The Panasonic Lumix GH5 was a massive success and luckily the Panasonic Lumix GH6 takes a leaf out of its predecessors book…
Just like the GH5 there are no recording limits on the Panasonic Lumix GH6 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.
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How Long Does The Panasonic Lumix GH6 Record Before Stopping?
The maximum continuously recordable time on the Panasonic Lumix GH6 is unlimited.
You are only limited by the space left on your memory card or the power left in your Panasonic Lumix GH6.
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.
The screenshots below are from the operating manual and I have included a key for what the (A) , (B) and (C) mean.
(A) = Using a CFexpress card
(B) = Using an SDXC memory card
(C) = Using an SDHC memory card
E.g. For MP4 recordings in FHD with any type of memory card, you can record for an unlimited amount of time, but your files will be divided when they exceed 30 minutes in length or 4 GB in file size.
For MP4 recordings:
For MOV recordings:
For Apple ProRes recordings:
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 GH6
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 Lumix GH6 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 GH6 can stay cool:
- 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.
- 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 GH6 from getting too hot.
My Panasonic Lumix GH6 Automatically Turns Off Unexpectedly
If your Panasonic Lumix GH6 is turning off unexpectedly you might have the ‘Power Save Mode’ settings turned on.
The ‘Power Save Mode’ settings are as follows:
- Sleep Mode – The camera will automatically turn off if the camera 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:
- Go to your ‘Menu’.
- Go to your ‘Setup’ menu (this is the wrench icon).
- Go to the ‘Monitor / Display’ submenu (this is the second tab in the Setup Menu).
- Here you will find the ‘Power Save Mode’ settings where you can adjust the time limits for the different settings mentioned above.
If your camera does turn off or go into standby because of these ‘Power Save’ 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 GH6.
You can go for as long as your battery and SD card allow.
However, large files may be separated into smaller ones (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 GH6 one of the best cameras for long recording sessions like church services, sports games or other live streaming sessions.
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