Video recording

I'm buying a digital camera, prefer one with better movie recording.

Among the specs of a digital camera, what decide video recording length?
That's the difference between Internal Memory and Included Digital Media
Size. I saw some of them have Zero memory, why? Can we get a rough idea how
long we can record video from any specs?

Thanks,

John

John61 <wanghaodong DeleteThis @yahoo.com> wrote:
: I'm buying a digital camera, prefer one with better movie recording.

: Among the specs of a digital camera, what decide video recording
: length? That's the difference between Internal Memory and Included
: Digital Media Size. I saw some of them have Zero memory, why? Can we
: get a rough idea how long we can record video from any specs?

The problem is that each brand may store the video with different
compression settings and resolutions. Also some cameras have multiple
changeable settings such as frame rate, image resolution and compression
mode. These would effect the memory requirements for each min of record
time. The max record time will depend on the memory capacity. For
internal memory that is a constant for that camera and so if the camera
can use the internal memory for video storage it would have a length
listed. And if a memory card is included in the original package the time
listed will be for that card. If the camera comes with no external memory
card the length would be zero. There may be some listing in the camera
specs that will indicate how much recording time you can get at a
specific memory size, but you will probably have to interpret for your
specific memory card size. One indicator is to look at the spec for
internal memory capacity and then the max recording time with the
internal memory. Then just divide the internal capacity into the capacity
of your external (removable) memory card and multiply the result by the
length of the internal movie capacity. This would give you some rough
indication.

I don't know about your particular camera but I have one that when I have
a card in place and switch to movie mode the max record length with the
current unused portion of the memory card is displayed on the LCD. This is
where the number of images still available is normally displayed. You may
just have to put each of your cards in, fully emptied, to see what each of
them say. Of course this doesn't help you when you are yet to purchase the
camera.

Randy

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Randy Berbaum
Champaign, IL