kenrivers :
For the Canon T5i the maximum 1080p recording time depends on the size of the card. 8GB = 22 minutes, 16GB = 44 minutes.
For the Canon T4i Canon does not list it by the size of the SD card but states 22 minutes at 30, 25, and 24 fps.
According to the Nikon site the D5200 maximum recording time is 20 minutes at highest quality, 29 minutes 59 seconds at normal quality.
According to the Panasonic site the g6 HD recording capabilities (AVCHD) is as follows:
Continuous Recordable Time (Motion Image)* AVCHD: Approx. 150 min with H-PS14042, H-FS1442A, H-FS14140, H-FS45150 / Approx. 140 minwith H-FS014042
Actual Recordable Time (Motion Image)* AVCHD: Approx. 75 min with H-PS14042, H-FS1442A, H-FS14140, H-FS45150 / Approx. 70 min with H-FS014042
Recording in the MP4 format reduces the recording time to just under 30 minutes.
You will need to take into consideration the temperature at the time you are recording as it will affect recording time. In other words you will need to be aware of how hot the camera gets while you are recording video.
Hi Ken - you're right about the specs above, but there's a footnote in the
T5i specs you seem to have missed: "If recording time reaches 29 min. 59 sec., movie shooting stops automatically."
As far as overheating goes - I have 4 Panasonic cameras (
FZ150,
GH1,
GH2,
GH3) that I have used for hours-long continuous recording - and none of them has ever overheated.
Johnsonalpha - the
Panasonic G6 is the best "DSLR type" interchangeable lens video-capable camera that you can buy in your budget range - and the
only one that will record for more than 30 minutes continuously - but finding an affordable 12x optical zoom will be a challenge.
The best I can do is recommend a
$498 Panasonic G6 with the 14-42mm kit lens (only one left in stock for this price at Amazon as of this post) - plus a
$199 Panasonic 45-150mm zoom lens.
That will give you camera with over an hour of continuous recording and a little over 10x of zoom range for less than $700.
Again, hope that is helpful,
Bill