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Question

Canon t3i "Movie recording has been stopped automatically"

Jan 12, 2013 11:39AM PST

As stated by the title, I have been having a problem with my week-old Canon EOS Rebel t3i. Now I've been attempting to record video with it, as that is the main reason that I purchased this camera, but I keep getting an error.

After recording video for roughly 30 seconds-3 minutes (Depending upon randomness as far as I can tell, as well as quality; 1080p vs 480p, etc.), it stops and an error pops of saying, "Movie recording has been stopped automatically".

Before responding, note that I have researched this already. I have a SanDisk 16GB Ultra Class 10 SDHC 30MB/s (bought in store). I freshly format the card before recording. The most frustrating thing is that it was working only a few days ago... I don't think I've done anything unusual that would cause this, but I may be wrong.

Please tell me if I left out any relevant information. Thanks in advance for your responses.

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
Also having problem
Nov 4, 2015 8:56PM PST

This is a classic problem for me as well. Can't seem to get this..

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A common issue I encounter
Nov 4, 2015 10:19PM PST

When folk only have one memory card. They get stuck. Read the entire thread again.

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Answer
Canon Video
Jan 13, 2013 12:17AM PST

There are limitations to how long you can record.
Look in the Instruction Manual at pages 150 and 151.

When you format the card you MUST format the card with the CAMERA and NOT with the Computer.
See page 45 of the Instruction Manual to see how to format with the Camera.

..

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Video
Jan 13, 2013 12:49AM PST

I understand that, but it only records for a minute or two, not the 11 or so minutes that the manual says.

I DO format the card with the camera, not the computer.

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Video
Jan 13, 2013 6:33AM PST

I keep thinking that the camera must think that there is little space left on the card.

Time for an experiment:

First - there are so many things you can set on that camera, there may be something set that is causing the problem. It is time to reset the camera to factory default settings.
Go to page 176 and reset the camera to default.
Then check the movie recording length and see if the problem is resolved.

Second - Put the card into a card reader on your computer and check its capacity.
Use Windows Explorer and in the left panel you should find the card listed under "Computer".
Right Click on the card (which may be called "removeable disk").
It should show you a pie chart showing the Used Space and the Free Space.

What do you find there?

..

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Video
Jan 13, 2013 6:57AM PST

1. I already tried resetting to factory settings. It didn't change anything.

2. I'm on mac, but I still found essentially the same thing (Just no pie chart).

Format: MS-DOS (FAT32)
Capacity: 15.92 GB
Available: 15.83 GB
Used: 89,948,160 bytes (89.9 MB on disk)

Hopefully this helps. Thanks for the response Happy

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Video
Jan 14, 2013 12:05AM PST

Looks like you had already done a good job of troubleshooting.
What you got from the Mac looks like what I would expect.

It looks like something is broken and now you need to find out if it is the card or the camera.

The easiest way is to try a different card.

If you find that that a different card fails in the same manner, you need to contact Canon Support.
You have a one year warranty from Canon.

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Video
Jan 14, 2013 7:50AM PST

Hmm... currently the only other card that I have is class 2, so I don't think that would help.

I'll see what I can do. Thank you for the help.

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Try the class 2 anyway.
Jan 14, 2013 7:54AM PST

At lower data rates it's OK.

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Works!
Jan 14, 2013 11:32AM PST

The class 2 card works! I'm glad it's not the camera, but the question now is, why does the class 10 card not work?

It worked last week, and I don't think I changed anything. I hope there's a way of fixing it, since I don't want to have wasted money on a pretty good card.

Thanks for the help everyone Happy

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Too many cards are counterfeit.
Jan 14, 2013 12:17PM PST

Sorry but it's one of those issues you will encounter. Take any class card, relabel and sell it.
Bob

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Card
Jan 14, 2013 9:18PM PST

Even though it was bought in Best Buy?

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Even more so.
Jan 14, 2013 11:48PM PST
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Mac...
Jan 15, 2013 5:22AM PST

That's Windows only... as I stated earlier, I'm on a mac, so I can't download it.

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(NT) I'm sure you have friends with Windows.
Jan 15, 2013 5:26AM PST
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Answer
re: t3i "Movie recording has been stopped automatically"
Jan 13, 2013 8:12AM PST

Sounds to me like either the card went bad or the connections to the card are not up to par. Unfortunately, the only real way to test this is with another SD card. If it happens with the second card, the problem is in the camera; if not, the problem is with the first card.

