It is the limitation of 4GB.

  I can't remember but this one time I did video with the D800 and once the file size reaches close to 4GB, it switched to another file (it did stop the video and then continue though).

  If I am not mistaken, the File system for camera is still using FAT32 (file smaller than (2^32)-1 bytes, this is one byte less than 4 GB).

No there is no hack yet

No, it really is the EU taxation. The 5D Mk III, for example, will create multiple files up to the 29 minute, 59 second limit, too. Both cameras will hit 4 gigs around 10 minutes.

I think you have it backwards.  The limit for FAT32 is real.  The EU puts a tariff on specialized devices (basically what they think is pro format for movie studios) that dont have this limit because they use different  technology (fancy file systems and fancy schmantz media). But you cant make a FAT32 file bigger than the limit.

That's why, as I said, these cameras "create multiple files" when recording, up to 29 minutes, 59 seconds.

The EU defines any device that can record 30 minutes and more as a "video camera," and puts an extra tax on it. That is the sole reason for the limit on the dSLR camera's ability to record more than 29 minutes.

The D800's HD mode (full HD) can record up to 20 minutes (4GB limit), it will record 29 minutes 59 seconds if it is in normal mode.

  If I remember correctly my 5DII can record only up to 15 minutes in full HD mode (4GB limit).  So, the 4GB file limitation is real. 
  Yes, it is also true that the limitation of 29minutes 59 seconds law also takes place because of tax.

I doubt this is the reason for the limit. The fat file system is the limiting factor here.

But no longer a real world limitation, because the cameras will immediately start a new file once they hit 4 gigs, with no gap between the clips. Really.

"Also, while individual movie files can’t exceed 4GB due to the folder structure, the camera will simply begin a new movie file without stopping recording. "

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_ … 2304-12305



"Video

The D4, and now the D800, represent Nikon's biggest push, by far, to establish its digital SLRs as tools for filmmakers. If you're familiar with the video capabilities of the D4, then you already know a lot about what's coming in the D800, since the two models share an almost identical set of video capture features. Here's a rundown:

    Video can be recorded at the following output settings:

        1080p: 1920 x 1080 pixels at 30fps (actually 29.97fps)
        1080p: 1920 x 1080 pixels at 25fps
        1080p: 1920 x 1080 pixels at 24fps (actually 23.976fps)
        720p: 1280 x 720 pixels at 60fps (actually 59.94fps)
        720p: 1280 x 720 pixels at 50fps
        720p: 1280 x 720 pixels at 30fps (actually 29.97fps)
        720p: 1280 x 720 pixels at 25fps

    Clips can be up to 20 minutes long, regardless of the resolution and frame rate chosen, when the D800 is set to High video quality. Switching to Normal quality extends the clip length to a maximum of 29:59."

Interesting. I wonder why Nikon decided to do it that way. I've never gotten more than 12 minutes out of a full HD recording before hitting the 4 gig limit, but then Canon and Nikon are probably using different compressions. In any case, it certainly isn't necessary for Nikon to limit the recording to a single file.

Using an external recorder not only works but you get uncompressed files. You still run up against the sensor over heating and the unit stopping down for self protection. I've never had it happen myself but I've read/herd it happens at around an hour of continuous recording. But what filmmaker shoots an hour without a stop? Event videographers will. Most filmmakers will not.

You would be mistaken, it's about tariffs.
http://www.dpreview.com/news/2012/05/18 … al-cameras

No you don't, it goes uncompressed into the recorder, but all recorders use compression. They use much less compression than a memory card, but with HD video being around 1.5 Gb/s  (for 30p, 60p would be 3Gb.s) you would not get much onto a hard disk or an optical disk without compression.

i believe you are mistaking the chicken for the egg.  the file size limit existed before the tariff.  It dates back to the creation of the FAT32 standard (199a sometime). The tariff was implemented after, and used the limit as a cutoff point.

Evidence to support your point other than supposition? The tariff wording mentions time, not file size.

Conceivably at some point video compression might get good enough that 4 GB can hold more than 30 min of HD video, which is when the 29min 59sec limitation kicks in.
Currently 4GB holds under 20 min of HD video generally.

so both statements are true:

Video clips can't exceed 4GB

Video clips cant exceed 29min 59sec(in the D800 manual)

the tariff was implemented after the FAT32 standard (and even a lot longer after the FAt32 was proposed).  where do you think they got the number? out of thin air? "lets make it 18 minutes and 12 seconds" "no lets round it up to 30" "ok thats cool".  if thats not good enough for you, research all the debate about changing it and see what the participants are discussing.

ah yes...its a Saturday night. should have expected the trolls to be out sooner or later.

