topic Re: Not Recording to SD Card Even Though REC is Indicated in Professional Video

EOS R5 C Not Recording to SD Card Even Though REC is Indicated

madwiser — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 17:03:16 GMT

No CFExpress card in the camera, just a fast SD card. Recording MP4 10-bit. The red outline shows around the LCD screen when recording. Says "REC" at the top of the screen. BUT nothing records. No files. Put in a CFExpress card. Same thing except it records to the CFExpress card. Hmmm. Take out the CFExpress to repeat the process. This time I notice the tally light on top of the camera stays green during REC. Red box around the LCD, displays REC at the top of the LCD, tally light on top of camera is green - no recording. With CFExpress everything is the same except the tally light on top of the camera is red. I shot for a couple hours. All indications showed it was recording. Didn't record a single file. Firmware 1.0.6.1

Re: Not Recording to SD Card Even Though REC is Indicated

Ron — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 16:21:31 GMT

Thanks for joining the conversation!

So that the Community can help you better, can you list the exact model camera you are using?. That, and any other details you'd like to give will help the Community better understand your issue!

If this is a time-sensitive matter, click HERE search our knowledge base or find additional support options HERE.

Thanks and have a great day!

Re: Not Recording to SD Card Even Though REC is Indicated

rs-eos — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 16:26:17 GMT

Note that it will greatly depend upon what codec you're using in terms of if the SD card could even handle it. There's a reason for the CFexpress slot; that allows for much greater write speeds. An SD card will max out at 90 MB/s sustained writes (V90).

Re: Not Recording to SD Card Even Though REC is Indicated

madwiser — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 16:58:22 GMT

I understand that. It will error out if the card is too slow. There was no error. I shot for a couple hours. The red outline tally remained lit as did the REC indicator.

Re: Not Recording to SD Card Even Though REC is Indicated

madwiser — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 16:59:11 GMT

EOS R5C

Re: Not Recording to SD Card Even Though REC is Indicated

rs-eos — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 17:31:03 GMT

What specific codec are you using though?

Re: EOS R5 C Not Recording to SD Card Even Though REC is Indicated

shadowsports — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 18:47:30 GMT

Please identify the card(s) you are shooting with as well. Brand, model, type, speed, etc.

Re: EOS R5 C Not Recording to SD Card Even Though REC is Indicated

stevet1 — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 21:37:05 GMT

madwiser,

This is just a thought, but do you know if you have Clean HDMI output enabled.

I have a T8i, and the manual says that if you have Clean HDMI output enabled, movies are not saved to the card.

When you set the mode to the recording mode, It's in the first menu, #4, under HDMI Info disp. My manual is says that if either Clean 4K or Clean HD are enabled, movies are not saved to the card.

Steve Thomas

Re: EOS R5 C Not Recording to SD Card Even Though REC is Indicated

AtticusLake — Sun, 11 Feb 2024 09:46:56 GMT

I tried reproducing this with my R5C, but couldn't.

With no CF card, but a fast (V90) SD card, it worked fine, and recorded as I would expect, at least in MP4.
With a crappy old slow (C10) SD card, it told me the card was incompatible with the shooting mode. It still worked, and seemed to record fine, at lower frame rates. At higher frame rates, it wouldn't record, and the tally light flashed red.

So I dunno. Maybe you have a card that's right on the edge? Or maybe you have a card which isn't communicating errors to the camera properly? So mabe try a different brand of SD card, and make sure it's V90.

Re: EOS R5 C Not Recording to SD Card Even Though REC is Indicated

TyHarper — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 05:06:02 GMT

I ran into this quirk today and as someone who was completely aware of it before and still forgot to switch it back from HDMi recording to internal I gotta say that unless you're switching between external/internal recording daily, it simply is not intuitive to remember to switch it back/forth everytime you use it. What IS intuitive is the idea that when you see that red box around the cam's screen, that you are actually recording to SOMETHING. To be clear, I LOVE the R5C for all the features/options you can tweak. I also know that it's on us as operators to check/double check that the cards are in the cam. But there has to be a more user-friendly way to implement that external/internal recording feature. Maybe when u hit record while in HDMI/external recording mode a notification pops up that says something like: 'HDMI recording engaged. Please ensure external device is connected'. That way whether you were intending to record externally or simply forgot to switch it back to internal recording AND forgot to put your CFexpress card in... at least you get one final reminder... and aren't penalized so harshly for it.

