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Does the Panasonic Lumix GH5 Have a Recording Time Limit?

No, there are no recording limits on the Panasonic Lumix GH5 and you can continuously record without interruptions.

However, your files may be separated into smaller files depending on the situation.

This post tells you how your recording may be split up into various files depending on the types of memory cards you use and the format you record in. 

How Long Does The Panasonic Lumix GH5 Record Before Stopping?

The maximum continuously recordable time on the Panasonic Lumix GH5 is unlimited. 

You are only limited by the space left on your memory card or the power left in your Panasonic Lumix GH5. 

However, your camera will automatically split your recording into smaller files depending on the situation (without interrupting your recording).

You can then stitch the files back together in post processing if you wish. 

Files are separated as follows:

Recording in AVCHD:

  • Files are split up when the file size exceeds 4 GB.

Recording in MP4 with a recording quality of FHD:

  • Files are split up if the recording time exceeds 30 minutes or if the file size exceeds 4 GB (whichever comes first).

Recording in MP4 with a recording quality of 4K, MP4 (LPCM) or MOV:

  • Files are split up when the file exceeds 4 GB in file size when using an SDHC memory card.
  • Files are split up when the file exceeds 96 GB in file size or if the recording time exceeds 3 hours and 4 minutes when using an SDXC memory card.

Note:

The limits are based on ‘normal’ operating conditions. If the temperature of the camera gets too hot then the recording time may actually be lower than the limits stated above. 

Tips To Avoid Overheating On The Panasonic GH5

As mentioned earlier the estimated recording time available is based on normal operating conditions.

If the camera gets too hot then this wouldn’t be classed as ‘normal’ operating conditions.

In general, the Panasonic GH5 is a solid camera and it’s rare that it will overheat, but I’ve included some tips below if you want to be extra careful.

Here are two tips to make sure your Panasonic GH5 can stay cool:

  1. To get the most out of your camera, try to turn it off when it is not being used so it can cool down between recordings.

    Not only will this let it cool down, but it will also save battery life.
  1. You can also move the touch screen away from the camera body.

    This will allow more heat to dissipate from the camera and let it cool off faster.

These two tips will help you reduce the chance of your Panasonic Lumix GH5 from overheating.

What Is The Remaining Time Left On The GH5 Screen?

On the bottom right of the GH5 screen, you may see an indicator showing the time remaining for recording.

This indicator shows the remaining continuous recording time based on the amount of free memory left in the SD card. 

So even though you are able to record up to 3 hours and 4 minutes in some cases, if your SD card has only 3 minutes worth of recording space left then 3 minutes is what the indicator will show. 

My Panasonic Lumix GH5 Automatically Turns Off Unexpectedly

If your Panasonic Lumix GH5 is turning off unexpectedly you might have the ‘Economy’ settings turned on. 

The Economy Settings are as follows:

  • Sleep Mode – The camera will automatically turn off if it hasn’t been used for a specified amount of time.
  • Sleep mode (Wi-Fi) – The camera will automatically turn off if it is not connected to a Wi-Fi network and has not been used for about 15 minutes.
  • Auto LVF/ Monitor Off – The monitor/ viewfinder will automatically turn off if the camera has not been used for a specified amount of time.
  • Power Save LVF Shooting – If you use the automatic viewfinder/monitor switching function and display the ‘On-monitor recording information screen‘, the camera will automatically turn off after a specified amount of time. 

You can adjust all of the above settings by doing the following:

  1. Go to your ‘Menu’
  2. Go to your ‘Setup’ menu (this is the wrench icon)
  3. Go to ‘Economy’ settings.
  4. Under ‘Economy’ settings you can adjust the time limits for the different settings mentioned above.

The most common one that you will adjust is probably ‘Sleep Mode’ or the ‘Auto LVF/Monitor Off’ setting. 

If your camera does turn off or go into standby because of these economy settings, you can do the following to go back to normal:

  • For ‘Sleep mode’, ‘Sleep mode (Wi-Fi)’ and ‘Power Save LVF Shooting’, press the shutter button halfway or turn the camera off then on to go back to normal.
  • If the monitor/viewfinder turns off due to the ‘Auto LVF/Monitor Off’ setting, press any button to go back to normal.

Conclusion

To summarise, there is no maximum continuous recording time on the Panasonic Lumix GH5.

You can go for as long as your battery and SD card allow. 

However, files may be separated (as explained earlier in this post) which you can stitch back together in post processing.

The fact that there are no recording limits makes the Panasonic Lumix GH5 one of the best cameras for long recording sessions like church services, sports games or other live streaming sessions. 

If you want to know how to use the Panasonic Lumix GH5 for live streaming check out the link below to our guide.

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