help with memory cards for video

[Lane123]

I have a job coming up next month where I will be doing still photography for a week long event. The director called me today asking about video equipment and I am clueless!
There will be different events/speakers/wetlabs going on simultaneously in different rooms. The organization has purchased high def. video cameras to have in each room. His question to me is what type of memory card is best and how long will they be able to record (on a high definition setting) before having to change cards or upload to a computer. Most of the sessions (speakers) will last for about an hour with the next one starting within 5 to 10 minutes after the completion of the prior one.
Can anyone familiar with videography give me any insight on what to tell them?
Thank you!

[KdLaneJr]

Need the make and model of the hd camcorders you will be using to answer this.

[Lane123]

Thank you Ken. I will get this info and post it.

[tukaniray]

If it's a DSLR ... the camera won't record for very long per clip. But a 16Gb Card will record about an hour's worth of footage on a DSLR. But again, the camera's only record for a few minutes before they stop.

If you are doing it on a Camcorder that uses Compact Flash/Secure Digital Cards, I would say use fast 32gb cards. Those should record for around 2 hours. We used a 32Gb CF card on a Sony Z7U and it recorded in HD about 2.5 hours before filling up the card.

And when I used a Sony XDCam EX3, their dedicated cards filled about 2 hours on a 32Gb SxS card ... those are quite expensive.

-Ray-

[Lane123]

Thank you Ray! As I said, I do not even own a camcorder and am one of those people who has never used the feature on my DSLR.

I have gotten a little more info on the camcorders they will be using if it will help.

It is a Sony DCR-SR68

Hope this clarifies it a little more.
Thank you again for your help!!!

[KdLaneJr]

The 80 gb internal hard drive of the DCR-SR68 can record 1220 minutes of HQ video, which translates to 20 and a third hours. Should be enough for a days recording without buying memory cards. It will take some time to transfer the recorded video to a computer at the end of each day.

Page 80 and 81 of this pdf manual cover battery life and recording time.

Sony primarily uses their proprietary memory sticks. This chart shows you which are compatible.

Fortunately, this particular camcorder will also accept SDHC cards that are class 4 rated or higher and the chart on page 81 shows how much recording time is available for sdhc cards up to 32 gb in capacity.

[Lane123]

Thank you so so much Ken!

[tukaniray]

Ken gave you some great info there. Definitely covers the record time over digital space.

But I am concerned for you. You stated that the Director and their video team bought an HD camera ... when the Sony DCR-SR68 is a Standard Definition camera.

I hope they got something else ... or someone is going to be disappointed that the footage is in SD and not HD.

Just looking out for your team.

-Ray-

[Lane123]

Ray, thank you for pointing that out to me. I will pass that information along to him as well. I was hired to do the still photography and the director called me yesterday asking questions about video. I explained to him that I have no experience when it comes to video but I would see what I could find out. I don't mind helping out a bit... I think I will give him the info you all have so generously shared with me and tell him that he would need to contact someone who specializes in videography for anything more detailed. Thank you both again for your help. I really appreciate it!