FAT32 has a file size limit of 4GB, which is about a half hour of continuous recording at 17mbps. In the short time I've had my HF100 I've not come close to this, but I anticipate I might want to at some point.

I read that the camera simply quits recording when it hits this file size limit. Is this true?

Does anybody format their SDHC cards to NTFS to avoid this limitation? If so, have you experienced any drawbacks or problems from doing so?

Will your camera read NTFS? I know mine won't, but reads Fat32 just fine.

I haven't tried it yet. I didn't want to take the off chance of mucking up my card if someone can tell me it's not a good idea, or that the HF100 can't read NTFS formatted cards.

You could probably try a format, if the camera doesn't read it (and I'd guess it won't), re-format in cam. It'll probably ask to reformat the first time you put it in.

As for file size - AVCHD typically splits at 2G - the cam doesn't stop, unless the disk is full. Usually you need to use the included software to stitch the file back together on import to your computer (or there's another method floating around here on the forum somewhere... may have to look a bit for it).

I've decided to not muck around with this. I read wrongly that the camera would stop recording when it hit the file size limit, but it doesn't. That was my main concern, and it isn't a concern.

I think formatting the cards in the camera formats them to a version of FAT32 (at least WinXP sees it as FAT32) and I'd rather the camera format the card into whatever format it prefers since the file size limit isn't a big deal.

I read the thread about stitching the files back together that I think you're talking about, and it seems easy enough. I'm also giving ImageMixer another try, and I don't hate it as bad as I did at first. I figure I'll give the user manual a good read, and actually try using the program for a bit, and then pass final judgment.

Just for the record, I formatted an 8 GB SDHC card with NTFS and tried it in my HF100. The camcorder complained with a warning telling me to "Initialize the Memory Card Using this Camcorder".

It does not recognize NTFS, and in the CARD INFO menu is unable to show size or running length as it normally does for FAT32 formatted cards.

Larry