Re: EOS R5 C Not Recording to SD Card Even Though REC is Indicated

shadowsports — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 11:24:52 GMT

I have notes on this topic/behavior somewhere. It might take me a little bit to put my finger on them. This is known issue or behavior. Others have expressed a desire for a more intuitive interface since the camera can be set to record on the HDMI output without anything connected.

Re: EOS R5 C Not Recording to SD Card Even Though REC is Indicated

shadowsports — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 16:41:22 GMT

Hi Everyone,

Bryan "Deaf Director" YouTube content creator demonstrates and explains this phenomenon in detail.

https://youtu.be/BxFrteqbgxg?si=xVkNoAbuMGMLJ4-3

Re: EOS R5 C Not Recording to SD Card Even Though REC is Indicated

francisfp — Sat, 13 Sep 2025 05:17:22 GMT

what !!!!
I just had my catastrophic event, recorded 30+ minutes of an event in my community, with interviews and some awesome footage. My r5c has been working just fine up to this point, and I realized i had not previously tested recording more than 30-39 minutes. using a CF express card and videos shorter than that appear or are recorded just fine. this camera is way too expensive for me to not have the file ... the file shows up under the files created, i mean.. im using a 128GB cf Express card, recording low res files, 4-2-2 1920x1080 files, i mean. really low resolution, etc etc. i am so upset, recreated the scenario and bingo !!! 30 minutes are not saved into the cf express card, but a file is created, only that shows 0 bytes... this is madness !!!!

Re: EOS R5 C Not Recording to SD Card Even Though REC is Indicated

francisfp — Sat, 13 Sep 2025 05:22:51 GMT

i had my fair share of getting beat by canon today ... i feel my 6000 dollar investment is.... i almost threw it to the floor in desperation, ravage and dispair, new camera in town cinematic as promised.. oh surprise i didnt record anything on it.. canon ... !! i dislike you today.. spending time researching internet on what to do.. a file was created but is 0 bytes... i cannot believe this happened using a mp4 4-2-20 1980x1080 codec, i cannot believe it..

Re: Not Recording to SD Card Even Though REC is Indicated

francisfp — Sat, 13 Sep 2025 05:50:45 GMT

i am joining as well, and it seems this is an ongoing issue and a know flaw in camera's R5C, i hope we are not test subjects on testing gear and we are paying for everything, and if that takes us creators losing content to make canon greater,, ohh so be it..
i am so desperate and growing in anxiety, as i hit a municipal job today my r5c did not save the file longer than 30 minutes, my20 second test show alright but the next file with al interviews and footage all lost, a file was created, or shows a file in rightful sequeced in order, but the file shows 0 bytes. using a low resolution MP4 4-2-0 1920x1080 codec. this is so enfuriating and sorry i came across and dumped all my rage once i saw the thread. i need help, big time.. or else i am selling this R5C soon. is not worth it.. sony gear don't do this.. !!!

Re: Not Recording to SD Card Even Though REC is Indicated

francisfp — Sat, 13 Sep 2025 06:21:48 GMT

these links take you to a place where no option to find R5C, as this thread would suggest...wo why bother and give us the workaround and have us run like a headless chicken?

Re: EOS R5 C Not Recording to SD Card Even Though REC is Indicated

francisfp — Sat, 13 Sep 2025 06:28:47 GMT

if you don't have a.. excuse me sir but if you dont even have an R5C.. why would you even bother in posting a menu item #4.. etc etc.. and yourself don't even own an R5c as you stated yours is a T8i? why even bother?
i could not reproduce the info you stated..

Francis R5C
lens 35mm RF, f/1.8
Sd Sandisk 128 Gb v90 and
CF express 128 GB, 1900 Mbps

a file was created , but it is name in the right sequence order, but the file size shows 0 Bytes. lost precious foootage. thank you canon. !!! being sarcastic !!