<p>There are three main reasons that still cameras with video functionality have restrictions on the length of video they will shoot.</p>

<p>The first and most common, as tomh pointed out is tax purposes.  The European Union charges a 5% tax on any video recording device and sets the limit at any device capable of recording 30 minutes or more of video.  To avoid this 5% additional fee in the EU, the camera manufacturers limit recording length to 29 minutes and 59 seconds.  Most manufacturers don't bother making a non-EU model, so the rest of the world gets hit with the same limitation.  This reason, however, only applies to cameras with a 29 minute 59 second limit.</p>

<p>The second most common reason is that of file size.  The Fat32 system used by many cameras for the memory card (due to its simplicity and lack of patent encumbrance at this point) is limited to 4GB per single file.  While many cameras are capable of splitting across multiple files, it does involve a few challenges that not all camera manufacturers bother to deal with.  When they don't, it means that the video recording must end when the 4GB file size limit is reached.  This results in a fixed length limit for each quality level, but it will differ based on quality level, with lower video qualities being able to record longer.  You can easily verify if this is the reason by checking the file size of the videos.  Some cameras have third party firmwares and hacks to bypass this limitation, however I'm not aware of any for the Nikon S3300 specifically.</p>

<p>The final reason, which used to be the most common, but is substantially less common with modern cameras, is that of heat.  When CMOS imaging sensors (found in most all modern still cameras) are used, they produce heat.  If the heat can not dissipate fast enough, it eventually results in the sensor overheating, which causes additional noise and eventually sensor damage.  To protect against this, one of two methods can be used.  The oldest is to simply put an arbitrary length limit on recordings that is considered a safe amount of time for the sensor to operate.  Many later systems monitor the temperature of the sensor and only shut down recording when they detect that the sensor is becoming too warm.  It is hard to tell for certain if this is the reason for the recording to be stopping, but in the later case, the time when the recording stops will not be exactly the same between instances, particular when light levels and ambient temperature differ significantly.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-06T17:09:45.060Z
While this answer is factual, it's completely unrelated to his problem
TravisO
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-06T17:16:02.373Z
@traviso the second reason I gave is the most likely cause of this specific problem.  I included the other cases for people with similar but different scenarios.
AJ Henderson
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-07T17:04:19.083Z
Why would a fat32 system not just start a new file? I've never run into video record length limits because of system file size limits. Every cam I've used just rolls frames into a new file. Why wouldn't any other?
user3643
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-07T17:05:44.020Z
Though, I did give an up for an otherwise good answer.
user3643
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-07T17:09:17.220Z
@DigiVisionMedia I have before and 8 minutes 11 seconds is an oddly specific time that is around the time that I'd expect the 4GB limit to get hit.  Yes, most camera's, especially newer ones, will auto-continue, but not all do.  That's why I led with an answer about the 30 minute limit which made TravisO think my answer was irrelevant, because that's way WAY more likely to be the cause of the limit for most people, but the OP almost certainly is a 4gb file limitation.
AJ Henderson
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-07T17:11:36.413Z
If you say you've seen it, I believe you. I guess it would just be due to lazy programming? Does your experience correlate this with cheaper cams?
user3643
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-07T17:13:04.077Z
It's always been on cheaper cameras.  My best guess is that they didn't include a large enough buffer or fast enough processor to manage to close out the headers of the initial file and start the new file without dropping frames, so they just didn't bother to try.  The camera in question is a point and shoot from 2012 or earlier.  I haven't seen it on newer cameras as the ability to process quickly enough is not really an issue anymore, even on the low end.  (Granted, I also don't follow the low end anymore.)
AJ Henderson
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-08T15:16:10.527Z
2015-01-08T15:16:10.527Z
AJ Henderson
<p>Some cameras had an arbitrary recording time limit in order to avoid being classified as video cameras for tax purposes.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-08T15:04:53.493Z
This reason only applies for 29 minute 59 second limits, it does not apply for anything shorter than that.  There are other reasons for shorter limits.
AJ Henderson
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-07T23:03:53.400Z
2015-01-07T23:03:53.400Z
tomh
<p>I have a Nikon s3300 and wish to take video at a concert however no matter what card I put in the available time says 8min and 11 seconds. Am I doing something wrong or is there a way to fix this. </p>

<video><video-recording><nikon>
Why does my still camera stop recording video on its own?
bmrm145
# Why does my still camera stop recording video on its own?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-01-07)

I have a Nikon s3300 and wish to take video at a concert however no matter what card I put in the available time says 8min and 11 seconds. Am I doing something wrong or is there a way to fix this.

