D700 buffer filling up too quickly.

[umijin]

This brings me to a question I tried to post, but the forum kept kicking my login out.

I've been using an 8GB class 4 sandisk with my D90, and am thinking to buy a higher capacity card (16GB) for my trip. The SDHC cards here are class 4 and class 10, though I recall seeing intermediate speeds some time ago.

Will buying the more expensive class 10 card give me more continuous shooting? Or at least faster cycling to shoot again?

I also notice the buffer fills up with my current card, but there seems to be a write speed issue for the card as well. I typically shoot in RAW + standard JPG mode.

Thanks in advance.

[David Metsky]

The maximum shooting speed is determined by the camera, the only thing a card can do is hold you back if it is too slow. I've got all class 6 cards which were the fastest class for a while until these new class 10 cards were introduced.

Unless there's a huge price difference, the class 10 couldn't hurt and is probably worth it, if only to speed up the download to the computer. Not sure if it will help with burst mode cause I'm not sure the class 4 is slowing you down right now.

[TheObiJuan]

Hmmm, I shoot 14-bit NEFs at 8fps on my Ducatti card all the time without any delay.
Maybe the Extreme IV/Ducatti cards do make a big difference.

[photowerkz]

How many in a row can you do before the camera starts slowing down?

[TheObiJuan]

Let me do a quick test at 8fps:

14-bit NEF UNCOMPRESSED: 17
14-bit NEF LOSSLESS COMPRESSED: 18
12-bit NEF UNCOMPRESSED: 17
12-bit NEF LOSSLESS COMPRESSED: 29

17 frames may not be enough for some, but I've learned to shoot in bursts instead of machine gunning it until a card is filled: that's what video is for.

[photowerkz]

Thank you kindly for testing that. It's much appriciated!