WARNING 1D MkII and N incompatible with 4GB SD cards.

[CyberDyneSystems]

I had been shopping around for some 4GB SD cards for my MkII

I came across this at Rob Galbraiths site.

(4) This camera is incompatible with SD cards larger than 2GB.

In refernce to the MkIIN I have to assume the older MkII has the saem incompatibility.

Odd really as the camera clearly reads and formats at FAT32 for the CF cards...

**EDIT UPDATE **

Update.

There are some SD cards larger than 2GB (4GB) that wil not work in the MkII The earliest ones seem to have this problem

There are some newer 4GB SD Cards that will "mostly" work in the MkII
They will show as a full 4GB and allow you to record images to them, but you can not format them in camera.

[Poe]

The 1D MkIIN takes SD cards? I thought all the EOS dSLRS took CF?

[cdifoto]

It takes both CF and SD cards Poe. Thanks for the heads up CDS.

[TGrits10]

The 1D MkIIN takes SD cards? I thought all the EOS dSLRS took CF?

It has an additional SD slot so you can have two cards in there at once. Supposedly for redundancy, but I just use it as extra storage space :D

[Dunnomuch]

Thanks for the heads up CDS. This news came just in time. i'm about to put down money for a markIIn.

[Cadwell]

Odd really as the camera clearly reads and formats at FAT32 for the CF cards...

Not for all of them... I just stuck 4 cards formatted in the camera into the PC card reader and checked the file system.

1GB SanDisk Ultra II (Compact Flash) - FAT
1GB SanDisk Extreme III (SD) - FAT
2GB SanDisk Extreme III (Compact Flash) - FAT
4GB IBM Microdrive (Compact Flash) - FAT 32

So it seems like the camera only uses FAT32 when it needs to. It's my guess that some numpty junior programmer at Canon forgot to include the FAT32 handling code in the SD interface I/O routines.

Time for firmware update, Canon!

[cyber_m0nkey]

FAT32 is required for anything larger then 2Gb

[VentureFox]

I'm using both a 2GB CF card and a 4GB SD card with my 1D MKII and it works flawlessly - no problems whatsoever.

Regards

[Rumjungle]

Martin, what make/model of SD card do you use?

[CyberDyneSystems]

I'm using both a 2GB CF card and a 4GB SD card with my 1D MKII and it works flawlessly - no problems whatsoever.

Regards

Interesting..

I'm getting my info second hand through Rob Galbraiths CF database..
I too had been looking for a 4GB Sd card,. when I ran across it...

To me it makes no sense at all that the MkII should not support SD larger than 2GB..
Perhaps it was an issue with a specific model,. ? And RG just doesn't realize it yet?

Could it be possible that this is only a problem in "N" MkIIs ?? That makes even less sense?

[CyberDyneSystems]

Not for all of them...
...So it seems like the camera only uses FAT32 when it needs to. ...

Yes,. this is the norm for all Canon cameras that support larger than 2GB cards,. FAT16 for 2GB and under.. switch to 32 for larger. Actually Windows was the same way as well.

[Tom Digital]

I just checked on this when I ordered my Canon Rebel XT. I had been taking a Digital Photography Class prior to ordering it. Our class instructor told us if you are buying a new camera to make sure the Memory Cards are compatible with the camera. My wife was going to order a 4GB from B&H; they were at a good price. I called Canon Tech support and they told me that the biggest card that should be used in the Canon Rebel XT was a 2GB. So, instead of ordering the 4GB we ordered 2-2GB's. But since then; I have seen advertisments and package deals with a 4GB card. Who's right??

[Jon]

The D60 won't take over 2 GB; it only supports FAT16. IIRC, all later Canons; certainly the 20D and beyond, work just fine with FAT32 CF cards up to the practical limit. The problem with the 4GB SD cards is that SD cards use a different architecture, so the max. size (sort of like what killed the SmartMedia) is determined by the controller on the camera/device, not by the controller in the card as on CF.

[mbze430]

Too bad they don't have Extreme 4GB SD cards...

[Jon]

Too bad they don't have Extreme 4GB SD cards...You wouldn't be able to use them on any existing Canon DSLR anyhow, so I can wait.

[gaza]

Not for all of them... I just stuck 4 cards formatted in the camera into the PC card reader and checked the file system.

1GB SanDisk Ultra II (Compact Flash) - FAT
1GB SanDisk Extreme III (SD) - FAT
2GB SanDisk Extreme III (Compact Flash) - FAT
4GB IBM Microdrive (Compact Flash) - FAT 32

So it seems like the camera only uses FAT32 when it needs to. It's my guess that some numpty junior programmer at Canon forgot to include the FAT32 handling code in the SD interface I/O routines.

