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What size flashcards do you recommend
Ive seen some people say 512 is a good size,
fits on a CD
also 1gig of photos would be a lot to lose, 512 is too.
How many photos would fit on D70 - with raw files 1gig space

Hi dciscool,

I started with a couple ofr 512mg cards, and now I have 2 1gb astone cards (thanx Birdy)...I believe that anything bigger gives forth to the 'too many eggs in one basket' syndrome, so I use a combination of my 512's and 1gig cards. HTH .


Geoff.

I have a 1 GB card, it fits about 190 RAW files on it. Realistically it would be very rare for me to get anywhere near that in a day's shooting, and I always have my PC (or laptop if I'm travelling) close, transfer at the end of the day. I don't think the 'fit it on 1 CD' is a valid argument, what if you want to take more pictures than fit on 1 CD anyway? DVD burners and media are so cheap these days anyway (~$100).

CF card failure rates are extremely low, to the point that worrying about losing 1 GB of files vs 512 MB or 256 MB is pointless. Sure, if you're shooting a wedding or something then you might want to have a few backup cards, but otherwise I wouldn't worry about it.

Hi dciscool

I have a couple of 512Mb cards and one 1Gb card.
I succumbed to card lust at one stage.
I also have an external storage device, X-Drive II with 40Gb HDD.
This gives me ample storage and I use the cards for
different projects or as a backup.
I also started to exclusively shoot in NEF format because
storage space is not a factor anymore.

HTH
regards
Christian

1 x 512 Mb
1 x 1 gig

1 x X-Drive II with 40Gb HDD

Storage situation - sorted

Now I just need to take some photos of something and the experience will be complete!

Well I have a 1 Gb and a 2Gb (and a 128Mb, but don't tell anyone - it's from my OLD camera)

For me the idea of the 2Gb is for when I'm shooting in burst mode since you get a lot of pics

I use 1Gb cards... a size I find now quite economic and large enough for any shoot session I might do.

I currently have 2 x 512MB CF cards.

I have on order 2 x 1GB (80x) CF cards.

I use at home an 8 in 1 SanDisk ImageMate Reader/Writer and carry in my Lowepro Mini Trekker AWII a SanDisk ImageMate Reader/Writer for CF Cards Type I and II cards.

But no Storage Unit with HDD.

Cheers,

Hi,
I'm surprised people buy large cards (> 2gb or micro-drives), they cost sooo much all you need is 2 cards, one to swap while the other is downloading in your portable storage device. They can easily be bought for less them some CF cards. I have a 512 and a 256 and have never needed more.

1 x 512 Sandisk
1 x 1G Astone

The Sandisk just sits in my bag now. Never gone close to filling the Astone in one day yet, although the Sandisk will probably will come in handy when I go on holidays.

wahr42

I have a 512 and a 256 and have never needed more

Would I be right in assuming you don't shoot raw? I've managed to fill my 2Gb card a few times in a coupla hours (major cause =shooting in continuous mode)

Edit: Of course I don't have a PSD yet (if you don't count my iPod)

I have

1 x 256 MB
1 x 512 MB
1 x 1 GB

Usually dont fill my 1 GB and I've only once come close to filling all my cards at once and that was at a wedding.

I think the 1 GB card is the best choice in terms of price/size

I have:

03 x 1Gb
03 x 2Gb
03 x 4Gb (On back-ordered)

I now currently have three sets for my D70/D100/D2h.
And a Transcend 40Gb PSD + Epson P-2000.
I would like to have few spares sitting in my bags just in case one of them "Gone with the wind", it never happened to me but who knows, i did not regret. My experiences:
In one of trip to Oshkosh International Air Show two years ago, friend of mine got a dud CF in the middle of the day, and I had a spare to loan to him, same as early last year, I went to Yokota AFB (Japan) one of our friends lost his spare CF card and again I have mine loaned to him.
So always pack extra CF cards if you have, it won't hurt.

2 – 256 Meg
1 – 128meg
1 – 10gig PSD

Haven’t run out of mem yet!!!!!

