Hallo,

Interested in the new samsung hmx-h100, seems easy to use, with optical stabilizer and a price that does not exceed the 500 euro (430 to be exact) which i consider a tidy sum for one's first camcorder.
However while reading the manual i stumbled on two points.
a. The maximum size of a movie file that can be recorded at one time is 1.8GB. (page 29)
b. When a video recording fills up 1.8GB of storage media, a new recording file is automatically started at that point. (Time lapse mode, page 77)

from which i cannot understand if a new file will automatically be created after the 1,8GB limit is reached in recording mode, or i will have to manually restart recording, which i consider an absolute no go.

By reading other manuals still can't come to an understanding. For example:

Samsung VP-HMX10 & Samsung SC-HMX20C both mention a storage limit.
The maximum size of a movie file that can be recorded at one time is 2GB. (HMX10)
The maximum size of a movie file that can be recorded at one time is 3.5GB. (HMX20C)

sanyo xacto HD1000 (couldn't find the manual of hd2000) also has a limit.
When recording a video clip using an 8 GB card, recording terminates when the size of the file currently being recorded reaches approx. 4 GB.

In Canon's HF100 manual didn't find any mention to a storage/time limit.

And the most peculiar is that in samsung's new HMX-R10P it mentions:
When a video file exceeds 3.8 GB, the next video file is created automatically.

Since i have no knowledge whatsoever on camcorders and what is the norm on this subject for 2008/2009 models could you tell me please if it is something common to must restart recording manually after a storage limitation is reached and what would be, if there can be, a logical expectation for samsung hmx-100/104/105/106 series?

Any help would be very much appreciated.
Thank you for reading.

The limitations of the media formatting are something we all must work around. The best you can do is to make your own decisions about when to stop and restart a recording, instead of letting the camera do it at the worst moment.

Hallo,

Interested in the new samsung hmx-h100, seems easy to use, with optical stabilizer and a price that does not exceed the 500 euro (430 to be exact) which i consider a tidy sum for one's first camcorder.
However while reading the manual i stumbled on two points.
a. The maximum size of a movie file that can be recorded at one time is 1.8GB. (page 29)
b. When a video recording fills up 1.8GB of storage media, a new recording file is automatically started at that point. (Time lapse mode, page 77)

translation: when the maximum file size is reached, the camcorder simply starts recording to a new file, without any button pushing on your part.

that doesn't infer that you'll lose frames at the transition point between the files.

although there have been occasional complaints about that, depending on what software you are using.

elifino, osv,

thank you for your answers.

translation: when the maximum file size is reached, the camcorder simply starts recording to a new file, without any button pushing on your part.

that doesn't infer that you'll lose frames at the transition point between the files.

I'm not sure i understand you because i haven't made clear in my previous post, that only a. was mentioned in the recording mode and b. was mentioned in time lapse mode, so are you refering to the recording mode and you can be sure that this is the case?

In a sense i feel quite confident that b. was omited by accident from the manual's recording mode page, because if recording does not continue automatically in a new file that would mean:

a. In 1080/50i it would be able to record only 13min by the manual's references which i consider as a joke and
b. they made a mistake beyond my imagination by allowing their 2009 model to record half of the footage (1,8GB) in comparison with their 2008 model SC-HMX20C (3,5GB),

but better be safe than sorry.

I don't mind even if some frames are lost, i can live with that, but not with 13min.

Thanks.

you are wondering if the camcorder will stop recording at 1.8gb in one type of recording mode, but not another? for example, it would stop recording at 1.8gb in standard recording mode only? but in the time lapse recording mode it would create the new file automatically, and keep on recording?

i see your point about the manual not specifying on page 29 that the camcorder would automatically create a new file, with no interruption in the recording... it made that clairification on page 77, as you pointed out.

i would look for a samsung tech support contact email address or phone number, see if they can guarantee that there will be no interruption in recording, regardless of the recording mode... also have this conversation with your vendor, just keep it simple like i mentioned above.

the industry standard practices are that there should be no interruption in recording with solid state media like this, so i'm sure that it won't be an issue, but it wouldn't hurt to let the vendor know that you'll be returning the camcorder if it does stop the recording process for any reason, other than reaching the storage limitations of the media card itself.

All flash or file based camcorders will have inherent file size limitation depending on what file system they are using. For most, it is FAT32 and the implied maximum file size is 4GB. In my past experience, unless I was recording a long meeting or concert which I rarely do, my average video clip length is less than 1 minute. To sit there and recording a length video clip without interrupting for anything over the size of 4GB (assume AVCHD or H.264 compressed) will be some really boring stuff. In that case, you should consider tape based system.

you are wondering if the camcorder will stop recording at 1.8gb in one type of recording mode, but not another? for example, it would stop recording at 1.8gb in standard recording mode only? but in the time lapse recording mode it would create the new file automatically, and keep on recording?

i see your point about the manual not specifying on page 29 that the camcorder would automatically create a new file, with no interruption in the recording... it made that clairification on page 77, as you pointed out.

Exactly.

The first thing i did was to contact samsung.com but the responses i got just made me understand that i was not speaking with a technician
and since he decided to answer my questions i didn't want to be rude and ask for someone else.
First response was that what the manual says is correct and the second that i have to create chapters, while in the manual i couldn't find anything refering to chapters, so i didn't bother him anymore.

The second thing was to start reading all the reviews i could find (experts & home users, approx 40) for the previous model SC-HMX20C (3,5GB) and couldn't find any information on the subject, which i consider positive. I think that if a footage in high definition was stoped after 30min someone would complain, or am i totally deceived?

the industry standard practices are that there should be no interruption in recording with solid state media like this...other than reaching the storage limitations of the media card itself.

This makes me feeel much more comfortable.


Foxbat121,
i'm not sure if i understood you correctly, but if i did, i don't care if the footage is one file of 4GB or two of 2Gb. In a way i prefer the later so that if something goes wrong not to lose the hole filming. I just want to be sure that when the x limit of gigabytes is reached a new file will automatically be created, even if some frames get lost and even if i end up with 10 files of 1,8GB.
I won't be either filming much of long sessions but in 2009 i cannot accept that i won't be able to do it if needed.

I'm a gadget freak and the idea of tapes justs makes the pleasure of acquiring a camcorder vanish :).

Hi theobabis,
I have a Sanyo HD2000 and here's what the manual says.
"........when the size of the file being recorded exceeds 4GB, the recorded file is saved once, and then recording continues in a new file. (These 4GB segments are automatically created. The recording session continues until you stop recording, but video clip or voice memo recording is temporarily interrupted while the file is being saved.)"
I believe this is what you want the Samsung to do as well.

ronaldkwok,
yes, that's exactly what i expect.
One question please. Have you recorded something that exceeds the 4GB?
And if yes, have you joined the two files and witnessed that in the joined point there is a hiccup? How noticeable was it and could you estimate the
lost footage time based?
Thanks.

Since I only have the HD2000 recently, I have not recorded anything more than 4GB. Even at the highest resolution, this would mean about 22 mins of footage. I would imagine the lost footage to be very short, probably in split seconds, just the time for the HD2000 to start a new file. Other experienced users may want to report on this.