Why can’t you send raw footage by email or chat?
A camera card is not just a video attachment. Even one minute of footage is well above Gmail’s 25 MB limit. WhatsApp and Messenger reduce video size. That reduced copy is not suitable for editing or color grading. YouTube and Vimeo do not deliver the file to the recipient either. They compress it for viewing.
With SendGB, the file the recipient opens in their editing software is the file you uploaded.
| Delivery method | What happens | Suitable for editing? |
|---|---|---|
| Gmail or Outlook attachment | Attachments over 20–25 MB cannot be sent | No |
| WhatsApp / Messenger | Reduces video size; does not transfer the folder | No |
| YouTube or Vimeo | Creates a viewing copy | For viewing only |
| Shared storage | May create a viewing copy; removal timing is unclear | Use with care |
| SendGB link | Files download unchanged, with folder structure intact | Suitable for delivery |
This page is not about short viewing clips. For those, see how to send large video files. This guide covers footage straight from the camera.
Which files should you send together?
We have no file type restrictions. You can send every file the camera creates. If you separate the XML or audio from the video, the recipient may not be able to open the folder. Add the folder as is. We do not open and repackage it.
| Footage format | File | What to include |
|---|---|---|
| Blackmagic BRAW | .braw | Audio and shoot notes, if present |
| RED R3D | .RDC folder | .RMD and the original folder structure |
| Sony or Canon MXF | .mxf | Camera-generated XML |
| CinemaDNG | Image sequence folder | The entire folder, not a single frame |
| ARRIRAW | .ari or MXF package | Audio and reports in the same transfer |
| Camera ProRes | .mov | Do not confuse it with a viewing copy |
No ZIP archive is needed. Add the folder directly to preserve its structure. If you create a ZIP archive, we do not open it.
Is 5 GB enough for a camera card?
Not unless you are sending a short scene. How much recording time fits on a card depends on the camera’s bitrate setting. The table below shows which transfer limit fits your delivery, not estimated recording times.
| What you are sending | Typical size | Which option fits |
|---|---|---|
| One or two clips, a short scene | Often under 5 GB | Free; 90 days up to 250 MB, 7 days above that |
| Half an hour of 4K camera footage | Tens of GB | SendGB Extra |
| 128 or 256 GB card | The card’s capacity | SendGB Extra, 500 GB per transfer |
| 512 GB card | Above the 500 GB limit | SendGB Exceed, up to 1 TB |
| 1 TB card | The largest size that fits in a single transfer | SendGB Exceed |
| One day of footage from two cameras | The combined size of the cards | SendGB Exceed or separate transfers if the total exceeds 500 GB |
SendGB Extra starts at €29.90 per year. It includes 1 TB of storage. Files stay available for up to 1 year. It suits teams that frequently send footage.
SendGB Exceed requires no membership. A 1 TB transfer costs €9.99. The code is single-use and valid for 1 year. The link stays available for 7 days. It is enough for an occasional very large camera card.
A viewing copy is not the same as camera footage
If the client only needs to watch, a small viewing copy is enough and may fit within 5 GB. For editing or color grading, send the camera footage. You can include both in the same transfer. The limit is based on total size, not file count.
| Viewing copy | Camera footage | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Review and viewing | Editing, color grading, audio |
| Size | Often under a few GB | Tens of GB, sometimes the entire card |
| Compression | Already a reduced-size copy | SendGB does not compress it again |
| 5 GB | Often enough | Not enough beyond a short scene |
| Folder | Not needed | Needed, along with XML and audio |
Do not substitute a viewing copy for the original footage. Color grading that copy will not reproduce the camera’s original image.
How to send
- 1
Add the camera card folder
Add the card folder to the upload box on the homepage, not just a single clip. The XML next to the MXF file, the R3D folder, and the audio file all go in the same transfer.
- 2
Share the link
Email the link to the editing studio or copy and paste it into a message. You can add a password. Send the password separately from the link.
- 3
The recipient downloads the files
The recipient downloads from the link and does not create an account. Downloading the entire transfer preserves the folder structure. Free transfers over 250 MB stay available for 7 days. Free transfers up to 250 MB stay available for up to 90 days. SendGB Extra keeps files for up to 1 year.
What happens to your file?
- Video, audio, and XML files download exactly as uploaded. The resolution does not change.
- BRAW, R3D, MXF, CinemaDNG, and camera-generated ProRes files are accepted.
- Adding a folder preserves its structure. The recipient downloads everything together.
- If you add a password, anyone with the link must know the password to download.
What we don’t do
- SendGB is not video production software. It does not create viewing copies from camera cards or change colors.
- There is no Gmail or Outlook add-on. You paste the link yourself.
- The free 5 GB limit is not enough for a camera card. A full day of footage requires SendGB Extra or SendGB Exceed.
Frequently asked questions
Is raw footage compressed again during transfer?
No. BRAW, R3D, MXF, and camera-generated ProRes files download exactly as uploaded. SendGB does not convert files to H.264 or create preview clips.
Can I send BRAW, R3D, and MXF files?
Yes. BRAW, R3D, MXF, CinemaDNG, ARRIRAW, Canon CRM, and camera-generated XML are transferred as files. They are not converted to another format.
Will the R3D folder or accompanying XML file be altered?
No. We do not open and repackage the folder. Add the folder to the upload box. The XML, RMD, and audio files alongside the video stay in the transfer. When the recipient downloads everything together, the folder structure stays intact.
Is the free 5 GB limit enough for a camera card?
It is enough for a short scene or a few clips. A card of 128 GB or more will not fit. For daily deliveries, SendGB Extra handles 500 GB per transfer. For a single card over 500 GB, SendGB Exceed supports up to 1 TB.
Can I send proxies and raw footage in the same transfer?
Yes. You can add the viewing copy and the camera footage to the same upload box. The free transfer limit is based on total size, not file count. If the client only needs to watch, a viewing copy is enough. Editing and color grading require the camera footage.
Do I need to ZIP the folder?
No. You can add the folder directly. If you create a ZIP archive, we do not open it. The files inside download unchanged.
Does the recipient need a SendGB account or editing software?
The recipient downloads from the link and does not create an account. They need their own editing software to open the file. SendGB is not a video player.
Why is sending a camera card through WhatsApp or Drive risky?
WhatsApp compresses video and does not send the camera card as is. A storage service like Drive may create a viewing copy, and it is unclear when you will remove the file. For footage delivery, use a download link with a set expiration.
How long does the link stay available, and can I add a password?
Free transfers up to 250 MB stay available for up to 90 days. Free transfers over 250 MB stay available for 7 days. SendGB Extra keeps files for up to 1 year. SendGB Exceed transfers stay available for 7 days. You can add a password. Send the password separately from the link.
Which option works for a day of shooting with two cameras?
Check the combined size of the cards. If the total is under 500 GB, SendGB Extra handles it in one transfer: 1 TB of storage, starting at €29.90 per year. For a single 1 TB card or a delivery over 500 GB, SendGB Exceed is enough: no membership, €9.99 for a 1 TB transfer, with a single-use code valid for 1 year.
Send a download link instead of sharing camera card files in a chat
A short scene may fit within 5 GB. Send a full day of footage up to 500 GB with SendGB Extra, or up to 1 TB in a single transfer with SendGB Exceed.
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