" is a more realistic time, and includes start/stop recording, focus, zoom, OIS, etc).

 

[ijm5012]

I have a US GH4, and can confirm that it has no recording limit.

 

[Jeff4500]

There is a file size limitation, but the camera just keeps recording in a new file when it hits the maximum file size (the time for each file is determined by the format). So in the US you can turn on a Gh4 or Gx8 and it can record as long as the battery has power or if on AC until the card runs out of space.

 

[BlueFalcorn]

I have a GX8 your can record beyond 29:59 in AVCHD, I personally went to 1 hour 15 minutes continuously and then stopped.

Looks like you can go to at least 1 hour 23 minutes in 4k

 

[rclatter]

Thank you all for your responses. I really do appreciate it.

Still wish the information was more readily available, and that their own representatives knew how this worked, as your responses clearly contradict what the rep said (though not the first time I've had that experience - LOL).

Thanks again!

 

[Corkcampbell]

Not sure about the confusion; this was covered in the Hands on Report for the GX8.

 

[Corkcampbell]

No text

 

[uRebel Rob]

Not sure about the confusion; this was covered in the Hands on Report for the GX8.

Well if, as some people say, "RTFM" (no insult intended to any forum reader), both the manuals (basic and advanced) for the GX8 say there is a 29m59s limit. At least the manuals I've looked at. So Panasonic is sending out conflicting information... (Of course, I might have been looking at the european english version, which might differ from the US manuals, but I thought I got the manual from the US server.)

 

[Corkcampbell]

Since the announcements of the short-term price reductions, I've been considering the GX8 for the first time. All I've read says no time limit (outside EU). If I bought it and found it untrue, I'd just send it back. I wanted a GH4, but this has better stabilization, has 4K (which doesn't get all of the stabilization benefits), a 3 year warranty via rebate, weather protection, and is much lighter than a GH4 with grip - I use my GH3 with grip. A small bonus is that, according to another post, it will accept the small flash that came with my E-M5II. The camera would also be smaller in the bag than my GHx/grip.

 

[Nazri]

There is a file size limitation, but the camera just keeps recording in a new file when it hits the maximum file size (the time for each file is determined by the format). So in the US you can turn on a Gh4 or Gx8 and it can record as long as the battery has power or if on AC until the card runs out of space.

 

[Jeff4500]

I am using the 128 Gig SDXC class III. The reason there is a difference in how long each segment is , is because of the file size. In the US the Gx8 will record as long as the battery lasts in every format but the number and size of files will differ in size and length.

 

[Nazri]

I am using the 128 Gig SDXC class III. The reason there is a difference in how long each segment is , is because of the file size. In the US the Gx8 will record as long as the battery lasts in every format but the number and size of files will differ in size and length.

 

[SergeyFromMoscow]

When I decided to buy GX8, I looked at this forum, but no answer, also no credible info anywhere.

So I asked local sellers if they can check time limit for me before buy. One found a cam (from Dubai) that didn't have limits and I paid a premium for that. I still not sure if that was a right decision, but it's difficult to "try before buy" here in Russia.

My GX8 comes without Russian language, which I don't need anyway.

Body firmware ver.1.0

SN: WE5HA00****

I have 128gb SD, around 120 gigs are free, and right now it says:

AVCHD (1080,50p) 9h07m

AVCHD (1080,50i) 13h03m

AVCHD (1080,25p) 10h38m

AVCHD (1080,24p) 10h38m

MP4 (2160,25p) 2h33m

MP4 (2160,24p) 2h33m

MP4 (1080,50p) 20m20s <<<LIMITED

MP4 (1080,25p) 27m09s <<<LIMITED

MP4 (720,25p) 29m59s <<<LIMITED

MP4 (480,25p) 29m59s <<<LIMITED

You can see, that some MP4 modes are limited, don't know why.

And I actually checked, it respects this timings when recording.

Have a terrific day!

 

[SergeyFromMoscow]

And now I'm confused myself:

1. Do all cameras have exactly this limitations? GX8 users, who have different limitations, please write here, provide first symbols of SN, if possible.

2. GX8 firmware update v.2.0 was issued, for everybody. Does it mean all bodies are the same?

3. Or maybe firmware looks at SN and decides what to enable?

4. I do not want to loose unlimited video after update, Panasonic seems not to guarantee anything.

 

[Wayne McCracken]

I was confused too but finally figured it out, at least for my GX8 which is a North American version. I'm pretty sure however that the answer below applies to all GH4 & GX8 cameras (but with the differences outlined at the bottom)

What confused me is that the time limits as shown on the camera for MP4 seemed very much too short when compared with AVCHD. With a blank 64GB SD card installed the AVCHD (FHD/60p) record time limit is shown to be 5 hours & 1 minute but for MP4 (FHD/60p) it is only 20 minutes & 20 seconds!!

I did some calculations and found out that there appeared to be a limit of both 29 minutes & 59 seconds, and/or a 4 GB file size. After figuring this out I looked in the advanced manual and "low and behold" found the following:

• MP4 motion pictures with a [Rec Quality] size of [FHD], [HD] or [VGA]: Recording stops when the continuous recording time exceeds 29 minutes and 59 seconds or the file size exceeds 4 GB.
• Since the file size becomes larger with [FHD], recording with [FHD] will stop before 29 minutes 59 seconds.

In addition the manual lists the "Available recording time (when recording motion pictures)" for MP4 as 2 hours & 39 minutes (not 20 minutes & 20 seconds). But the manual also says "The recordable time is the total time of all the motion pictures which have been recorded" i.e. the recordable time can include multiple recordings that were each limited to the 29 minute & 59 second and the 4GB limits.

So that answers the question for a North American GX8.

In addition I have read before that in different jurisdictions there are taxation differences Pro and non-Pro video cameras. The basic difference is determined by the maximum length and file size of the video file that the camera can record. By limiting the file size and duration the NA version of the GX8 is determined to be non-professional and therefore the price is lower than it otherwise would be. In other jurisdictions without these tax laws the time and size limits are not imposed.

For some reason it appears that these limitations do not apply to AVCHD videos as in my camera the maximum recording time and the available recording time are the same. Both are 5 hours for AVCHD (FHD/60p). Why the pro level designation applies to MP4 and not AVCHD is a mystery to me.

Finally I expect that, as other people have reported there are no such restrictions for the GH4 because it is simply considered to be a pro level camera. This likely accounts for part of the higher price for the GH4.

Hope that puts this topic to bed. It does for me anyway.