GH5/GX80/GX85 has no record time limit?

[LingoDingo]

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.

Actually it's camera dependent. Some cameras like the GH4 will segment it's files at 4 GB, where other cameras like the GH5 and GX85 will segment their files at 96 GB. Stick a SDXC card into a GH4 and you still have 4 GB file segments.

 

[nibbles00]

Firstly thanks a lot everyone for the discussion, super interesting to hear so many great voices.

As a follow up, turns out a friend of mine had a GH5 which I was able to run a quick test on yesterday.

With a 64GB card, of which around 60GB was free to actually use, recording the lowest quality Mov in 1080P, I managed to record a single video of just over 1 hour 50 minutes before the card filled up.

Once filled, the camera stopped recording and turned itself off, although IDK if this was b/c I stepped away and it auto shut off or b/c of the card.

Plugging the card into my laptop then gave a perfectly usable file, no errors or anything like that.

The internal battery was showing 1 bar left.

So I can confirm that the GH5, EU version, does have a continuous recording.

I didn't have a battery pack or dual cards or anything so couldn't test spanning or exactly how long the battery goes till it dies. Maybe it'll go 2 1/2 hours continuous?

With the battery pack you'll naturally double this.

As I said this was using the lowest quality mov, which was a still a decent 1080P but wasn't 4k or anything, as I wanted to max the time.

Oh and it was firmware 2.0 if it matters.

 

[Martin Meier]

For ME (and many others too) there is NO need for > 29.59

Think, think, think, then you will always reach with times less than half an hour.

Please don't construct events with 10 hours, 99 hours or 1001 hours.

Such endless movies are for yawning ...

 

[RickPick]

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.

Yes, you should be able to. It's not often I have had to do it, but I have the suspicion that sometimes a few frames from the end of a clip may be repeated on the new clip, so a small amount of overlapping may be necessary. I don't recall any situation where it wasn't possible to create a seamless looking video.

 

[Michael Meissner]

For ME (and many others too) there is NO need for > 29.59

Think, think, think, then you will always reach with times less than half an hour.

Please don't construct events with 10 hours, 99 hours or 1001 hours.

Such endless movies are for yawning ...

Some people need the ability to shoot longer sequences, if only to provide the material to edit down to more usable shots. Most people do not, but this discussion shows it is a feature some need.

 

[RickPick]

For ME (and many others too) there is NO need for > 29.59

Think, think, think, then you will always reach with times less than half an hour.

Please don't construct events with 10 hours, 99 hours or 1001 hours.

Such endless movies are for yawning ...

Say you are shooting a music event (which I have done many times). Maybe one song or piece won't last longer than 30 minutes (though some do), but what if your clip runs out on the one moment that makes the whole performance? You missed it. Not the only reason you might want a camera that can shoot longer than the "EU limit", but certainly a valid one.

 

[LingoDingo]

Some of us shoot professionally, where filming live events often goes for 2+ hours or more, so long battery life and the ability to shoot the entire event as one clip is essential to a successful shoot.

 

[bsas]

[No message]

 

[Corkcampbell]

Well, for You, it makes no sense. But, not for others. Several times I've had to leave a camera on a tripod for unattended recording for a couple hours or more while I was somewhere else with a second camera. This is one reason I have not sold my GH4 as it has no recording limit and huge batteries. Earlier, I kept a GH3 for the same reason. Both cameras take the same grip which doubles the battery life - I've never checked, but I think that I can get over four hours with this combination.

 

[_vlad]

[No message]

 

[tsw01]

Yes, GX85 has no limit.

 

[Martin Meier]

For such earth shuttering events (which boy group ;-)

or Elvis imitator? ) buy a GH5 or GH4R

You do not have problems, problems one makes oneself.

 

[Martin Meier]

"professionals" (?) not knowing time limit of their equipment? hmmmm ?

 

[erichK]

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.

Yes, you should be able to. It's not often I have had to do it, but I have the suspicion that sometimes a few frames from the end of a clip may be repeated on the new clip, so a small amount of overlapping may be necessary. I don't recall any situation where it wasn't possible to create a seamless looking video.

