Panasonic Lumix TZ9

katies_mum

Wondering if anyone can help please.

Bought this camera from Currys last week (its the TZ10 without GPS) we have bought some 8gb class 6 SDHC Transcend cards to use in it.

I have just put a card in for the first time and it is showing 1550 photos which is comparable to the Panasonic site on the best quality. The videoing should be showing as 33mins approx on the best quality and 1hr 23min WVGA / 1hr 27 mins VGA / 4hrs QVGA (but we don`t know what these mean :embarasse).

However the recording time is showing as 8mins 20 sec which is exactly the same as if it is a 2 gb card. We have taken the card out and put it back in a few times but it is still the same.

I`m wondering if anyone can help please as we have purchased 3 of these cards and we are due to go to Florida next weekend and 8 mins of videoing is no good to us!

Many thanks

fwor

Do you know what filesystem type it is formatted with? If you put it in a card reader connect to a PC you should be able to see by right-clicking on it and looking at Properties.

If it's been formatted with a FAT filesystem (more accurately FAT16) then 2 GB is the maximum file size supported. Some SD cards come pre-formatted like this for maximum compatibility with older equipment.

If so, you may need to format it with a different filesystem, in which case you'll need to check the user guide to see which ones it supports.

katies_mum

fwor, thanks for replying - however, don`t understand what you mean. Really sorry but am not technically minded one little bit. Camera is a new one and we bought class 6 cards as advised because of the videoing.

fwor

Ok - simpler version. Did you have to format the card before using it in the camera?

If not (and assuming there is nothing on it that you want to keep), put it in the camera and reformat it. You will need to look in the User Manual to find out how - I don't own a Panasonic camera so I can't tell you how to do it (but maybe someone else here does and can).

katies_mum

Thanks for replying, I`m sorry but I`m out of my depth on this one.. maybe dumb question but why would you have to format a new card just out of the packet. I don`t even know what it means. Bet you are sorry you replied now, but thank you for trying to help.

fwor

katies_mum wrote: »

why would you have to format a new card just out of the packet.

Because the maker doesn't know what sort of a device you will be putting it in. Maybe a 5 year old MP3 player which ~only~ understands FAT, maybe a brand new camera that can read an NTFS filesystem. So for maximum compatibility they choose the lowest common denominator - FAT - which almost anything will read.

katies_mum

I am so sorry but I do not understand. I just don`t do technical stuff, thought the card would work in the camera and that would be that. I`m getting out of my depth here. I do appreciate you trying to help me.

penrhyn

Have you checked your manual?
2Gb is the maximum file size supported for jpeg video, it says if you want to record more press the motion picture button again. So presumable this would create a new file and you could continue in this fashion.
If you primarily wanted a movie camera why by a stills one all be it with video?

VGA is 400 x 600 pixels with 256 colours, roughly the resolution of your standard Television.

katies_mum

I hadn`t seen that about 2gb, thank you.

We wanted one item that did pictures and recording as I am fed up of going on holiday and having to operate camera and camcorder. Also thought it would be easier and less to carry round. So if we record in VGA we will get more recording time fom the card but it won`t be HD, which is ok as we don`t yet have HD telly.

Thank you both so much, think I understand now. I don`t have to do anything apart from stick the card in the camera (which as you have most probably gathered is all I`m capable of doing!!!) and press the button after 8 mins for HD or put it on the other setting for a bit longer but not quite as good quality.

Much appreicated.

macman

If you read the manual for your camera (which you don't appear to have done yet) then it should tell you how to reformat the memory card. Assuming you want at some point to remove existing pics or video then you'll need to know how to do this.

katies_mum

It didn`t come with manual buf have found one on the panasonic site this afternoon.

I`m really sorry I bought this now, as its causing me no end of confusion and grief. funny how they don`t tell you about reformatting etc.

Sorry to go on, but what you are saying is - if we want to put the pictures etc onto the laptop then we will have to reformat the memory card? I will research the manual to see what it says, would print it but its 179 pages long.

Thanks macman.