Slowwwwwww write time to CF card on 30D

[Mike Bowen]

Anyone else ever have this issue? I have a Sandisk Extreme IV 4GB card that I use with my 30D. When I first got it, it worked absolutely fine, wrote to the card really quick, no issues. I've checked the threads about counterfeit cards, and mine appears to be genuine.

Recently, its started taking a long time to write to the card. I mean like 5-10 sections per shot. I have always shot in RAW only.

Here are the things I have tried:

Reset all settings & custom functions
Updated to latest firmware
Remove regular & backup batter for 30+ minutes
With and without the grip
Different lenses
Format the card both on the camera and on my PCThe only thing I haven't tried is a new card yet, which I'm going to do today...going up to the store on my lunch break and will buy another one. I was just curious before I do if anyone else has had this problem?

[Lowner]

I find the write time is very variable. Yes, mine has taken that long on the very odd occasion, but normally it will write a lot quicker than that.

I've tended to assume that the amount of data recorded was different. Thats based on no proper knowledge of the subject I freely admit.

I'd try the new card before anything else. Having a second card is not a bad idea anyway.

[Mike Bowen]

Yeah. Went to the store and bought another card, it works fine right away. Popped the Sandisk back in there and slow write times again.

Hopefully this card is under warranty and Sandisk can replace it.

[almo]

Yeah. Went to the store and bought another card, it works fine right away. Popped the Sandisk back in there and slow write times again.

Hopefully this card is under warranty and Sandisk can replace it.

Cards go bad. Age, storage temps, moisture. It all acts on the card to cause malfunctions. I have had a few die on me over the years. Oddly enough, they were all SanDisc cards. I tend to avoid those. I like Transcend and Kingston cards myself. Never had any issues with any of them.

Knock on magnesium alloy...:rolleyes:

[Mystwalker]

Yikes!
Isn't that Sandisk's top of the line?
You would expect that one to be 'reliable'.

Or maybe the more advanced, the more prone to problems?

I use Ultra IIs which been good.

[donaldjl]

I've been happy with Ultra IIs as well so far.

Weird how it slows down, though. Do photos come off of the card looking okay? If it was a corrupted card, wouldn't it just "not work", or will a device write data around corrupted sections of a card's memory?

[Mike Bowen]

I've been happy with Ultra IIs as well so far.

Weird how it slows down, though. Do photos come off of the card looking okay? If it was a corrupted card, wouldn't it just "not work", or will a device write data around corrupted sections of a card's memory?

Pictures are perfectly fine, it just takes forever to write to the dang card.

Makes is pretty much useless when I want to shoot in burst mode, as the buffer fills and it takes 5-10 seconds to write 1 picture to the card.

I just ordered a Transcend 266x 4GB card. I still haven't heard back from SanDisk...I hope I can warranty it.

[Lidor7]

I really doubt this is your issue, and forgive me for asking, but I don't suppose by some long shot you're shooting long exposures with noise reduction on?

[Mike Bowen]

Noise reduction is off. These aren't long exposures anyway... :)

It's a problem with the CF card, as I purchased a cheapo replacement at the store and write times are much better.

[ed rader]

Noise reduction is off. These aren't long exposures anyway... :)

It's a problem with the CF card, as I purchased a cheapo replacement at the store and write times are much better.


yes, you had a problem with a CF card.

it happens.

but to turn to cheap cards because the failure was with the industry leader to me is like cutting of your nose to spite your face.

i've use nothing but sandisk CF cards year after year and have NEVER had a card fail.

ed rader

[Mike Bowen]

yes, you had a problem with a CF card.

it happens.

but to turn to cheap cards because the failure was with the industry leader to me is like cutting of your nose to spite your face.

i've use nothing but sandisk CF cards year after year and have NEVER had a card fail.

ed rader

I only bought the cheapo because it was the only store close to me that had one without breaking the bank. I already ordered another card, a Transcend 266x 4GB card which has great reviews over at Newegg.

I'm hoping SanDisk will warranty this card, but i still haven't heard from them. Didn't think it would take this long to get an RMA number.

The cheapo I have will hopefully be a 3rd backup card, just incase, as long as I can get this SanDisk replaced.

[ed rader]

I only bought the cheapo because it was the only store close to me that had one without breaking the bank. I already ordered another card, a Transcend 266x 4GB card which has great reviews over at Newegg.

I'm hoping SanDisk will warranty this card, but i still haven't heard from them. Didn't think it would take this long to get an RMA number.

The cheapo I have will hopefully be a 3rd backup card, just incase, as long as I can get this SanDisk replaced.


hey Mike an OT question....i was up in Tacoma last year and it had really gone downhill over the years....just whaaaat the hell happened up there :D?

i'll be in puyallup next week and plan to go to northwest trek...anything else you recommend ?

thanx,

ed rader

[Mike Bowen]

They are starting to really clean up downtown Tacoma, tho its still a pretty shady place at night. They have built a light rail system and are doing other little things to make it a bit "nicer".

Go to downtown during the week around the UW Tacoma Campus. You can do a lot of people watch there, lots of great places to eat too.