It is vital to my needs - recording classical chamber music concerts - that there not be any dropped or repeated audio. A single dropped or repeated "frame" of video might not be noticed, but these people and the most discerning of their audiences have very good ears!

Interestingly, the behaviour seems to be dependent on the particular card type and its related data storage structure rather than purely on speed. In making this first long recording with my G85, I'd inserted my fastest 64GB card, and was very upset to find the 31 minute or so concert arbitrarily chopped into 6 4GB approximately 6 minute segments. I have size determined that I could easily have had a continuous "take" on a slower card, half the size.

Live and learn!

 

[RickPick]

It is vital to my needs - recording classical chamber music concerts - that there not be any dropped or repeated audio. A single dropped or repeated "frame" of video might not be noticed, but these people and the most discerning of their audiences have very good ears!

Interestingly, the behaviour seems to be dependent on the particular card type and its related data storage structure rather than purely on speed. In making this first long recording with my G85, I'd inserted my fastest 64GB card, and was very upset to find the 31 minute or so concert arbitrarily chopped into 6 4GB approximately 6 minute segments. I have size determined that I could easily have had a continuous "take" on a slower card, half the size.

Live and learn!

A single dropped frame of video is noticeable and of course the tiniest gap or hiccup in audio is also unacceptable. But what I was saying is that when you edit your video you can match up the 4GB files so that there is no gap - there may even be a few frames overlap which of course you would eliminate. I haven't so far come across a situation where there are actual missing frames.

SDHC cards have the 4GB limit, so the camera must "span" the files. SDXC cards have a much higher file size limit. It is actually the file system that determines this and since FAT is recommended for SDHC and FAT32 or exFAT for SDXC, cameras are designed to format the cards accordingly

Your case, recording chamber music concerts, is a perfect example of why much longer takes than 30 minutes might be necessary!

 

[Quantum Target]

If this is inappropriate, sorry to revive an old thread (one I missed in an earlier search unfortunately). But I am looking for clarification exactly on this topic.

Have I missed something (besides the audio)?

Just purchased G85 and made 1080 MP4 recording as a test. I intend to use for 4K ultimately and that was the basis for the purchase. I was expecting gap free recording regardless of files being broken up. My results indicate the G85 will not produce gap free audio using MP4 format (the only available choice for 4K). Recording was to a camera formatted, empty Samsung 128 G EVO slect card more than fast enough to write the stream. Editing is on an import of the MP4 files into Davinci Resolve v14. Just using Farilight. Camera firmware is latest as of about 3/1/2018.

I find that I loose a clearly audible fraction of a second. I do not know if this dropout happens every time. It does not matter. The very first time I joined 2 files it happened! At this level of performance, I would not even rely on the camera for backup audio! It might as well not record audio at all!!!!!

I am highly upset with Panasonic! Cant you tell! I know there are ways to work around this issue but all add complexity and should not be necessary. Is there an in camera solution?

QT

 

[JakeJY]

If this is inappropriate, sorry to revive an old thread (one I missed in an earlier search unfortunately). But I am looking for clarification exactly on this topic.

Have I missed something (besides the audio)?

Just purchased G85 and made 1080 MP4 recording as a test. I intend to use for 4K ultimately and that was the basis for the purchase. I was expecting gap free recording regardless of files being broken up. My results indicate the G85 will not produce gap free audio using MP4 format (the only available choice for 4K). Recording was to a camera formatted, empty Samsung 128 G EVO slect card more than fast enough to write the stream. Editing is on an import of the MP4 files into Davinci Resolve v14. Just using Farilight. Camera firmware is latest as of about 3/1/2018.

I find that I loose a clearly audible fraction of a second. I do not know if this dropout happens every time. It does not matter. The very first time I joined 2 files it happened! At this level of performance, I would not even rely on the camera for backup audio! It might as well not record audio at all!!!!!

I am highly upset with Panasonic! Cant you tell! I know there are ways to work around this issue but all add complexity and should not be necessary. Is there an in camera solution?

