CF Cards - Quality vs Speed

[Yi-P]

I'm thinking of buying an extra CF card. To be on the 4GB mark, still using the D70 but who knows if a D200 lands on my lap sometime in the near future...

Is there a difference between brands? There are some "OEM" (claims to be samsung memory) on the great auction site that sells for $50AU for a 4GB@150X CF Card. Whilst there are some of the RiData brand 4GB@150X for $130. I can get a total of 8GB with that price of one, and not to say about the geniune 4GB Sandisk Extreme III.

Will a 80X and 150X really does make a difference? Providing that I only shoot a couple of bursts (maybe 10 RAWs), with my D70's speed, I tested that 80X is already overkill for the camera to write, but not sure about a faster camera's performance.

I don't really want to spend over $80AU in total to be honest... Saving up BIG times for a bday upgrade if ever possible

[shutterbug]

I recommend the Ridata & Transcend Brands. Speed wise, I don't see a difference.

[Glen]

Yip, I recommend that you read this database of CF performance in your D70 and future D200.

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_ ... p?cid=6007

[Yi-P]

Thanks Glen, that's a good read


I have a 2GB Ridata card right now and I'm pretty happy with its performance, but its price for a 4GB card is out of my budget's reach...

[Hudo]

Hi,

For me it's Sandisk Ultra II and I like to use 2GB max on D200. I have had issues with other cards and of late CHK errors on D70s with 1GB sandisk Ultra II. Re format the CF cards in the card reader and so far so good. I like not putting all my eggs in one basket so not to use cards of larger size format. Be it in the studio or on location backup cards as I go.

Also I heard a Podcast recently where they suggested the intial burst of frames is held with in the camera buffer not direct to the card so it's not so important to have faster cards. (Tips from the Top Floor Pod cast)

Mark

[petal666]

Also I heard a Podcast recently where they suggested the intial burst of frames is held with in the camera buffer not direct to the card so it's not so important to have faster cards. (Tips from the Top Floor Pod cast)

Unless you fill the buffer and then you have to wait for some of the data to be written to the card before you can take another frame, then the card speed is an issue (I've never filled the buffer apart from when testing)

[Glen]

Hi Hudo,
I thought I should mention that buffer size depends on the camera. From memory the Canon 300D has a small buffer and a few other models as well.

[xorl]

I'll second the recommendation for Sandisk Ultra II 2GB cards. They are plenty fast enough for most people and very reliable. Good quality CF is cheap now, I can't see much reason for buying slightly cheaper but untrustworthy cards.

[petal666]

I'll second the recommendation for Sandisk Ultra II 2GB cards. They are plenty fast enough for most people and very reliable. Good quality CF is cheap now, I can't see much reason for buying slightly cheaper but untrustworthy cards.

Try getting hold of real Ultra II's though. Even respected retails get caught out when they buy a batch of fake cards.

[xorl]

Check out http://martybugs.net/articles/fakesandisk.cgi for details on identifying fakes..

[Hudo]

Dam, purchased another 2GB Sandisk Ultra II card last week from a respected retailer. Soon as as I get home tonight I'll be checking the originality.

Thanks for the reminder........

Mark