But in every case I've ever seen or heard of, that message is caused by the camera's buffer filling up, which in turn is caused by one of the two situations above.

HTH - Mark

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Answer
I have a T3i too.
Jan 14, 2013 12:15AM PST

And I know this does not help but it's fine here. HOWEVER I have a few ideas.

1. Switch the camera to one of the creative modes and reset the camera settings back to stock. (try again)
2. Is the recording area very loud? I have yet to record in say a rock band situation but there was a digital camcorder that could not record in loud places. And for that camera the fix was to muffle the sound with sound absorber over the mic. No. I do not know if this applies to the T3i. I only bring it up because it's something I look for.

Hope this helps,
Bob

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Video
Jan 14, 2013 7:47AM PST

There is very little noise in my test shoots, so I don't think it has anything to do with the noise.

Thanks for the suggestion though Happy

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(NT) If the reset didn't help. I'd try another card.
Jan 14, 2013 7:49AM PST
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Answer
More info
Jan 14, 2013 7:55AM PST

One thing that I forgot to mention was that I got the camera refurbished. I'm not sure if this is relevant, since it's likely just the card, but I figured I'd add this in case it helps. Thanks.

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Did you do the reset noted? As a T3i owner.
Jan 14, 2013 8:01AM PST

I know I confused my camera (or me?) and had to start over.

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Answer
Card
Jan 16, 2013 8:04AM PST

Here's the card in case it helps.

<span id="INSERTION_MARKER">http://imgur.com/rqx1s
<span>

The small scratching was done a few days before this error began, so that isn't the problem.

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Still need to test it.
Jan 16, 2013 8:27AM PST
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Results
Jan 16, 2013 12:09PM PST

I finally managed to test it. It took so long because I had to use a program other than h2testw, which proved fairly difficult.

The results:

Average writing speed: 8.11 MB/s
Average reading speed: 26.31 MB/s
Data OK: 14.83 GB (31096128 sectors)
Data LOST: 0.00 Byte (0 sectors)
Corrupted: 0.00 Byte (0 sectors)
Slightly changed: 0.00 Byte (0 sectors)
Overwritten: 0.00 Byte (0 sectors)

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Looks low. Write speed that is.
Jan 16, 2013 2:23PM PST
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New Card
Jan 17, 2013 4:52AM PST

Yeah, I think I'm going to be getting a new card for video, and keep my current one for photography, since it's still 16GB and has a pretty good read speed.

What do you suggest I get? I'm hesitant about getting SanDisk again.

I was thinking this, but I'm not sure. I also don't know which sellers I should avoid, so if you could inform me on that, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks for all of the help Happy

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I have this one. Same page?
Jan 17, 2013 5:52AM PST
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Test result.
Jan 17, 2013 6:06AM PST

Warning: Only 1000 of 30883 MByte tested.
Test finished without errors.
You can now delete the test files *.h2w or verify them again.
Writing speed: 14.6 MByte/s
Reading speed: 17.5 MByte/s
H2testw v1.4

Now I know my laptop's SD Card reader is slow, so a read with a Transcend card reader on USB 2.0 gets me:
Warning: Only 1000 of 30883 MByte tested.
Test finished without errors.
Reading speed: 18.9 MByte/s
H2testw v1.4

ONE MORE TIME but writing on the Transcend SD card reader on USB 2.0 port:
Warning: Only 1000 of 30883 MByte tested.
Test finished without errors.
You can now delete the test files *.h2w or verify them again.
Writing speed: 15.0 MByte/s
Reading speed: 18.9 MByte/s
H2testw v1.4

Hope this helps,
Bob

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Difference?
Jan 17, 2013 6:59AM PST

Looks good, but is there a significant difference between that and the one I pointed out?

Oh, and I'm looking at 16GB not 32GB, not that this changes much.

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Sorry. I don't have a 16GB card to test with.
Jan 17, 2013 7:09AM PST

I thought the 32GB card of the same make and model might interest you. Also the fact is that I pulled it from my T3i to do this test would help.

Sorry but let's see if anyone can get this card and test it for you.
Bob