QT

There were similar complaints about other Panasonic cameras and it still ended up being the software. Supposedly the MP4box software works to join the clips without gaps.

https://www.vegascreativesoftware.i...ombine-mp4-files-split-by-the-camera--100894/

 

[Quantum Target]

If this is inappropriate, sorry to revive an old thread (one I missed in an earlier search unfortunately). But I am looking for clarification exactly on this topic.

Have I missed something (besides the audio)?

Just purchased G85 and made 1080 MP4 recording as a test. I intend to use for 4K ultimately and that was the basis for the purchase. I was expecting gap free recording regardless of files being broken up. My results indicate the G85 will not produce gap free audio using MP4 format (the only available choice for 4K). Recording was to a camera formatted, empty Samsung 128 G EVO slect card more than fast enough to write the stream. Editing is on an import of the MP4 files into Davinci Resolve v14. Just using Farilight. Camera firmware is latest as of about 3/1/2018.

I find that I loose a clearly audible fraction of a second. I do not know if this dropout happens every time. It does not matter. The very first time I joined 2 files it happened! At this level of performance, I would not even rely on the camera for backup audio! It might as well not record audio at all!!!!!

I am highly upset with Panasonic! Cant you tell! I know there are ways to work around this issue but all add complexity and should not be necessary. Is there an in camera solution?

QT

There were similar complaints about other Panasonic cameras and it still ended up being the software. Supposedly the MP4box software works to join the clips without gaps.

https://www.vegascreativesoftware.i...ombine-mp4-files-split-by-the-camera--100894/

Thanks JakeJY,

I really appreciate the speedy reply. It was hard to believe Panasonic got this wrong and just as hard to believe that DR is not handling well. I am a noob to both so I may be doing something wrong (probably in DR). I will be burning the midnight oil checking your link (thanks) and some other ideas...

QT

 

[JakeJY]

If this is inappropriate, sorry to revive an old thread (one I missed in an earlier search unfortunately). But I am looking for clarification exactly on this topic.

Have I missed something (besides the audio)?

Just purchased G85 and made 1080 MP4 recording as a test. I intend to use for 4K ultimately and that was the basis for the purchase. I was expecting gap free recording regardless of files being broken up. My results indicate the G85 will not produce gap free audio using MP4 format (the only available choice for 4K). Recording was to a camera formatted, empty Samsung 128 G EVO slect card more than fast enough to write the stream. Editing is on an import of the MP4 files into Davinci Resolve v14. Just using Farilight. Camera firmware is latest as of about 3/1/2018.

I find that I loose a clearly audible fraction of a second. I do not know if this dropout happens every time. It does not matter. The very first time I joined 2 files it happened! At this level of performance, I would not even rely on the camera for backup audio! It might as well not record audio at all!!!!!

I am highly upset with Panasonic! Cant you tell! I know there are ways to work around this issue but all add complexity and should not be necessary. Is there an in camera solution?

QT

There were similar complaints about other Panasonic cameras and it still ended up being the software. Supposedly the MP4box software works to join the clips without gaps.

https://www.vegascreativesoftware.i...ombine-mp4-files-split-by-the-camera--100894/

Thanks JakeJY,

I really appreciate the speedy reply. It was hard to believe Panasonic got this wrong and just as hard to believe that DR is not handling well. I am a noob to both so I may be doing something wrong (probably in DR). I will be burning the midnight oil checking your link (thanks) and some other ideas...

QT

Adobe Premiere Pro has the same issue in handling spanned files (as did Vegas Pro in the thread above), so it seems to be a common issue. It seems the most reliable way to handle spanned files is to join them losslessly (without reencoding) before importing, which that program is supposed to be able to do.

Of course, it's still possible the issue is dropped frames, but at least the software issue can be eliminated as a cause.

 

[uncle dunc]

Before you freak out, try a different card. I've been shooting 4k video at 30fps in a GX85 with no problems. I get one continuous file, no matter how long the camera is running.

SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO UHS-I SDXC Memory Card (V30)

• UHS-I/V30/U3/Class 10

Transcend 128GB UHS-1 SDXC Memory Card (Speed Class 3)