As far as other places to go, I haven't honestly been to Northwest Trek since I was like in the 4th grade, lol. I don't really remember much, just a bunch of animals roaming around.

There is a zoo at Point Defiance in Tacoma if you want to shoot more animals. Or the rest of the park in general is really fun to walk/drive through if it is nice outside. They have a couple gorgeous gardens and a really neat Japanese style pagoda.

Around Puyallup, there really isn't a whole lot except for the fair, which doesn't open til September. NW Trek isn't really in Puyallup, its a drive out into the country about 30 minutes away.

May I ask why you are visiting Puyallup? ( and i hope you know how to pronounce it haha :) )

[ed rader]

They are starting to really clean up downtown Tacoma, tho its still a pretty shady place at night. They have built a light rail system and are doing other little things to make it a bit "nicer".

Go to downtown during the week around the UW Tacoma Campus. You can do a lot of people watch there, lots of great places to eat too.

As far as other places to go, I haven't honestly been to Northwest Trek since I was like in the 4th grade, lol. I don't really remember much, just a bunch of animals roaming around.

There is a zoo at Point Defiance in Tacoma if you want to shoot more animals. Or the rest of the park in general is really fun to walk/drive through if it is nice outside. They have a couple gorgeous gardens and a really neat Japanese style pagoda.

Around Puyallup, there really isn't a whole lot except for the fair, which doesn't open til September. NW Trek isn't really in Puyallup, its a drive out into the country about 30 minutes away.

May I ask why you are visiting Puyallup? ( and i hope you know how to pronounce it haha :) )


i have family there :D.

i used to live on pacific avenue, oh, a long time ago and believe me the area has changed and i'm not just talking about downtown :D.

if you are into wildlife northwest trek is one of the coolest places that i have ever been. we went there last summer on a rainy, overcast day and i got some great shots.

how about deception pass?

ed rader

[Mike Bowen]

Where on Pac Ave? I live just up off of Pac Ave and 130th kind of out toward Parkland. Its a little ways up off of Pac in a newer neighborhood. Houses are all about 10 years old. Its a really nice neighborhood, no crime problems or anything.

Deception pass is beautiful... We go camping there pretty often. Its a bit of a drive from Tacoma though.

I love going out to the Olympics. Hoh rainforest is really pretty. Hurricane ridge gets you some great views on a clear day.

If you like hiking I can recommend a lot of spots up near Tiger mountain and Snoqualmie pass.

Also a trip to Paradise or Sunrise at Mt Rainier is always a great place to shoot.

Mike

[ed rader]

Where on Pac Ave? I live just up off of Pac Ave and 130th kind of out toward Parkland. Its a little ways up off of Pac in a newer neighborhood. Houses are all about 10 years old. Its a really nice neighborhood, no crime problems or anything.

Deception pass is beautiful... We go camping there pretty often. Its a bit of a drive from Tacoma though.

I love going out to the Olympics. Hoh rainforest is really pretty. Hurricane ridge gets you some great views on a clear day.

If you like hiking I can recommend a lot of spots up near Tiger mountain and Snoqualmie pass.

Also a trip to Paradise or Sunrise at Mt Rainier is always a great place to shoot.

Mike


it's been so long...i want to say 84th street right next to the KFC. i wasn't far from 72nd street.

we probably won't do too much while there. last year we stayed in seattle. i really love the city (reminds me of SF) but the traffic was horrendous.

we went to the zoo there and out to sequim to that weird animal reserve....i forget the name now but it was pretty pathetic.

i think we'll do northwest trek and maybe head out to mt. rainer, thanx for the ideas :D.

ed rader

[Mike Bowen]

it's been so long...i want to say 84th street right next to the KFC. i wasn't far from 72nd street.

we probably won't do too much while there. last year we stayed in seattle. i really love the city (reminds me of SF) but the traffic was horrendous.

we went to the zoo there and out to sequim to that weird animal reserve....i forget the name now but it was pretty pathetic.

i think we'll do northwest trek and maybe head out to mt. rainer, thanx for the ideas :D.

ed rader

Yeah that stretch of Pac Ave hasn't changed, probably looks just like the last time you were here. :)

Have fun out here...hopefully the weather holds up for you its been gorgeous the last few weeks.

[ed rader]

Yeah that stretch of Pac Ave hasn't changed, probably looks just like the last time you were here. :)

Have fun out here...hopefully the weather holds up for you its been gorgeous the last few weeks.


thanx man! actually i'm hoping for overcast weather when i go to northwest trek ;).

ed rader

[SteveNC]

FYI the larger cards take longer to write to (for some reason) based on my 20D experience with both Lexar and Sandisk high speed higher capacity cards (4-8GB).

[overclock]

I had a problem with a SanDisk card right out of the box once. I bought it from Dell with a rebate and I cut the UPC out before testing the card. I was on the phone for over 2 hours back and forth with SanDisk before they gave me an RMA number. Their warranty support sucks to say it nicely.

Have you tried wiping the card or using the HP format utility?