Cheers
Ray

I started off with a 32MB card when I got my Olympus E20, and purchased progressively larger cards. At one stage I was using three 512MB cards. After sending one of these through the wash I purchased a 1GB card and it is rare for me to fill it. Occasionally I used one of the (unwashed) 512 cards when I forget the 1GB card.

The funny thing is that I miss the feeling of having filled a card. Even though I exclusively use NEF it is very difficult to fill up the card.

Cheers,

Bruce

MCWB ......I have a 1 GB card, it fits about 190 RAW files on it.

i have a 1 gig card and i believe i only get about 94 raw files on it ???

is mine a dud ?

cheers rob

robw25 wrote:MCWB ......I have a 1 GB card, it fits about 190 RAW files on it.

i have a 1 gig card and i believe i only get about 94 raw files on it ???

is mine a dud ?

cheers rob

Rob,

That is what I get on my 512mg card.

Have you formatted the 1gig card? If not you probably should, this will erase EVERYTHING off the card (even protected images).

W00DY

W00DY That is what I get on my 512mg card

i just formatted my scandisk ultra ll and it still says 94 raw files i then put in my backup 128 meg formatted that and it says 11 !!!!!!! wots goin on
cheers rob

robw25 wrote:W00DY That is what I get on my 512mg card

i just formatted my scandisk ultra ll and it still says 94 raw files i then put in my backup 128 meg formatted that and it says 11 !!!!!!! wots goin on
cheers rob

The D70 incorrectly reports the number of RAW files that will fit on a card - check manual page 45.

Cheers

Rob,

Dont Panic Everyones 1gig says 94. You'll get twice that many. Go out shoot 20 pics of your backyard and then look at the counter, it will says about 84, not 74.

Some people say it's a bug in the cameras firmware, others say it is just the camera being very conservative. The same thing happens if you shoot in jpeg, although to a lesser degree.

I have a single 512mb Sandisk U2 and it works very well. I want another 1gb card, but I worry about the transfer speed to my laptop. Even the 512 card takes a couple of minutes to download from a card reader to the harddrive. I have a usb2 port, but the card reader may be only usb1. It might be better from a swap point of view to own three smaller cards than two larger ones. I generally only shoot in raw though so if you use jpeg I would think two 512's would be heaps.

skyva wrote:I have a single 512mb Sandisk U2 and it works very well. I want another 1gb card, but I worry about the transfer speed to my laptop. Even the 512 card takes a couple of minutes to download from a card reader to the harddrive. I have a usb2 port, but the card reader may be only usb1. It might be better from a swap point of view to own three smaller cards than two larger ones. I generally only shoot in raw though so if you use jpeg I would think two 512's would be heaps.

Skyva,
Why would you worry about the transfer rate to your PC or laptop?
Just plug it in and go make a cuppa. Listen to a song! lurk on the forum!
Even 1GB card full of NEFs will take awhile to transfer to notebook or PC with USB 2.0 Card reader or from the PCMCIA slot of the notebook.

I have 4 x 512Mb and 1 x 128Mb (came with the Camera).

I shoot RAW exclusively now and have easily filled two cards when out shooting at motorsport events. Having 4 cards just means I can stay out on track longer without having to head back for the laptop, I have no portable storage device yet.

Should buy a card reader though...

Cheers
Brett

I bought a 1GB with the camera, then bought another 2GB card for a trip when I started using RAW mode. This gives me about 500 shots in total with RAW+JPG mode, which I now use all the time.

Looked at the CF database for the D70 on robgalbraith.com, and bought an Ultra II first. For the second one I let price sway me and bought the standard one, but found for continuous shooting the Ultra II did make a difference, so swapped it. He tested a new USB 2.0 Sandisk CF reader with the new Extreme III cards and found it to be the fastest he's used. This also helped with the Ultra II, so I'm going to get one!

