GH5/GX80/GX85 has no record time limit?

[LingoDingo]

I shot a long stage performance this summer with my GX85 with fully charged Panasonic batteries using the 12-32mm kit lens, and averaged 45 minutes of 4K shooting per battery.

 

[Martin Meier]

The GH5 (like the GH4) has no recording limit.

GH4 - limit in EU !

 

[Martin Meier]

I have both cameras and have never had overheating problems (shooting 4K).

Same - with all my Lumixes I never got overheating .. GH4, GX7, GX80 a.s.o. ;-)

My favourite camera, small, cheap, perfect .. is GX80

 

[nibbles00]

Dang, is the GH5 the same?

Does it cut off completely at 30m or just go to a new clip?

 

[LingoDingo]

The GH5 (like the GH4) has no recording limit.

GH4 - limit in EU !

The GH4R has no limit in the EU !

 

[erichK]

I've heard that that the US version of the G85 doesn't have a limit, but the manual does say if you are recording either 4K or 1080p video, that you are limited to 29 minutes and 59 seconds and a recording size of 4GB of less. So perhaps in the US, they don't have a limit and did not update the documentation, or perhaps they still have the limit.

Somebody did not update the manual or website. My GX85 (USA purchased) says my camera will record up to 2 hours 47 minutes of 4K video with a 128GB card installed.

In my experience, there are a couple of practical problems that arise with the G85 trying to shoot 4K video for such extended periods.

1. Only some kinds of SD cards will record it as continuous video, most will break it up into 5 minute segments. It's not just a matter of apparent speed - as 1000x 64MB card did this but also one of especially designated bandwith.

2. You cannot safely use WiFi while trying to do this, unless you add a dedicated router. The GH5 likely has the power to do both, but the G85 will shut down without warning as it chokes up because of bandwith and processing power limitations.

3. You will likely need the extra battery power provided by a battery in a grip, or a large power pack battery or AC converter attached through a dummy battery and the convenient port Pansonic provided to safely shoot at 4K for more than 20 or 25 minutes. I am not sure as I was trying to use both WiFi and 4K, but was using a new panasonic battery, and 4K uses a lot of power.

BTW, a very simple way around the 30 minute limit, battery and heat problems is to use a second, backup camera that allows you to shut down, change batteries and synch the footage in PP.

 

[_vlad]

[No message]

 

[RickPick]

The GH5 (like the GH4) has no recording limit.

GH4 - limit in EU !

Yes. I had forgotten that I bought mine as an import. Thanks.

 

[kolyy]

I've heard that that the US version of the G85 doesn't have a limit, but the manual does say if you are recording either 4K or 1080p video, that you are limited to 29 minutes and 59 seconds and a recording size of 4GB of less. So perhaps in the US, they don't have a limit and did not update the documentation, or perhaps they still have the limit.

Somebody did not update the manual or website. My GX85 (USA purchased) says my camera will record up to 2 hours 47 minutes of 4K video with a 128GB card installed.

In my experience, there are a couple of practical problems that arise with the G85 trying to shoot 4K video for such extended periods.

1. Only some kinds of SD cards will record it as continuous video, most will break it up into 5 minute segments. It's not just a matter of apparent speed - as 1000x 64MB card did this but also one of especially designated bandwith.

Actually, it is pretty simple. SDHC cards will break the footage into 4GB pieces. SDXC cards have no file size limit.

 

[LingoDingo]

I've heard that that the US version of the G85 doesn't have a limit, but the manual does say if you are recording either 4K or 1080p video, that you are limited to 29 minutes and 59 seconds and a recording size of 4GB of less. So perhaps in the US, they don't have a limit and did not update the documentation, or perhaps they still have the limit.

Somebody did not update the manual or website. My GX85 (USA purchased) says my camera will record up to 2 hours 47 minutes of 4K video with a 128GB card installed.

In my experience, there are a couple of practical problems that arise with the G85 trying to shoot 4K video for such extended periods.

1. Only some kinds of SD cards will record it as continuous video, most will break it up into 5 minute segments. It's not just a matter of apparent speed - as 1000x 64MB card did this but also one of especially designated bandwith.

Actually, it is pretty simple. SDHC cards will break the footage into 4GB pieces. SDXC cards have no file size limit.

It's actually a little more complicated. I know from experience that the GH4 records video in 4 GB file segments on SDXC cards, where the GH5 records video in 96 GB file segments on the same cards.

I own the GX85 camera and I think it has the same 4 GB file segment limitation as the GH4 does ( I haven't shot with it in a couple of months ), but I have no idea if the G85 has the same 4 GB limitation ? ( I suspect that the GH5 might be the only Panasonic mirrorless camera that does not have the 4 GB limitation when recording )

 

[kolyy]

I've heard that that the US version of the G85 doesn't have a limit, but the manual does say if you are recording either 4K or 1080p video, that you are limited to 29 minutes and 59 seconds and a recording size of 4GB of less. So perhaps in the US, they don't have a limit and did not update the documentation, or perhaps they still have the limit.

Somebody did not update the manual or website. My GX85 (USA purchased) says my camera will record up to 2 hours 47 minutes of 4K video with a 128GB card installed.

In my experience, there are a couple of practical problems that arise with the G85 trying to shoot 4K video for such extended periods.

1. Only some kinds of SD cards will record it as continuous video, most will break it up into 5 minute segments. It's not just a matter of apparent speed - as 1000x 64MB card did this but also one of especially designated bandwith.

