[malevil]

I need to buy a fast SDHC card for my new K-5, since the old Sandisk Extreme III is only 2GB! While playing with camera I found that in FullHD *** Mode the maximum movie time is 2 min 43 sec. I thought its a 2GB card (so size problem), but there was some space left! The movie had a size of only 1,47 GB. So maybe the SD card was to slow...
I used Xbench for testing the card.

Code:

Results    8.03    
    System Info        
        Xbench Version        1.3
        System Version        10.6.5 (10H574)
        Physical RAM        8192 MB
        Model        MacBookPro5,5
        Drive Type        APPLE SD Card Reader
    Disk Test    8.03    
        Sequential    25.63    
            Uncached Write    29.96    18.40 MB/sec [4K blocks]
            Uncached Write    31.32    17.72 MB/sec [256K blocks]
            Uncached Read    15.45    4.52 MB/sec [4K blocks]
            Uncached Read    38.40    19.30 MB/sec [256K blocks]
        Random    4.76    
            Uncached Write    1.29    0.14 MB/sec [4K blocks]
            Uncached Write    18.83    6.03 MB/sec [256K blocks]
            Uncached Read    553.95    3.93 MB/sec [4K blocks]
            Uncached Read    103.39    19.18 MB/sec [256K blocks]

But 17.72 MB/sec write speed isn´t that slow! Or?

So which card do You use? Can you record in FullHD *** mode movies with 4GB filesize, as Pentax say? Can You also mention the maximum recording time of your videos?

[RonHendriks1966]

Well your camera makes an estimation of how big your files can be. The actually size off files depends on the difficulty of your scene, Make a movie of a plane single colard smooth surface and you will be surprized how small in size the file is. Max timing is 5'23" (3 star quality) and size varies between 5,5 and 9,5 MB/s (including stereosound).

With a class 6 card you can run everything and even some classe 4 card can record FullHD movie. I still recommend class 10 cards.

If you want to do a lot of video, get a 32 GB card of\r even the new 64 GB SDXC.

[PePe]

I have a Sandisc Extreme III class 6 16 GB card in my K 5. With this combo the maximum recording time is just under 9 minutes in full HD mode.

[nulla]

Isn't the max length available controlled by the software?

I thought this was something to do with import export classification as either a DSLR or a Video Camera.

Others may be better informed

cheers

Neil

[inferno10]

Isn't the max length available controlled by the software?

I thought this was something to do with import export classification as either a DSLR or a Video Camera.

Others may be better informed

cheers

Neil

There are 2 major limiting factors. The first is a hardware restriction of 4GB max per clip. This is, IIRC, a limit due to the file system used in SDHC cards. The second is a software-imposed restriction of 25 minutes. I believe this was set to avoid import restrictions/tariffs.

The time remaining that the camera displays is most likely based on an assumption on the worst-case scenario (maximum theoretical data rate, for the quality selected, continuously until 4GB limit is reached) up until the 25 minute limit. This will guarantee that the time displayed is recordable, but alternatively results in less recording time available even if the actual data rate is lower than expected.

- Jason

With a class 6 card you can run everything and even some classe 4 card can record FullHD movie. I still recommend class 10 cards.

I have to slightly disagree with you here on the class 10 cards Ron I'm using class 4 ultra II Sandisk cards and can record the full max (4GB highest quality equals about 5 minutes 25 seconds) without a problem. Files are saved and ready for playback pretty much instantly.

Now there is a big difference in the class speeds between different brands. But considering Sandisk I would advise to go with the class 4 cards, if it's video that you want to shoot.

For pictures however, I agree a class 10 would be advisable. So if you only want to buy one card, go with the class 10. It seems to me though, that it would make more sense to pick up a cheaper 16/32GB class 4 card for video (or probably a couple) and another class 10 card dedicated to your photo needs.

[30v iPentax]

Itse en käytä, kun 32 GB tai suurenpia luokka 10 kortteja. Pienet olen hävittänyt jo ajat sitten. Eivät ole sotkemassa ja sekottamassa pakkaa.

[peterh337]

Is there any way to use the K5 as a constant-on "webcam"?

You can do this with all cancorders, by providing external power and switching them to record, but you don't press the button which starts to actually record the movie.

That is how the shop demos are set up.

I believe there is an external power adaptor available for the K5. Then, in live view mode, it may well output continuous video on its HDMI or whatever video outputs. Nothing gets recorded to the SD card.

[lithos]

The absolute max recording time will probably be 29 minutes, 59 seconds, assuming unlimited storage...

[Couscousdelight]

The recording time is limited by the video file size.

SDcard with cameras use FAT32 file system, there is a 4Go file size limit with it.

[peterh337]

However, my point was that you are not writing any data. The camera is just sitting there, generating a video signal. This should run for ever, but on camcorders it shuts down automatically after a few mins - unless external power is applied.

[RonHendriks1966]

I think that is not possible. The camera cannot record this way. However the thing that is possible to give the liveview output as video transmitted. No recording, just HDMI output. No idea how long you can run it before sensor gets heated.

[jogiba]

The absolute max recording time will probably be 29 minutes, 59 seconds, assuming unlimited storage...

Not in 1080p25 *** mode even with a 128GB SDXC card.

[inferno10]

The absolute max recording time will probably be 29 minutes, 59 seconds, assuming unlimited storage...

Actually, Pentax imposes a 25 minute maximum recording time. So the camera can record up to 4 GB or 25 min, whichever is less in terms of time.

Movie recording time: Approx 25 min (automatic overheat shutdown protection)

Source: Digital Cameras and Accessories - Official PENTAX Imaging Web Site

- Jason

[RonHendriks1966]

Not in 1080p25 *** mode even with a 128GB SDXC card.

The German site states that 64 GB is the max size for SDXC cards that can be taken by your camera. Neue Firmware für PENTAX Kameras - Nachrichten - Division Imaging Systems - PENTAX Europe Imaging Systems