5D MkII sleep every 20 minutes or so while recording

[Allan Phan]

I am not sure if there is something wrong with my 5D MkII or there is a setting somewhere that I am not aware of but my 5D MkII will go to sleep every 20 minutes or so while recording video. Help please?

[Jon Fairhurst]

There is a settable Live View timeout (when not recording). Also, recording is limited to 12 minutes. The 12 minute limit cannot be overridden.

[Allan Phan]

Thanks Jon, I never knew that it has 12 minutes of recording.

[Peer Landa]

Originally Posted by Allan Phan

I never knew that it has 12 minutes of recording.

Hum, only 12 minutes... I wonder if someone can explain why that is...?

(sorry, I couldn't resist ;^)

-- peer

[Warren Ix]

It is because of an import tax duty of 4.9% on video cameras in Europe. Digital cameras that record more than 30 minutes continuous video are subject to the extra tax.

So, the 5D mkII will not record more than 30 minutes in SD, which equates to 12 minutes in HD.

:-(

[Nigel Barker]

Originally Posted by Warren Ix

It is because of an import tax duty of 4.9% on video cameras in Europe. Digital cameras that record more than 30 minutes continuous video are subject to the extra tax.

So, the 5D mkII will not record more than 30 minutes in SD, which equates to 12 minutes in HD.

:-(

The EU tax tariff is indeed said to be the reason as confirmed by Chris Hurd

Originally Posted by Chris Hurd

If it helps, I've been told by someone fairly high up the chain at Canon USA that the limitation is indeed due to the EU tax situation. That's neither an official answer or a definitive one, but at least it goes beyond opinion and into the realm of anecdotal information. http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/canon-eo...ml#post1506755

However if it is Canon's intention to ensure that the 5DII, 7D etc are not classed as camcorders & thus subject to the 4.9% EU customs duty then they have either misunderstood the regulations or been overzealous in their implementation.

A still camera is only classified as a camcorder if it is capable of recording video of resolution higher than 800x600 & more than 23fps for 30 minutes or more. Here is a link to the UK Government site where the regulations are detailed Classifying television cameras, video cameras and still digital cameras | Business Link I assume that the 800x600 lower limit is set so as to be higher than the 720x576 of PAL SD. This definition does mean that in fact standard definition recording of any length is permissible without the camera being classed as a camcorder. Given that fact it's not clear how a limit of 12 minutes or 4GB is arrived at as neither figures anywhere as part of the EU definition of a camcorder & it is presumably just coincidental that 4GB is the maximum file size for the FAT32 file system used on the CF cards.

Whatever the reason for the limit we appear stuck with it & I like the suggestion that taken together the 5DIIs shallow DOF & limited recording time mean we really are able to enjoy an experience more akin to using 35mm film:-)