Copying about 1.2GB of RAW+JPG files from the 2GB card to an XS-Drive II using a 4200rpm Fujitsu drive about a week ago took 22min. At night that's ok, but if you're in the car waiting to format the card that's a long time. This is why I'm getting a PD7X...

Oh, and transferring from the camera is unusable. Was it really too much to ask that it would be USB2?

I thought when people have 2 or 3 CF cards, you're not to worry about the transfer rate slow or fast to the PSD or notebook.
I have 6 x 2Gb card 45x Astone + Transcend in mixed, I sell Sandisk Ultra II but never use them cos I see no difference with my D2h in burst mode 8fps and 40 frame continuosly, same as the my D70, agreed it's slow on the D100 (I also have too), and I didn't have to wait more than 40sec and reshoot with it on my D2h's refreshed buffer.
In the field, once your CF card full, just plug the new one in and keep shooting, insert the full CF card into the PSD and let it sing! forget it! keep shooting until full.
In normal shooting scenario, with 1 Gb card, you never fill it within an hour, and your PSD only takes 22 min to transfer, so let it sing!!!

If you take the PSD with you, yes. Probably should have, but I only wanted to take the camera with me so wanted to copy, format and walk.

Oh, the speed difference? Didn't say it was a lot, but it was there. Think it was 22 raw frames in 30sec vs 25, but the Ultra II gave one more pic in the buffer before it dropped from 3fps to 1fps. What can I say? I want the best.

I saw a response to a criticism that a particular bike used too much fuel that's kinda apt - "it's a very special bike. It deserves more fuel..."

Same argument.

skippy wrote:If you take the PSD with you, yes. Probably should have, but I only wanted to take the camera with me so wanted to copy, format and walk.

So you meant: everytime the cf card is full you have to go back to home/ your car/ your base to transfer/ copy and go out again, this does make sense!
My case, I always carry the PSD in my bag, vest or harness.

Birddog114 wrote:

skippy wrote:If you take the PSD with you, yes. Probably should have, but I only wanted to take the camera with me so wanted to copy, format and walk.

So you meant: everytime the cf card is full you have to go back to home/ your car/ your base to transfer/ copy and go out again, this does make sense!
My case, I always carry the PSD in my bag, vest or harness.

Just a silly question, but is the screen a requirement on the PSD, can you get ones without screens and does that make them any cheaper. I can't see the requirement for a screen on the PSD as I'd just want to copy the photos from the CF to the PSD and catalogue and clean later on.

Also can someone recommend some good ones?

Cheers
brett

Well i took my camera to the track New Years Day and well by lunch time i had filled a 1 gig card, so raced home and dumped the files onto the computer and went back again only to fill it up again.
Ok i could have robbed the card from my Fuji which has a 512 sandisk but as i shoot in burst mode as well doesn't take long to use them up and i shoot in Raw all the time now.
I need more cards and storage.

Brett,
What's the screen are you talking about?
To view stored images? yes it's epensive as Nikon CoolWalker, Epson P2000/ Archos
To view details of transfering/ status of battery/ card? It's non expensive!
as: XS-Drive + PD7X etc...

Birddog114 wrote:Brett,
What's the screen are you talking about?
To view stored images? yes it's epensive as Nikon CoolWalker, Epson P2000/ Archos
To view details of transfering/ status of battery/ card? It's non expensive!
as: XS-Drive + PD7X etc...

Yes the LCD to preview images.

Thanks!

Cheers
Brett

bwhinnen wrote:

Birddog114 wrote:Brett,
What's the screen are you talking about?
To view stored images? yes it's epensive as Nikon CoolWalker, Epson P2000/ Archos
To view details of transfering/ status of battery/ card? It's non expensive!
as: XS-Drive + PD7X etc...

Yes the LCD to preview images.

Thanks!

Cheers
Brett

Brett,
You confused me.
You want one to view the images in Jpeg and NEF?
Nikon Coolwalker or Epson P2000 or Archos (Ok in Jpeg but don't know in NEF) and it ain't cheap!
XS-Dive Or PD7x, you can't view image and it's cheap as chip!