The D800 manual it says's it's uncompressed out via the HDMI. And the DDR I'm using is a computer. I Do use a CODEC but I Can record uncompressed..if I could handle the files in my workflow which I can't.

Not if you want the limited Depth of Field, which is THE main element of the film look. But if that's not a goal then I'd agree. As long as the camcorder is a high quality one not some sub $1K wannbe with sky hig compression.

No trolling. It's a simple really, the D800, Canon 5DIII etc are all very well equipped DSLR's with the added bonus of having 1080p video recording capabilities, yet they are NOT video camera's, never have been, never will be. For serious video making, and to break that utterly useless 29min barrier just get a freakin' camcorder! That's what they are designed for you know!

Good link. Thank you.

But they just suggest an external recorder, which costs more than good prosumer camcorder.

tell that to the people who made TV shows, music  videos and films using them. How many years ago did vince laforet do his first?  There was stuff at Sundance made with DSLR video.  Pretending this stuff doesnt exist qualifies as trolling. It doesnt help the OP get past the 29 minute barrier either.

Length of video is only one factor in file size. There's quality, compression, pixel count, fps, etc. B&W CCTV security cameras can record at 1fps, you could record days of footage on 4GB. Nothing you've stated supports your argument.

I doubt your doubt.

The Sony EX1 and EX3 video cameras record to SxS cards.  Also FAT, they just make a new file and carry on recording automatically when it hits the 4GB limit.  It'll automatically switch over to the second slot and keep recording when the first card gets full, so that you can swap it out for a fresh one, and have zero breaks in recording.

Yes, 4GB files are a FAT issue.  They're an issue that can be easily gotten around.

this is maybe less true now than 3 years ago........even some consumer level camcorders are being shipped with sensors in the same size range as 35mm cinema film... same size range as the "big" guns like Arri and Red..... so DOF is much "easier" to manage with lower end cameras than before.

Compression and codecs.... another story.

No, it is not.  Not with good film-making, anyway.  Lighting and grading have as much if not more to do with it.  And DSLR jockeys tend to leave out sound far too often.

Hollywood tends to shoot around f4, which leaves enough DoF for action to be in focus in a reasonable manner.  And as someone who's been watching movies since long before digital anything, I know where to direct my attention without some hack kid trying to lead me by the eyes, thankyouverymuch.

It's about telling a story, not about schmancy camera tricks.  Forget that and your audience size is pretty much going to be the upper limit of your living room seating.

Don't even get me started on rolling shutter and aliasing.

Rolling shutter is not an issue for cinematographers, because the way they've been shooting for a very long time doesn't make rolling shutter visible. It's only an issue for amateurs, really.

And aliasing has been solved on modern cameras such as the 5D Mk III, and can be dealt with using internal filters inside the mirror box with a lot of the other major cameras.

So really, there's nothing to get started about.

I was an extra on Dexter.

Yes, they used D800s for one of the scenes.  Two of them.  It was a stunt scene where it was possible that they would destroy one or both of the cameras.  They also used GoPro Hero2 cams.  Four of those.

But they didn't use the D800s INSTEAD of the big rigs.  They still used the big daddys in the scene, just with a longer lens and from a very safe distance from the stunt.

The D800 is nice, but it simply doesn't replace the quality of those big rigs.

The quality is good enough, otherwise why would they bother using it and how will they match the footage to the rest of what they shoot? Mainly it has to do with minor technical things, like controls and inputs. The SLR form factor isn't very good for video controls. Even changing the battery is hard because you have to disassemble the rig to do it. Just the day to day stuff regular video cameras much easier to work with.

In addition cinema lenses are much more exacting than SLR lenses, there's a reason why they start at $40 grand up to the six digits

Have you ever watched Sidney Lumet's 12 Angry Men?

Sidney knew how to direct your attention. He wrote an excellent book called Making Movies.

Digital grading and processing will make the footage look even.

And none of the footage captured by the d800s was used for more than a fraction of a second. At least not the scene I saw them using them in and the final product.

Cinema lenses are more expensive for several reasons.

One of them is because there are so few made. Macroeconomics works everywhere.

AC adapter.

Multiple times, thanks for asking.

Ever seen "Rules of the Game" or "Grand Illusion" by Jean Renoir?  Citizen Kane?  Shallow DoF would improve them how?

how are you going to plug in an AC adapter on a rolling dolly or a car chase?