byjamesderuvoDHQ - Thanks for responding to my problem. I am using the camera to run an experimental test. It is preferable to run the text from start to finish, non-stop. I have a two GIG card which provides adequate memory to shoot much more than 3 minutes in the compact mode. The camera will let me shoot more than 3 minutes in standard mode but it uses up memory at a much faster rate. It just seems strange to me that there would be a 3 minute limitation in compact mode but no limitation in the standard mode which takes up much more memory.