Question: Memory card for S2 IS?

[Osm3um]

I was going to post this in the memory card forum as it is kind of a general question, but I have purchased an S2 IS and am waiting for it's arrival, so really the questions are directly related to my future S2.

I have been looking around at SD flash cards and am curious how important is it to get the "ultra" or "high speed" etc. Will I notice a difference if I get a faster one?

I have noticed that there do not seem to be any actual statistics listed on the websites selling them. What should I look for?

I have found that if you get high speed RAM for a computer, it doesn't REALLY make much of difference. Is this true for SD cards as well but the speed rating?

Finally is there a web site with an FAQ in questions like this? I can't seem to find one.

Thanks,
Bob

[bluevolume]

Speaking generally, the speed of your SD card does make a difference. For digital cameras, the most important factor is the write speed. If you are taking multiple shots on a slow SD card, you are going to reach a point where the camera's RAM is full and it is waiting to write the data to the card -- you'll have to wait till you can take the next shot.

The numbers don't work out exactly, meaning that a 60x card isn't going to actually write 60 times faster than a regular SD card, but depending on the camera it will make a noticeable difference. For the Canon S2, I would definately suggest getting a 60x + card (at least 1GB).

[Montana]

I think you will need one of the ultra cards (60x) to run the high quality video on the S2.

[vpolineni]

would the sandisk ultra II 1gb card work? ideally i'd like to have a 2gb card because taking video with the s2 can take up 1gb. any recommendations for a 60x 2gb sd card?

[Montana]

would the sandisk ultra II 1gb card work? ideally i'd like to have a 2gb card because taking video with the s2 can take up 1gb. any recommendations for a 60x 2gb sd card?


yep. the scandisk ultra 2 will work.

[phoenix99_ca]

I was wondering if anyone knows what is the S2's maximum write speed? Because I'm trying to decide which SD card to buy. I want to ensure that I'm buying a card that the S2 can support.

From the SanDisk web site,

SanDisk Ultra II SD cards:
-a minimum sustained write speed of 9MB/sec (60X) and a read speed of 10MB/sec (66X).

SanDisk Extreme II SD cards:
- a minimum of 20MB/sec sequential write and read speed (133X)

Does the S2 support 133X SD cards?
Thanks.

[Akysten]

ATP make a GREAT SD card...

The SANDISK Ultra will do great.. however, I've had trouble getting it to work right in my card reader. Anyone know why i can't copy because "the parameter is incorrect?" It also locked up my card reader, my CF Ultras work fine. Works great in the camera though...

I saw some good things about the 1gb Ridata 66x... I don't know what it's real world performance is like.

Problem.. I can't seem to find anyone with the 2gb cards in stock unless they're way over priced(like twice what they usually go for).

I don't have much time before my vacation, so I'm tempted to just get a bunch of 1gb cards...

I wish they had stayed with CF... then we could be buying 8gb cards...

[Osm3um]

How about Transcend 80x? Anyone? I saw it at newegg.com.

Thanks,
Bob

[silvia33]

I was going to post this in the memory card forum as it is kind of a general question, but I have purchased an S2 IS and am waiting for it's arrival, so really the questions are directly related to my future S2.

I have been looking around at SD flash cards and am curious how important is it to get the "ultra" or "high speed" etc. Will I notice a difference if I get a faster one?

I have noticed that there do not seem to be any actual statistics listed on the websites selling them. What should I look for?

I have found that if you get high speed RAM for a computer, it doesn't REALLY make much of difference. Is this true for SD cards as well but the speed rating?

Finally is there a web site with an FAQ in questions like this? I can't seem to find one.

Thanks,
Bob

I understood that with the "DIGIC II image processor, which gives the S2 its robust performance" a fast card was not necessary??????

silvia

[Akysten]

Not necessary? While the Digic II is fast, it has nothing to do with writing to the memory card.

Speed of memory would come into play with Movie Mode(640x480x30fps) or burst mode, say with 5mp superfine shots.

It will also be notiable in copying things off to your PC.

[silvia33]

Not necessary? While the Digic II is fast, it has nothing to do with writing to the memory card.

Speed of memory would come into play with Movie Mode(640x480x30fps) or burst mode, say with 5mp superfine shots.

It will also be notiable in copying things off to your PC.


What is the best card to buy? Where?

Thanks,
silvia

[lirand]

I'm asking the same question...

[Akysten]

2gb's are hard to come by right now.. they're just no in stock, but it's probably cheaper to get 2 cards anyway.

Best deals i've seen:


Ridata 66x 1gb : Fast, lifetime warrenty. Can't tell the difference in day to day usage.. maybe in benchmarking. It's more than adequate for the S2.

Where at:
Newegg.com, $71 - $10 mail in rebate = $61.
I can't tell the difference between it and the ultra II in speed, maybe in benchmark testing.

Sandisk Ultra II 1gb: Good card, made of a sturdier plastic, don't know if that means anything though for the extra money. Still deals can be had at:

Erwincomp.com $84.95 - $20 mail in rebate = $64.95

Costco/Price Club $89.95 plus $15 instant credit and 20 prints.. or $74.95
BUT, you have to be a member.. if not, you can still order online with a $5 surcharge, which brings it to $80.

If you buy two, you're probably good with getting one of each.


I fill up my 1gb very quickly on the S2.. shoot, I filled it up on the S1, the S2 photos take quite a bit more space, and the movies slightly more.

I HAVE had a Sandism CF 2gb fail on me.. and Sandisk promptly replaced it. I don't know how well Ridata will stand behind their product.

Hope this helps.

[vpolineni]

here's a great deal for the sandisk ultra II 2gb sd card:
http://www.computers4sure.com/product.asp?productid=2056612&iid=323

[lirand]

Ain't that great. You can find 1gb ultra for $70 - so the cost is 2.5 times the price of the 1gb (versus the fact that its only 2 times the size...)

[cvicisso]

Ain't that great. You can find 1gb ultra for $70 - so the cost is 2.5 times the price of the 1gb (versus the fact that its only 2 times the size...)Ehh... Is that what you meant to say? I don't follow what you mean. What are you comparing the 1Gb Ultra-II to? It sounds like you're comparing it to another 1Gb card of some sort (that apparantly costs $28 ($28 X 2.5 = $70), but then you say the the Ultra is "2 times the size." I'm lost.

[St. Chris]

Ehh... Is that what you meant to say? I don't follow what you mean. What are you comparing the 1Gb Ultra-II to? It sounds like you're comparing it to another 1Gb card of some sort (that apparantly costs $28 ($28 X 2.5 = $70), but then you say the the Ultra is "2 times the size." I'm lost.No, the 2 gig is more than twice the price of the 1 gig.

[Ferdster]

See my post under Canon > S2 - Memory Requirements.

[ale_g]

:cool: Does anyone know about TOPRAM Cards.
The 2Gb 100X are sold in ebay for about 130 U$S.

B. Regards
Ale_g

[skyone]

How about Transcend 80x? Anyone? I saw it at newegg.com.

Thanks,
Bob

i have the trascend 80x and it works very fine
no speed problem during video capturing at high quality and very fast with USB 2 to transfer photos.
12 MB/sec. read
11 MB/sec. write
http://img52.echo.cx/img52/5703/img3244b0pb.jpg
I paid it only 76 euro from Germany.