Hi williamR,
Welcome to the Sony Community!
The estimated recording time varies depending on the Frame Rate and Recording Mode you are shooting in. When recoding in HD quality, you can record from 5 hours to 8 hours (REC mode is either PS/FX/FH). You can record up to 14 -15 hours when the Rec Mode is set to STD or standard.
NOTE: The camcorder uses the VBR (Variable Bit Rate) format to automatically adjust image quality to suit the recording scene. This technology causes fluctuations in the recording time of the media. Movies containing quickly moving and complex images are recorded at a higher bit-rate, and this reduces the overall recording time.
For further assistance with your concern, please contact your local Sony Support team. We recommend visiting our Sony Global Web site, http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/Support/, for information on contacting the Sony Support Center in your region.
If my post answers your question, please mark it as "Accept as Solution". Thanks_Mitch