Video record time on a D750?

Jim_Y

Senior Member
I'm very new to video, and not sure I'm really interested, but I have this camera that handles video photography pretty well so I thought I might as well know how to operate it. I have tons of questions, but right now I'm wondering about the length of record time available. I have two 64gig cards in the camera and I want to record in 1080p. I'm not sure if I'm reading the manual correctly so I'm hoping this is a quick answer right on someone's tongue.
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
I'm very new to video, and not sure I'm really interested, but I have this camera that handles video photography pretty well so I thought I might as well know how to operate it. I have tons of questions, but right now I'm wondering about the length of record time available. I have two 64gig cards in the camera and I want to record in 1080p. I'm not sure if I'm reading the manual correctly so I'm hoping this is a quick answer right on someone's tongue.
According to Nikon: Movie Maximum recording time 20 minutes at highest quality, 29 minutes 59 seconds at normal quality.

Source: Nikon D750 | Camera of the Year | FX-Format Wi-Fi Camera
....
 

Jim_Y

Senior Member
Yeah, that's what I had read in the manual, but I thought that was a little short. I would have thought that it would record longer. Like if I wanted to tape a 2 hour event... Also, that doesn't seem to consider the amount of memory in the camera. I would have thought the limiter would be battery life and memory. That's why I was wondering if I missed something in the manual.
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Yeah, that's what I had read in the manual, but I thought that was a little short. I would have thought that it would record longer. Like if I wanted to tape a 2 hour event... Also, that doesn't seem to consider the amount of memory in the camera. I would have thought the limiter would be battery life and memory. That's why I was wondering if I missed something in the manual.
The manual is correct, those are the limits. If it helps, remember it's a digital still camera that also happens to shoot video (sort of); not a video camera that also shoots stills.

....
 

Jim_Y

Senior Member
I fully understand that, and I really don't care much for the video end of it, but I do want to be able to shoot some simple videos if the occasion arises.

So, what is the limiting factor? Why won't it shoot past the 20 minute point?
 

WayneF

Senior Member
So, what is the limiting factor? Why won't it shoot past the 20 minute point?

I don't know why, however, real world is, if 1080i at modest high quality exceeds about 30 minutes, then it probably exceeds 4 GB file size, which exceeds what FAT32 systems (memory cards) can store. The Nikon cameras use Quicktime .mov file format, which is subject to this.

But all you have to do is to stop and start the recording again, for a new file each time. It would be a extremely dull movie if non-stop for a couple of hours. There are always natural breaks and pauses which are better if omitted. So, we end up with many smaller files, which can total 16 or 32 GB. The skill in movies is in the editing. You need good video software to put this final result together, such as CyberLink PowerDirector or Adobe Premier.

As for learning, pay attention to the movies or shows on TV. Typically they are many dozens or hundreds of short clips, maybe not exceeding 10 seconds each. TV ads don't even approach 5 seconds. You edit and put them together in a video editor (and omit many of them). Keep it interesting, keep the highlights that show what you want to show, and omit all that will bore the viewer. This should be very clear after you've done it a time or two.

But even then, the 4GB FAT32 file size limit is often the real problem. Blu-ray DVD can bypass it, but memory cards cannot.
 
Last edited:

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
I believe the time limits are imposed to protect the sensor from overheating and getting damaged. If it was a size concern then the same limits wouldn't exist on other cameras that aren't capable of reaching even close to that size file even at the time limit.

There were some firmware hacks for older cameras that would extend the record time by 10 minutes or so, but that's about it.
 

WayneF

Senior Member
Seems questionable. The Nikon manuals do not mention heating, and normal stopping and starting recording will get around any limit.

It does mention the 4 GB file size limit (D750 page 69), and mentions the time limits from 10 to 30 minutes, which vary with 60p/30p, and with Highest/Nomal quality (D750 page 319). This is due to FAT32 file size of memory cards. But it is zero issue, just stop and restart the recording now and then.

If it was a size concern then the same limits wouldn't exist on other cameras that aren't capable of reaching even close to that size file even at the time limit.

There are many video file formats, but FAT32 4 GB file size limits do exist for memory cards. And that is about 30 minutes for 1920x1080 30p at only Normal quality.

I have a $300 Canon R300 camcorder which for file type .mp4, says 30 minutes or 4 GB, which ever is reached first. Its .mp4 is 1280x720 only.

But it also does AVCHD format (required for 1920x1080 resolution), which does not state limits except card size. It's a Blu-ray thing I think. And it will record a few hours (the battery died for me below at 1+ hour). However, it silently starts a new file about every 15 minutes, when a 1.9 GB file is reached. Here is one test recording a bit more than an hour:


avc.jpg



Only the .mts files are necessary in an editor to put it all back together. The rest are support files for a Blu-ray format. I'm ignorant of Blu-ray, but I think you can just copy all to a Blu-ray DVD, and it includes lists to show it all together continuously. Nikon instead does Quicktime .mov format.


Also of interest is this link about a European tax on movie cameras that record longer than 30 minutes:

Why Digital Cameras Have a 30 Minute Video Recording Limit - Tested

4 GB files are definitely still an issue, but perhaps that's why DSLR don't automatically start a new file at 30 minutes?

But it is so simple to just stop and restart it. Tap a button twice. Surely the scene requires that anyway, maybe every few seconds... It is very easy to create a very boring video. :)
 
Last edited:

scottenj

New member
Buy an Atmos Ninja blade and stream the video out the HDMI port. You can then record as long as you want and you get better video (the camera compresses the video for storage). I have a 500GB SSD in my Ninja Blade and I can record many hours of 1080p. You just have to turn off the mirror lock-up time limit and set the HDMI port so that you don't get the camera settings in your video feed.

I have recorded a concert of over an hour off of my D750 with no issues at all.
 
Last edited:
Top