Time for firmware update, Canon!

?
After reading this, I put one of my Sandisk Ultra 2Gb CFs in my card reader and did "properties", it's definately formatted FAT32, which is what I expected as it was formatted in the card reader after it was last emptied, my standard practice.
So I then put same card in camera (1D2N) and formatted it again, now it's formatted FAT.
Also in properties:

FAT format:65,536 bytes used; Free space 2,039,545,856 bytes
FAT32 format: 4096 bytes used; Free space 2,035,838,976 bytes
So I guess that leaves us with the question, are there any advantages of one FAT against the other, especially write speed?
Gary

[Lord_Malone]

The 1D MkIIN takes SD cards? I thought all the EOS dSLRS took CF?

Dual slots. It takes both simutaneously. Sort of like a porn star. ;)

[Rumjungle]

Dual slots. It takes both simutaneously. Sort of like a porn star. ;)

LMAO!:lol: Never thought of it that way.

[PacAce]

SD was designed only to address 1 GB of storage. They put in a "fix" that now allows it to address up to 2 GB of storage. However, anything above that is not supported on the SD cards, at least not as a standard. In other words, it's not the camera but the specifications of the SD card itself that prevents it from addressing more than 2 GB of memroy.

Panasonic is working on a 4 GB SD card (called SDHC) but it probably won't be compatible with the current crop of SD cameras. The camera will need to be designed to be compatible with SDHC in order to take advantage of these new cards.

[Mike6158]

Well... I'm ok but I was going to look for a 4Gb SD card soon. Guess I won't bother now. 4Gb CF and a 1 Gb SD. How large can I go with my CF?

[Hexis]

As large as they are made currently. The standard allows up to 137GB to be addressed.

[Rumjungle]

Hmm, 137? At least now we know that our cameras are limited to 139GB of total storage. I guess I can work with that.;)

[judyg]

I just checked on this when I ordered my Canon Rebel XT. I had been taking a Digital Photography Class prior to ordering it. Our class instructor told us if you are buying a new camera to make sure the Memory Cards are compatible with the camera. My wife was going to order a 4GB from B&H; they were at a good price. I called Canon Tech support and they told me that the biggest card that should be used in the Canon Rebel XT was a 2GB. So, instead of ordering the 4GB we ordered 2-2GB's. But since then; I have seen advertisments and package deals with a 4GB card. Who's right??

I use the Sandisk 4 GB Ultra II card in my Rebel XT with no problems whatsoever.

I also just used it in my brand new 30D :)

[konrad]

I just checked on this when I ordered my Canon Rebel XT. I had been taking a Digital Photography Class prior to ordering it. Our class instructor told us if you are buying a new camera to make sure the Memory Cards are compatible with the camera. My wife was going to order a 4GB from B&H; they were at a good price. I called Canon Tech support and they told me that the biggest card that should be used in the Canon Rebel XT was a 2GB. So, instead of ordering the 4GB we ordered 2-2GB's. But since then; I have seen advertisments and package deals with a 4GB card. Who's right??


I only have two CF cards, 128mb and 4G. no problem with the 4G since the start on the rebel XT. Kingston brand.

[jccoulter@mail.pclnet.net]

I'm using both a 2GB CF card and a 4GB SD card with my 1D MKII and it works flawlessly - no problems whatsoever.

Regards

Did anyone ever figure out what 4GB SD card works in the Mark II?

[Juan Zas]

I use the Sandisk 4 GB Ultra II card in my Rebel XT with no problems whatsoever.

I also just used it in my brand new 30D :)
I have just buy a series of SD cards: 1 Gb ScanDisk Ultra II, 2Gb and 4Gb A-Data for the Canon IXUS 800 IS, but also I did buy a "SD to CF adaptor" so I can also use them in CF cameras. I did try this combo in my 350D to see if it works.

It did !!, the problem is that with the 4Gb (A-Data 150x) the free space indication for the JPEG fine (which normally I use) is not able to handle more than 999 pictures free (3 digits), so I can take pictures but still remain 999 always; I guess until the algorithm that calculates the free pictures start to go down by the free space limit quivalent of the 999, and it will really to start to count down.

BTW. If I select RAW, then I have 440 pictures free to take with the SD 4 Gb empty !!!

[SeanH]

I consider the SD as a back up anyway......or a place to put the JPG's when I shoot raw. I prefer the CF card just due to the fact it seems to be built better than the SD's. Personally I can't even see myself shooting 440 images without taking a long enough break to change cards...(10 seconds)....unless your a spray & pray type of shooter....LOL. On a 8MP camera that seems like a non-issue to me. But that's just me.

