Kingston vs Sandisk - reliability

[tim]

I'm thinking of picking up more memory, for the weddings I shoot, and i'm trying to decide on brand. I have 6GB of Sandisk Ultra 2 cards (2*2GB, 2*1GB) and i've never had a problem with them, but I have a small 256MB Kingston card I used for my little camera that always worked fine too.

I can pick up a Kingston 2GB Elite Pro 60x card for NZ$235, or a 2GB SanDisk Ultra II 60X for NZ$340, and i'm not sure which to get. I don't really care about speed, just about reliability, this will be a backup "just in case I get trigger happy" card. Thoughts?

[farrukh]

I had problems with a Sandisk SD card about 8 month ago, since then im not trusting Sandisk anymore. and using Kingston without any problem ever.

When it comes to memory, Kingston is always known as memory specialist. 60X by ElitePro card is decent speed.

[i2iSTUDIOS]

I had problems with a Sandisk SD card about 8 month ago, since then im not trusting Sandisk anymore. and using Kingston without any problem ever.

When it comes to memory, Kingston is always known as memory specialist. 60X by ElitePro card is decent speed.
Were you using the regular SanDisk card or an Ultra for Extreme card?

I have a SanDisk Extreme III 1 gig card and it comes with a lifetime warranty that in case of failure they SanDisk will recover my images and the card wasn't all that expensive, I got it for $84 USD last year which is cheaper than what I can get it for now. Don't forget to format your card regularly at least I think that's what you're supposed to do.

[farrukh]

It was a regular Sandisk SD card, and i was using it in a point and shoot camera.

[tim]

Thanks farrukh, any more opinions on Kingston?

[m3incorp]

I think that generally you will not have any reliability issues with either a Kingston Pro or Sandisk. The Kingston works just as fine as any other, and you did say you were going to use it as a backup. Course I will take that mean, when the other two or full you will then fill it also. It should do you fine.

[Carzee]

I read loads of reviews and tests. I like Kingston Elite Pro's rep and the price is right. I have never had a single error or problem. I own 3 of the 1GB.

[tim]

Cheers everyone, Kingston it is then :)

[Jon]

I've had one Kingston (of 5) and one SanDisk (Ultra) out of 8 (6 Ultra, 2 regular) fail for photography purposes. I'm not one of those who grant a brand a pass for all product lines just because they're good for one. For instance, SanDisk's USB flash drives, though 2.0, are horribly slower than others'. I don't see Lexar as an across-the-board flash memory provider.

Kingston sources their own computer RAM chips; their CF are (every one I've seen) from Toshiba.

[subtle_spectre]

I endorse Kingston products. Most memory products come with a lifetime warranty and are quality items. Their customer is exemplary.

[Dave_G]

I've got a 1gb Kingston and it's been fine.

A SanDisk 1gb - also fine.

And a SanDisk Ultra II 1gb - guess what, also fine.

[BottomBracket]

I have both Kingston Elite Pros and Sandisk Ultra cards, both 1 and 2 GB's. I have no problems with either, and to me, they work just the same. I'd lean towards the Elite Pros because they ar emuch more inexpensive.

[tim]

The Elite Pro do 3.5MB/sec, the Ultra II do 5MBps. So it takes 2.7 seconds to empty the buffer with the first, and 2 seconds with the second... not a big difference really. I think i'll get the Kingston.

[farrukh]

if Elite pro is 60x then
1x=150kb
so 60x150 =9000 KB
which is 8.7890625 MB/sec

[tim]

if Elite pro is 60x then
1x=150kb
so 60x150 =9000 KB
which is 8.7890625 MB/sec

Don't trust the labels on products, trust the tests.

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=6007-7303

[cmM]

I have both, I use both, never had a problem with either one of them, can't complain about speed either.

[farrukh]

Don't trust the labels on products, trust the tests.

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=6007-7303

Then i would like to do my own tests as i doubt 3.5mb/sec is not right as i feel it copies 2 jpg images per sec where average image size is around 2.8mb.

I think Kingston got good reputation so they cant afford to lie and it must be 100% gurantee that it will do 60x if used with a proper reader/writer.

[m3incorp]

So many variables such as your particuliar camera, your card reader. I agree that you have to use it in your device, rather than going with the mathmatical equation.

[cfcRebel]

I have two 2Gb and two 256Mb Kingston Elite Pros. They work great. Great price too.

[johnnybfan]

I've got 2 - 1GB (not ElitePro) and 1 - 2GB ElitePro Kingston cards and really like them. No problems at all.

[tim]

Well mine turn up today, no fancy wrapping like my Sandisk cards, but that wrapping's just annoying anyway... and no doubt adds to the cost. I'll try it tonight, hopefully I won't have to use it tomorrow, i'd like to test it a bit more before trusting wedding pictures to it! I'm up to 8GB now, the rest is Sandisk Ultra II :)

[BlanceEMT]

i have a kingston elite pro w/o problems. mines 50x though