Fastest SD[HC] card

[int2str]

Can somebody point me to a recent SD[HC] card speed comparison or recommend a good 4 or 8 GB SDHC card to use?

I bought a cheap 8 GB card and my Rebel XSi was "only" able to do about 15 JPEGs in a row on burst and took a long time to flush the buffer as well. After I put in my trusty old Sandisk Extreme III 2 GB card, I could do JPEGs continuously without ever reaching the buffer limit. Also, I got a few more RAW shots in and the buffer cleared much faster.

2 GB isn't enough though, so I'll need to do some research to find a fast 4+ GB

[MarKap77]

Sounds to me like you answered your own question. Just get a higher capacity Extreme III.

Remember, it only costs a little more to go first class! LOL

[07accordEX]

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=6007 here you go, huge database

[int2str]

I've seen that (very nice) database before. Unfortunately, it doesn't quite match Neweggs selection :)

The Sandisk Extreme cards are a bit expensive. There seem to be some cheaper class 6 options out there now, but I'm just not sure they are up to speed.

Any recommendations?

[Jon]

Well, Rob tests the best. If you want fast, go with his recommendations. If you want cheap, bear in mind that they may cause bottlenecks under load. Also note that in any given card line, the smaller the card capacity the faster the card, so don't grab a 16 GB when you'd be able to live with 4x4 GB capacity most of the time (and probably for less money). Also remember that SanDisk has rebates on their Extreme III cards, in amounts ranging from $10 back on a 4 GB Extreme III to $90 if you get 3 of their E III 8 or 16 GB cards. At Adorama that'd get you 3x 4 GB for $105 with a $60 Visa check card as your rebate, for a net of $15 a card, or 3x 8 GB for $165 with $90 back, for a net $25/card. And free shipping. You have to buy from a qualified retailer though, and NewEgg isn't one.

[stathunter]

I did a quick unofficial test yesterday. With my 1D Mark II -- I was shooting RAW on burst of deer in my front yard-- I first put in Transcend 16gb card--- was able to shoot about 30 before the card was slow. Then I put in the SanDisk Extreme III 16gb card--- it was faster -- but the card is more than twice the price of the SanDisk --------- so in my opinion it depends on what you are shooting and how important it is to get tons of shots--- for my own work the Transcend cards are fine--
I will be shooting pro hockey tonight and do a test of both cards in jpeg to see the difference -- heck I might even bring my fliphd video recorder to record the "test" --not sure how I am going to hold both though. ?

[M3Rocket]

It's not just the brand of card--it is the speed and PIO/UDMA modes they are capable of. The new 300x Transcends are very fast--faster than the Sandisk Extreme III, and on par with the Extreme IV. And as long as you don't run out of buffer space on the camera, the speeds of the cards are not going to matter much.

[Jon]

Since OP is running out of buffer space, performance in his specific camera which Rob Galbraith tests, is important to him.

[stathunter]

Since OP is running out of buffer space, performance in his specific camera which Rob Galbraith tests, is important to him.

Jon-- good point.

[int2str]

I'm looking for SD, not CF ;)

So based on Jon and Scott's posts, is the consensus then that the Sandisk Extreme III's are still pretty close to "cream of the crop" as far as SD cards are concerned?

I'll probably get some 4 GB's from Adorama then. I'd like the 8 GBs, but will settle for the 4 GB hoping it'll be close enough in speed to my 2 GB to keep the camera happy.

The reason I'd like a fast card is that it might just enable me to shoot soccer in RAW.

[Jon]

Here you go (http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/camera_multi_page.asp?cid=6007-9424) Rob Galbraith's tests on the XSi. The fastest card was the PNY 2 GB, followed by the SanDisk Extreme III 2 and 1 GB, then Lexar Professional and ATP Pro Max, followed by the Extreme III 4 and 8 GB cards. All exceeded 13 MB/s write speed in-camera in RAW. The Kingston Ultimate 133x (1 GB) came in at 11 MB/s.

[MDJAK]

I hate my SD HC card, if those are even the correct initials. Only a special reader will work, and I misplaced it. I put it in an SD card reader and nothing. That sucks.

[Jon]

I hate my SD HC card, if those are even the correct initials. Only a special reader will work, and I misplaced it. I put it in an SD card reader and nothing. That sucks.Yes, they are. Stands for Secure Digital High Capacity. So get a new SDHC reader and toss the old SD-only. They're backward compatible. Or don't buy cards larger than 2 GB. Or stick with CF.

[foxbat]

I hate my SD HC card, if those are even the correct initials. Only a special reader will work, and I misplaced it. I put it in an SD card reader and nothing. That sucks.
Buy yourself one of these (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SDHC-SD-USB-2-0-Memory-Card-Reader-for-2GB-4GB-8GB-16GB_W0QQitemZ260377314284QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_De faultDomain_0?hash=item260377314284&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1683%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1309) and you can use it anywhere you have a USB port.