Actually, it is pretty simple. SDHC cards will break the footage into 4GB pieces. SDXC cards have no file size limit.

It's actually a little more complicated. I know from experience that the GH4 records video in 4 GB file segments on SDXC cards, where the GH5 records video in 96 GB file segments on the same cards.

I own the GX85 camera and I think it has the same 4 GB file segment limitation as the GH4 does ( I haven't shot with it in a couple of months ), but I have no idea if the G85 has the same 4 GB limitation ? ( I suspect that the GH5 might be the only Panasonic mirrorless camera that does not have the 4 GB limitation when recording )

GX85 most certainly does not have a 4GB limitation.

 

[Corkcampbell]

I already mentioned that, but it seems some people here (not you) are confusing card file size limitations and writing that it's a limit with some cameras, which it is not.

 

[Corkcampbell]

[No message]

 

[LingoDingo]

I've heard that that the US version of the G85 doesn't have a limit, but the manual does say if you are recording either 4K or 1080p video, that you are limited to 29 minutes and 59 seconds and a recording size of 4GB of less. So perhaps in the US, they don't have a limit and did not update the documentation, or perhaps they still have the limit.

Somebody did not update the manual or website. My GX85 (USA purchased) says my camera will record up to 2 hours 47 minutes of 4K video with a 128GB card installed.

In my experience, there are a couple of practical problems that arise with the G85 trying to shoot 4K video for such extended periods.

1. Only some kinds of SD cards will record it as continuous video, most will break it up into 5 minute segments. It's not just a matter of apparent speed - as 1000x 64MB card did this but also one of especially designated bandwith.

Actually, it is pretty simple. SDHC cards will break the footage into 4GB pieces. SDXC cards have no file size limit.

It's actually a little more complicated. I know from experience that the GH4 records video in 4 GB file segments on SDXC cards, where the GH5 records video in 96 GB file segments on the same cards.

I own the GX85 camera and I think it has the same 4 GB file segment limitation as the GH4 does ( I haven't shot with it in a couple of months ), but I have no idea if the G85 has the same 4 GB limitation ? ( I suspect that the GH5 might be the only Panasonic mirrorless camera that does not have the 4 GB limitation when recording )

GX85 most certainly does not have a 4GB limitation.

I just did a quick test and yes you are correct, the GX85 does not create 4GB file segments. It looks like it has the same 96 GB file segment that the GH5 has.

 

[Martin Meier]

Yes, so I said GH4 and NOT GH4R!

 

[RickPick]

The consensus seems to be:

• The GH5 has no recording limit wherever in the world it is bought. It also has dual SD card slots and good battery life among other advantages
• Non-EU versions of the GH4, GX80 and G80 have no recording limit. The GH4 has excellent battery life, the other two less so
• In the EU, only the GH4R and GH5 have no recording limit. All other Panasonic G series cameras are limited to the usual 29' 59" (like many other still/video hybrid cameras). However, it possible to source "world" versions of these cameras from within the EU if you know where to look.

Video files size is limited to 4GB on SDHC cards and 96GB on SDXC cards. Note, however, that this is not a recording time limit, as files shot in HD or 4K will "span" - a new file is begun as soon as the file size limit is reached. Such files can easily be spliced together in your editing software. I have not experienced any frame dropping with the recent cams in this circumstance.

 

[JakeJY]

Video files size is limited to 4GB on SDHC cards and 96GB on SDXC cards. Note, however, that this is not a recording time limit, as files shot in HD or 4K will "span" - a new file is begun as soon as the file size limit is reached.

Note that this is not true of HD mp4 files on the GX85. It stops at the 4GB limit. If you choose AVCHD however, that does work.

 

[erichK]

Video files size is limited to 4GB on SDHC cards and 96GB on SDXC cards. Note, however, that this is not a recording time limit, as files shot in HD or 4K will "span" - a new file is begun as soon as the file size limit is reached. Such files can easily be spliced together in your editing software. I have not experienced any frame dropping with the recent cams in this circumstance.

Thank you for mentioning this as I was alarmed to find a series of such 4GB "clips" rather than a continuous video, recording one of my partner's classical chamber concerts recently. May be able to rurn it into a usable video after all.

 

[Martin Meier]

I live in EU, why should I buy outside?

For ME it makes NOOOOO sense to make videos longer than 29:59 !

 

[Michael Meissner]

I live in EU, why should I buy outside?

For ME it makes NOOOOO sense to make videos longer than 29:59 !

Hopefully you will never have to shoot an event that goes long, such as a long winded priest/rabbi/minister/iman at a wedding or funeral that runs over 30 minutes. Or you don't want to catch your kids in their latest theater production without having to break the shooting.

I could imagine taping a professor's full lecture, and that might be 45 minutes or so.

And the OP, evidently wanted to record a 3 hour podcast.

Even if you edit the video down to more reasonable size, it can help to have the whole footage before editing.

For scripted shows, sure you can control the shots and the time involved, but if you are shooting live events, it is sometimes out of your control.

Back when Olympus cameras only had 7 minute limits for HD video and 14 minute limits for SD video, I recall taping one performer, who did a long bit that was just under 14 minutes. I did suggest to her later to think about having smaller bits, and she did redo her act. Other performers that I record, seem to fill their entire 30 minute time slot with no obvious places to stop/start.