Birddog114 wrote:

bwhinnen wrote:

Birddog114 wrote:Brett,
What's the screen are you talking about?
To view stored images? yes it's epensive as Nikon CoolWalker, Epson P2000/ Archos
To view details of transfering/ status of battery/ card? It's non expensive!
as: XS-Drive + PD7X etc...

Yes the LCD to preview images.

Thanks!

Cheers
Brett

Brett,
You confused me.
You want one to view the images in Jpeg and NEF?
Nikon Coolwalker or Epson P2000 or Archos (Ok in Jpeg but don't know in NEF) and it ain't cheap!
XS-Dive Or PD7x, you can't view image and it's cheap as chip!

Sorry, I confuse most people easily. When I said screen I meant the LCD with preview and that I don't need it. So from that the XS-Drive or PD7x would be best for me. Have been looking at JALDigital and the PD7x looks pretty good.

Cheers
Brett

I just picked up Sandisk Extreme III CF 133X - 1GB from jaldigital (http://www.jaldigital.com.au) for $230.
So far I have
2x Ridata CF 52X 512MB
1X Sandisk Extreme III CF - 1GB
1X PD7X

The Extreme III has been working happily with my D70. Did continous shooting and found that the camera just keeping shooting without any pause.

benkho wrote:I just picked up Sandisk Extreme III CF 133X - 1GB from jaldigital (http://www.jaldigital.com.au) for $230.
So far I have
2x Ridata CF 52X 512MB
1X Sandisk Extreme III CF - 1GB
1X PD7X

The Extreme III has been working happily with my D70. Did continous shooting and found that the camera just keeping shooting without any pause.

What the Sandisk Extreme III CF/ 1Gb for? Have you noticed anything difference in performance with the D70? is it made by pure gold?
The current DSLR bred has its limitation, whatever speed of the CF card higher than 45x won't make you proud with the speed of it.
Instead of those spent money ($230.00) for 1Gb card you may get 2 x 1Gb card

Hi Birddog,

It's for my next shooting at the GrandPrix. I think it made by Platinum and Diamond. What you think?

You're correct to get 2x 1GB but for me, I rather to try this new card since I do already have PD7X and going to get P2000 (as per review is a great product) soon if I can get hold one from US and 2pcs Ridata 512MB.
So rather than to carry 4 pcs card and PSD; better to carry 3 card and PSD with 1 card is much faster than the other 2. Of course, this will be changed again when I change my D70 say in 2-3 years time.

benkho wrote:Hi Birddog,

It's for my next shooting at the GrandPrix. I think it made by Platinum and Diamond. What you think?

You're correct to get 2x 1GB but for me, I rather to try this new card since I do already have PD7X and going to get P2000 (as per review is a great product) soon if I can get hold one from US and 2pcs Ridata 512MB.
So rather than to carry 4 pcs card and PSD; better to carry 3 card and PSD with 1 card is much faster than the other 2. Of course, this will be changed again when I change my D70 say in 2-3 years time.

The Ridata 512Mb cards are slow cards as everyone knows, the 1Gb Sandisk III is equal speed in read and write of the Sandisk ultra II or Astone/ Transcend in the D70 or D2h, no more no less!!!
In another 3 years time, the Sandisk III will be the worst slowish card in the market and perhaps won't have any effect in any any DSLR at that time, technologies move ahead not backward everyday.
What my point is, instead of buying that expensive 1Gb card (no needed), you can buy one other brand at half price and the change can be funded toward other gears and gadgets
It's the same way you tried to install a new 7200RPM PATA Hdd on an old IDE interface and asking it runs fast

Hi Birddog,

I think you get mess up with the NORMAL Extreme. The normal Extreme is the same speed as Ultra 2 which 10mb/sec. But EXTREME III is the new card from Sandisk which has double speed (20Mb/sec)

here the link:
Extreme 3 site
http://www.sandisk.com/retail/ext3-cf.asp

Normal Extreme
http://www.sandisk.com/retail/ext-cf.asp

As you can see, Extreme is only 10MB/sec read and 9mb/sec write compare Extreme III which is 20MB/sec both write and read