[tzalman]

I just checked on this when I ordered my Canon Rebel XT. I had been taking a Digital Photography Class prior to ordering it. Our class instructor told us if you are buying a new camera to make sure the Memory Cards are compatible with the camera. My wife was going to order a 4GB from B&H; they were at a good price. I called Canon Tech support and they told me that the biggest card that should be used in the Canon Rebel XT was a 2GB. So, instead of ordering the 4GB we ordered 2-2GB's. But since then; I have seen advertisments and package deals with a 4GB card. Who's right??

Page 162, XT Manual:
"CF card (Type I or II) *Compatible with Microdrive and 2GB and larger CF cards."
I sure hope this is right, I have two Seagate 4GB MDs on order.
Elie

[PacAce]

As large as they are made currently. The standard allows up to 137GB to be addressed.
Standard for what? CF or SD?

[PacAce]

Folks, the 4 GB limitation in question here in this thread is for the SD cards, not the CF cards (as indicated by the thread title). Anybody using CF cards or camera which only take CF cards have nothing to worry about.

[mikegoat]

I have 1D Mark IIn and just bought an SD 550. I have a 4GB SD card that I tried to format in the 1d. I could not. I could use the card and the camera would treat it as a 2 GB card. I put the same 4GB Sd card in the SD 550 and it could be formatted in camera and shows the full four gigs of memory. (1200 superfine Large 7.1 MP pics!)

[CyberDyneSystems]

Update.

There are some SD cards larger than 2GB (4GB) that wil not work in the MkII The earliest ones seem to have this problem

There are some newer 4GB SD Cards that will "mostly" work in the MkII
They will show as a full 4GB and allow you to record images to them, but you can not format them in camera.

We'll add more info as it comes up.

[DavidW]

This thread (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=197503) may be of interest. There's no such thing as a 4GB SD card, as there's a cut off in the SD specification at 2GB.

There are, however, 4GB SD HC cards, but they only work in SD HC compatible devices. Canon have recently released new firmware for the 1D Mark II, 1D Mark IIN and 1DS Mark II that adds SD HC support. Make sure any card readers and similar devices are SD HC compliant before attempting to use SD HC cards, though!



David

[Palladium]

I think the new camera firmware updates takes care of these issues ;)

from the latest issue of EOS-mail 30 December 2006

Latest firmware updates

Canon has released firmware updates for three of its professional digital cameras (latest version shown in brackets):

EOS-1D Mark II (ver. 1.2.6)
EOS-1D Mark II N (ver. 1.1.2)
EOS-1Ds Mark II (ver. 1.1.6)

The upgrades fix the problem where the camera does not detect the capacity correctly when high-capacity recording media cards are initialised:
a) SDHC cards with capacities exceeding 2GB (e.g., 4GB, 8GB) are now supported.
b) The phenomenon where the camera cannot correctly detect the capacity of CF cards with capacities exceeding 8GB (e.g., 12GB, 16GB) correctly when they are initialised has been corrected.

The firmware updates can be downloaded from the Canon website and installed in the camera by the user. Links to firmware pages are provided at the EOS magazine website (follow the 'News' link on the left side of the Home page and then click the firmware link on the News page)

[tommykjensen]

I think the new camera firmware updates takes care of these issues ;)

Yes for SD HC compliant cards.

[PaulB]

4Gb SD cards seem to work in my 1DMk2 with the 1.2.6 firmware - not HC either.

[strat666]

I'm about to buy a Transcend 150x 4 GB SD card, but would like to know if it's compatible with the 1D Mark II N? Should I get their 4GB SDHC card instead? Will it work with my Sandisk 12-in-1 card reader?

Any help appreciated :)

[Jon]

SD cards of 2 GB and higher are problematic; some lines will and others won't work in various devices. Older devices are more likely to have trouble with 2 GB and above cards, so it's a crap shoot. If you want to use SDHC cards, though, you need a reader which explicitly supports them.

[strat666]

Good points, Jon. I ended up getting the 2 GB SD and 8 GB CF for a very nice price. Benchmarked them, here are the results:

1] SD 2GB 150x: 17.6 MB/sec read, 14.2 MB/sec write [avg]
2] CF 8GB 120x: 17.7 MB/sec read, 15.9 MB/sec write [avg]

The 8GB CF's avg. write speed was actually around 16.2 MB/sec, but there is a bug in the program's display. This is using a Sandisk ImageMate 12-in-1 card reader.

Very happy :)