**Tags:** video, video-recording, nikon


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-01-08. Score: 5

There are three main reasons that still cameras with video functionality have restrictions on the length of video they will shoot.

The first and most common, as username_4 pointed out is tax purposes. The European Union charges a 5% tax on any video recording device and sets the limit at any device capable of recording 30 minutes or more of video. To avoid this 5% additional fee in the EU, the camera manufacturers limit recording length to 29 minutes and 59 seconds. Most manufacturers don't bother making a non-EU model, so the rest of the world gets hit with the same limitation. This reason, however, only applies to cameras with a 29 minute 59 second limit.

The second most common reason is that of file size. The Fat32 system used by many cameras for the memory card (due to its simplicity and lack of patent encumbrance at this point) is limited to 4GB per single file. While many cameras are capable of splitting across multiple files, it does involve a few challenges that not all camera manufacturers bother to deal with. When they don't, it means that the video recording must end when the 4GB file size limit is reached. This results in a fixed length limit for each quality level, but it will differ based on quality level, with lower video qualities being able to record longer. You can easily verify if this is the reason by checking the file size of the videos. Some cameras have third party firmwares and hacks to bypass this limitation, however I'm not aware of any for the Nikon S3300 specifically.

The final reason, which used to be the most common, but is substantially less common with modern cameras, is that of heat. When CMOS imaging sensors (found in most all modern still cameras) are used, they produce heat. If the heat can not dissipate fast enough, it eventually results in the sensor overheating, which causes additional noise and eventually sensor damage. To protect against this, one of two methods can be used. The oldest is to simply put an arbitrary length limit on recordings that is considered a safe amount of time for the sensor to operate. Many later systems monitor the temperature of the sensor and only shut down recording when they detect that the sensor is becoming too warm. It is hard to tell for certain if this is the reason for the recording to be stopping, but in the later case, the time when the recording stops will not be exactly the same between instances, particular when light levels and ambient temperature differ significantly.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: While this answer is factual, it's completely unrelated to his problem  
> **username_1**: @traviso the second reason I gave is the most likely cause of this specific problem.  I included the other cases for people with similar but different scenarios.  
> **username_3**: Why would a fat32 system not just start a new file? I've never run into video record length limits because of system file size limits. Every cam I've used just rolls frames into a new file. Why wouldn't any other?  
> **username_3**: Though, I did give an up for an otherwise good answer.  
> **username_1**: @DigiVisionMedia I have before and 8 minutes 11 seconds is an oddly specific time that is around the time that I'd expect the 4GB limit to get hit.  Yes, most camera's, especially newer ones, will auto-continue, but not all do.  That's why I led with an answer about the 30 minute limit which made username_2 think my answer was irrelevant, because that's way WAY more likely to be the cause of the limit for most people, but the OP almost certainly is a 4gb file limitation.  
> **username_3**: If you say you've seen it, I believe you. I guess it would just be due to lazy programming? Does your experience correlate this with cheaper cams?  
> **username_1**: It's always been on cheaper cameras.  My best guess is that they didn't include a large enough buffer or fast enough processor to manage to close out the headers of the initial file and start the new file without dropping frames, so they just didn't bother to try.  The camera in question is a point and shoot from 2012 or earlier.  I haven't seen it on newer cameras as the ability to process quickly enough is not really an issue anymore, even on the low end.  (Granted, I also don't follow the low end anymore.)  

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### Answer by username_4 on 2015-01-07. Score: 0

Some cameras had an arbitrary recording time limit in order to avoid being classified as video cameras for tax purposes.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: This reason only applies for 29 minute 59 second limits, it does not apply for anything shorter than that.  There are other reasons for shorter limits.  

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