I Absolutely agree with you. By 3 years time you can get 1GB card for free and money (you know people paying for get rid of junks. See how much company paid for recycle their old PCs).
However, I like trying a new toy; same as you bought P2000. In 3 years time P2000 will be an antique unit. If we both have the same thinking like this, I believe that you don't have P2000 right now and myself don;t have Extreme III. Don't you agree

Hi Birddog,

I think you get mess up with the NORMAL Extreme. The normal Extreme is the same speed as Ultra 2 which 10mb/sec. But EXTREME III is the new card from Sandisk which has double speed (20Mb/sec)

here the link:
Extreme 3 site
http://www.sandisk.com/retail/ext3-cf.asp

Normal Extreme
http://www.sandisk.com/retail/ext-cf.asp

As you can see, Extreme is only 10MB/sec read and 9mb/sec write compare Extreme III which is 20MB/sec both write and read

This testing or value on what camera is it on the D70 test

I Absolutely agree with you. By 3 years time you can get 1GB card for free and money (you know people paying for get rid of junks. See how much company paid for recycle their old PCs).
However, I like trying a new toy; same as you bought P2000. In 3 years time P2000 will be an antique unit. If we both have the same thinking like this, I believe that you don't have P2000 right now and myself don;t have Extreme III. Don't you agree.

The P-2000 is another toy and it's not relate to the read and write or fast transfer to and from camera. It's another gadget and it's not an important item to have in/ with the camera, everything in this world will be faded after time and I did not recommend everyone to look and buy it cos it's an expensive item and you don't need it all the time, without it you still have a great pics taken or other alternatively way with other PSDs, or with more CF cards in your hand, you don't need the PSD.

Come back to the CF card, my message is:
People don't need to buy an expensive CF card, the other cards with 45x speed will do the job, cos its performane in the D70 will not change/ improve with its read/ write rate when you have the Extreme Fast card in it, the limitation of the current DSLR is just that. Perhaps with the new generation of DSLR, which doesn't exist, and it's the marketing hype of the manufacturers.

You might be right about the transfer rate in D70. But I found it that my Ridata 52X cards can't keep up with continous shooting. Again, you could be right, Ridata is slow. But when I did a continous shoot testing with Extreme 3, I have found that the D70 just keep shooting without any pause as I mentioned previously.

I haven't tested with other cards since I don't have any brand. I did have Transcend 45X before which I bought from powenumber, but gave me disappointment. I lost alot of Pics from 3pcs Transcend cards. Therefore, I don't want to buy that brand again.

Anyway what you recommend for the lens? I need a good lens, FIXED Lens.

benkho wrote:You might be right about the transfer rate in D70. But I found it that my Ridata 52X cards can't keep up with continous shooting. Again, you could be right, Ridata is slow. But when I did a continous shoot testing with Extreme 3, I have found that the D70 just keep shooting without any pause as I mentioned previously.

I haven't tested with other cards since I don't have any brand. I did have Transcend 45X before which I bought from powenumber, but gave me disappointment. I lost alot of Pics from 3pcs Transcend cards. Therefore, I don't want to buy that brand again.

Anyway what you recommend for the lens? I need a good lens, FIXED Lens.

Our members are the owners of lot of Transcend and Astone cards, same as myself, we haven't found any bad sample yet, perhaps you're just an unlucky owner of that Transcend card, every product has a bad sample in the manufacturing line, I won't take it as a point to stray away its product, unless they provided poor Customer service to their customer.

What lens and what type of shooting do you want to aim for?

Any good lens for Landscape.

benkho wrote:Any good lens for Landscape.

Fixed lens for landscape? Harder
Nikon has 10.5Dx fisheye, 14/2.8,
or Nikon zoom 12-24Dx, Sigma 12-24

Hi Birddog,

How much for 14/2.8?

Thanks

benkho wrote:Hi Birddog,

How much for 14/2.8?

Thanks

PMed