How much difference is there between Compact Flash cards?

[Charnish]

I see 16 GB Compact Flash cards ranging from Edge and Transcend at 50 bucks to SanDisk at $133. All claim to be fast.

What is the difference and is there a reason to pay the big bucks?

How does the speed of these compare to an SDHC card or a Memory Stick Duo, which can be used in a CF adaptor?

[Csae]

Just find the /write speed of your card and you'll find out.

Slow cards will affect how much 'fps' you can get out a camera, and how much 'buffer' you can use.

Lets say a 7D has a max 9fps, and 30jpg buffer. a slow card will only reach 7fps and 20jpg buffer.

Most cards are pretty fast nowadays though, UDMA are very fast as well.

[cdifoto]

Actually card speed has no affect on the buffer or FPS. It will, however, play a role in how quickly that buffer can be emptied and therefore how many images you can shoot in rapid succession without waiting.

Cameras are usually the weak link though. A card cannot receive an image file any faster than the camera is capable of sending it.

[AlexMonro]

I believe there may also be differences in things like quality control, warranty, and bundled extras. For example, I think the top of the range Sandisk cards have a lifetime warranty and come with bundled image recovery software.

[Mark_48]

I believe there may also be differences in things like quality control, warranty, and bundled extras. For example, I think the top of the range Sandisk cards have a lifetime warranty and come with bundled image recovery software.
Just a note on Sandisk FWIW.....
Over the years I had purchased a good number of their CF cards and registered them online under the "My Stuff" figuring this was a good place to keep track of purchase dates, serial numbers, and proof of registration in the event of a card failure. Several months ago I purcachsed a couple Sandisk cards and attempted to log into "My Stuff" and found the account no longer existed. I contacted Sandisk and they said there was a new "My Stuff" database and all previous records had been discarded, so essentially there is no record of my registering the product. I'm not sure if this would affect a warranty claim or not, but it appears it was a waste of time to register the 20+ cards I have bought. Other than that I've had good luck with the Sandisk cards.

[AdamW]

Mark, in the US, you do not need to register a product. The warranty is unaffected.

[Mark_48]

Mark, in the US, you do not need to register a product. The warranty is unaffected.
Yeah, I sort of know that, but having or finding reciepts of the purchase would be next to impossible since they were generally purchased with other gear and no way to match a reciept with a particular card or cards. There was some comfort that having a record of them with the serial numbers and purchase date on their site that may have helped in a warranty claim. I wasn't the only one that complained about this either, as a Google search found others a bit peaved about the loss of the records.

"To make a warranty claim please contact SanDisk at the telephone number in the table or support@SanDisk.com within the Warranty Period and provide proof of purchase (showing date and place of purchase and name of the reseller) and product name, type and number. You may return the product after first obtaining a Return Material Authorization number and following any other guidelines listed. For further information see www.sandisk.com and select "support"."

[AdamW]

If the product has a lifetime warranty, then I'd bet requiring proof-of-purchase isn't legal.

[Elisha]

If the product has a lifetime warranty, then I'd bet requiring proof-of-purchase isn't legal.

It's not. Same like RAM. they don't care where you got it and when. I have dealt with Mushkin and Kingston before and it is no question asked replacement as long as they test your and it is defective!s

Hell even AMD didn't ask me for proof of purchase when I sent them a CPU. They just looked it up by batch code and over nighted me a new one.

[mattdm]

Better flash memory will, in theory, have better wear-leveling code (making sure the same block isn't used over and over, making the card wear out faster) and better error-correcting code (making sure that the bit you've just read back hasn't gone bad).

I don't think this is a place to skimp. Get the good stuff.

[cdifoto]

Better flash memory will, in theory, have better wear-leveling code (making sure the same block isn't used over and over, making the card wear out faster) and better error-correcting code (making sure that the bit you've just read back hasn't gone bad).

I don't think this is a place to skimp. Get the good stuff.
Define "skimp" and "good stuff"...

[fotogmarc]

I've definitely seen a speed difference between a good quality CF and SDHC. CF is a Sandisk Extreme III, the SDHC is Panasonic class 6.The CF had me shooting as fast as I cared to, but the SDHC was backing up rather quickly. (shooting in RAW).
Two different cameras though (Oly E510-CF and Nikon D90-SDHC).

[ahidalgo]

Now that you guys are talking about CF cards.

I just exchanged my cannon t1i for a brand new cannon eso 50d.
I'm learning little by little to shoot M, TV, AE.

I got a brand new ScanDisk CF 8 GB 90mb/s formated with the camera not from the pc.
I'm shotting in P and CA mostly the time to get my kids playing (while learning using M, TV, AE.)
At the very beginning the camera shots fine but all the sudden I get the BuZy a lot, sometimes I miss great shots waiting for the buffer of the camera to finish....
I'm shooting fine JPGs at 15 MP.

Is there any trick, fix or hack to increase the buffer speed on the cannon 50D? Sometimes it became pretty annoying having to wait a while to shot.

