Can't you still grab the HDMI signal without such limitation?
Ask HN: Why do cameras stop recording after 30 minutes?
21–30 of 69 posts
Re: Ask HN: Why do cameras stop recording after 30 minutes?
#22Some still cameras with video features also do actually lack in heat dissipation department and may really shut down because they overheat. Sometimes earlier than said 30 minute limit kicks in. And say you use slow memory card in your otherwise capable camera... I have one here, which is allowing me to capture, depending on subject, 4-15 seconds of video. It just cant write stuff onto memory card fast enough and fill…
Some of the first Canon DSLRs that did video had a 5 minute limit. On the one hand, I guess they didn't want to cannibalize their video camera offerings but on the other they did actually get very noticeably hot.
Re: Ask HN: Why do cameras stop recording after 30 minutes?
#23Like most head scratchers, it’s EU taxes. The import taxes are higher on video cameras than still cameras, so they artificially limit the length of videos you can record to avoid being classified as a video camera. > Video camera recorders are subject to import duty of 4.9% or 14%, still image cameras are duty free. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-8-2016-00127... (Update: included better link)
That reminds me of how Converse Chuck Taylors have a small layer of fuzz on the bottom of the sole that wears away after a wearing it for a bit.
Seemed totally bizarre, until you learn that it was so they can be classified as "slippers" which had a much smaller import tax than sneakers.
It still astonishes me that a legal hack like that works.
https://www.gearpatrol.com/style/shoes-boots/a715423/convers...
Re: Ask HN: Why do cameras stop recording after 30 minutes?
#24Like most head scratchers, it’s EU taxes. The import taxes are higher on video cameras than still cameras, so they artificially limit the length of videos you can record to avoid being classified as a video camera. > Video camera recorders are subject to import duty of 4.9% or 14%, still image cameras are duty free. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-8-2016-00127... (Update: included better link)
But why are there such high import duties for something they don't even manufacture? There's no domestic industry to give an advantage to through this.
Well, there is ARRI although I doubt all their parts are locally-sourced :D
Re: Ask HN: Why do cameras stop recording after 30 minutes?
#25Heat management, the EU import tax, all of those are certainly small factors. But the main reason is absolutely market segmentation: if you want to record "professional" video content, better buy a professional video camera for a higher price. It's that simple.
Re: Ask HN: Why do cameras stop recording after 30 minutes?
#26Like most head scratchers, it’s EU taxes. The import taxes are higher on video cameras than still cameras, so they artificially limit the length of videos you can record to avoid being classified as a video camera. > Video camera recorders are subject to import duty of 4.9% or 14%, still image cameras are duty free. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-8-2016-00127... (Update: included better link)
That may explain why it is exactly 30 minutes, but, despite some counterexamples, that we don't see more product differentiation enabling the consumer to choose between a camera with the limit and an "upgraded" model (i.e. the same camera with the limit disabled) suggests that underlying that the manufacturer recognizes that the consumer would rather buy under-specced hardware that can't handle much more than 30 minu…
Not really. The 30 minute limitation applies on even very high end DSLRs, but in practice this doesn't matter, because this isn't quite how DSLRs are used for video work.
In practice, video is done by using the HDMI output of the camera which will spit out continous 4k output without the 30 min limit, and without all the issues of needing to flush this to CFe/SD/XQD cards. You then caputre it on either a laptop or stand alone video capture device which will have functionally limitless storage. The sensor and processing engine is still running the whole time though, which means the camera needs to be specced to handle this (and they are). The only limitation is that you can't record to the internal storage, and as explained that doesn't matter.
Re: Ask HN: Why do cameras stop recording after 30 minutes?
#27Like most head scratchers, it’s EU taxes. The import taxes are higher on video cameras than still cameras, so they artificially limit the length of videos you can record to avoid being classified as a video camera. > Video camera recorders are subject to import duty of 4.9% or 14%, still image cameras are duty free. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-8-2016-00127... (Update: included better link)
Funny how bureaucratic nonsense from a comparatively small population can have such a ripple effect across a global industry.
Folks all over the world have to settle for an inferior product specifically because EU wanted a slightly juicier import tariff. It's cases like this I'm sympathetic to my more libertarian countrymen. Who genuinely thinks the consumer is better off because of these 'protections'?
Re: Ask HN: Why do cameras stop recording after 30 minutes?
#28Like most head scratchers, it’s EU taxes. The import taxes are higher on video cameras than still cameras, so they artificially limit the length of videos you can record to avoid being classified as a video camera. > Video camera recorders are subject to import duty of 4.9% or 14%, still image cameras are duty free. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-8-2016-00127... (Update: included better link)
In Nathan For You, they try to dodge export taxes on smoke detectors by classifying them as a musical instrument. They went as far as creating a band with a "hit song" that features a smoke detector.
Re: Ask HN: Why do cameras stop recording after 30 minutes?
#29Earlier quoted context omitted.
Use a $500 video camera rather than a $5,000 DSLR setup?
5,000$ DSLR’s take better video than $500 video cameras. So I think it’s just price discrimination. They want people to buy 50,000$ video cameras not 5,000$ DSLR’s.
Fwiw, Sony's current mid-to-high end a7 line of mirrorless cameras (eg: the a7 IV) don't have this video recording limit. They also handle long recordings fine assuming it's on a tripod and screen is in the flipped out position[1] (the link ran a capture at 4K/60fps for 3 hours before ending the test arbitrarily).
Re: Ask HN: Why do cameras stop recording after 30 minutes?
#30The fact is when you are recording a good quality video you never go over a few minutes of recording. So usually it doesn't bother film makers too much. If you're recording a live opera it's a problem but then you usually have much higher quality gear without the limitations of a DSLR.
What if you are recording a conference or a lecture? May easily go over 30 minutes; does not always need theatrical quality.
You probably want to consider live streaming the event which means using something with clean HDMI out or a USB webcam mode, along with a dedicated capture device/computer. At that point you can just dump a recording of any size to disk.