How long can an average sony camera record videos?

Question

Some of the newer sony cameras?

Answer 1

lepus_arcticus is correct - but incomplete.

If the camcorder is a flash memory or hard drive based unit, it will depend on the video quality setting you select. In the case of the hard drive camcorders, it also depends on the size of the internal hard drive.

In the case of a miniDV tape based camcorder, it depends on whether you select LP or SP or whether you use 60 minute or 80 minute tapes... and whether you are recording in standard definition or high definition. And if you fill a tape, you can pop it out and put in another - I always carry several extra.

And for ALL camcorders, it depends on the power source. If you are using only the battery that came in the box, you will probably only get about 20 minutes record time. For additional time, get an optional high-capacity rechargeable battery or two... I have 2 - they each will go for about 5 hours if I don't use the LCD panel (and use the viewfinder) which gets me to 10 hours of straight capture. If it is a LONG day, one can recharge while the other is in use.

Of course, if you can plug in to AC power, then the battery life does not matter so you are dependent on the the amount of storage media you have available.

DO NOT GET A DVD BASED CAMCORDER. They are the WORST for video capture and editing. (A disc only does about 20 minutes in high quality.)

Answer 2

EDIT:

Nu'uanu he is talking about a Sony Camera not a Camcorder. Most Sony Cameras record video even the older ones. I have a Cybershot DSC-T1 which is the first in the Cybershot line of cameras and it records great video. I'm going to get a 4Gb card for mine ASAP to record moves and stuff, I would get a 8Gb card but my camera doesn't support ones that big.

That all depends on how big of a memory card and what setting you use to record. On a 256Mb Memory Stick Duo Pro card I get about 2 hours of video using the lowest mode which is 160x140 at 15fps(frames per second) which is good for email. I get around 10 minuets using the 2nd best mode which is 640x480 at 15fps, and using the best mode which is 640x480 at 30fps I only can record 3 minuets of video. The bigger the card the more you can record. A 4Gb card I can record around an hour and a half of video at the best mode.