Thanks

[Elisha]

Does the 50D support UDMA Mode 6?
Cause I think your 90mbps card is a UDMA 6 card.
As far as I know only the 7D and the 1D4 support Mode 6.

[ahidalgo]

Does the 50D support UDMA Mode 6?
Cause I think your 90mbps card is a UDMA 6 card.
As far as I know only the 7D and the 1D4 support Mode 6.

Opps!! I don't know.

Do you think that might be the problem?
Thanks

[Elisha]

Opps!! I don't know.

Do you think that might be the problem?
Thanks

Could be. Cause when the 7D was introduced, the marketing blurb was that it supported Mode 6 even though Mode 6 cards were not out yet. Then a month later the Mode 6 cards came out and they were the 533x, 600x and 666x I believe!

[ahidalgo]

Could be. Cause when the 7D was introduced, the marketing blurb was that it supported Mode 6 even though Mode 6 cards were not out yet. Then a month later the Mode 6 cards came out and they were the 533x, 600x and 666x I believe!

Thanks Elisha82 for your info.

So, Which CF card speed do I need to get more out of my cannon eos 50d?
The Buzy is making me crazy.
Thanks

Is there any firmware from cannon by any change to use the card that I have?
The card is brand new and already opened, I won't be able to send it back to amazon. WAO.

[faisal]

Were you using the pop up flash when you got the Busy message...??

[Elisha]

Sorry looks like UDMA 5 is the one up to 100mbps. UDMA 6 is still not available yet.
As far as I know the older cameras were UDMA 4 only. Which means you can utilize any card that is 300x or slower to it's full capability!

I'm not sure what the write speeds are if you put in a higher UDMA Mode card into a slower UDMA Mode camera would be.
Maybe someone else can clarify!

[ahidalgo]

Were you using the pop up flash when you got the Busy message...??

Yes I was...
It's weird, sometimes the camera shots pretty fast, then all the sudden became stuck on BuZy and won't let you fire. Then is ready, fire another shot and Buzy again. Then take the battery out and start working fine.
It's happening a lot, brand new camera, brand new card.
Looks like the card speed is the problem them.

If you shot one picture and the wait the camera works fine, continue shooting is when because BuZy.

[Csae]

Busy*

Who's BuZy ?

Avoid filling the buffer, and you'll get more consistent output, there should be a number in your VF that tells you how many more before the buffer fills-up, use it to slowdown when needed, leaving yourself 2 or 3 shots as backup.

[Mark_48]

Yes I was...
It's weird, sometimes the camera shots pretty fast, then all the sudden became stuck on BuZy and won't let you fire. Then is ready, fire another shot and Buzy again. Then take the battery out and start working fine.
It's happening a lot, brand new camera, brand new card.
Looks like the card speed is the problem them.

If you shot one picture and the wait the camera works fine, continue shooting is when because BuZy.
I think what he was leading up to, is if the flash is fired many times consecutively, it starts to heat up. If the camera detects this, it puts you in a hold mode until the flash can cool off a bit to protect itself from frying and then lets you resume. I think this may be mentioned somewhere in the manual.

[ahidalgo]

I think what he was leading up to, is if the flash is fired many times consecutively, it starts to heat up. If the camera detects this, it puts you in a hold mode until the flash can cool off a bit to protect itself from frying and then lets you resume. I think this may be mentioned somewhere in the manual.


Thanks guys for the info.
I will keep an eye on it.

[ahidalgo]

Busy*

Who's BuZy ?

Avoid filling the buffer, and you'll get more consistent output, there should be a number in your VF that tells you how many more before the buffer fills-up, use it to slowdown when needed, leaving yourself 2 or 3 shots as backup.

Csae

Where can I find that remaining number on the cannon eos 50d? It's very interesting.

Thanks...

[DonSchap]

With the SONY high-end DSLRs, the CF cards make a significant difference in either WORKING or a complete memory failure! (<- not a good thing) :eek:

Particularly in the a850 (24.6 MP), it has been noticed that the Transcend 16GB and 32GB 133x CF cards completely die after a few shots and cannot be resuscitated by the camera. They still work in a700 (12.4 MP) cameras just fine, after reformatting.

Going to a SanDisk Extreme IV has resulted in very good, and error-free performance. Other manufacturer's cards seem to work well, also, but usually only at 305x speed or faster, no less. There is a list of compliant or tested cards SONY produces, but it has not tested the 48GB or 64GB CF cards, as yet. They are kind of pricey, so I cannot personally attest to their reliability.

Just some background for the higher-end DSLRs.

[Csae]

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/E50D/ZE50DVFCALLOUTS.PNG

Max burst, near the AF confirmation on the right.

According to that, if its the flash holding you back (which is totally possible) the buSy signal will have a little electrical thing before it.

[Charnish]

Thanks, guys.
I appreciate the discussion and have a better understanding of it all.

You're the best.
Chris