Why does the Nikon D3100 only take 10 minutes of video?

I got a Nikon D3100 and I want to know why it only takes 10 minutes on any setting. Does it overheat? Can I take more than 10 minutes of video? Or do I need another memory card?

All dslr cameras that are video capable are susceptible to over heating… It's the nature of the beast and the sensor. If it's allowed to get to hot it can damage the sensor and you've got a paper weight.

Considering the alternative I'd be happy with the 10-minutes. Besides editing will be a lot easier with shorter clips.

My Canon goes about 12-minutes and it begins to get hot. It has to do with those billions of electrons flowing through it.

10-15 minutes of video is quite common for composite bodied cameras. You only get longer recording periods once you get up to the alloy bodied cameras that are able to use the body as a heat sink. There are worse cameras then the Nikon D3100, some of the Sony's overheat even faster due to the "Steady Shot Inside" which reduces the effects of vibration by shifting the sensor (and so creating more heat).

Every dSLR made so far has a limit of around 10 minutes when shooting video because the image sensor becomes too hot. To protect the expensive sensor, the camera will shut down. The newest dSLRs from Sony alpha can shoot for up to 29 minutes, the longest time at the moment.