High Speed CF cards

[Noble95]

I bought the Canon XT and when I purchased it I got the 256mb Extreme Card. I now need a Larger card but would like some other suggestions on good cards to get

Anyone use the Scan Disk "Ultimate" CF card?

[tim]

Have a read of this (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=72804&page=1&highlight=sandisk) , especially the link to the Rob McGraith (sp?) CF card database. I use Sandisk Ultra II cards.

[Longwatcher]

I think it is Rob Galbraith's site

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=6007-7699

for Rebel XT cards

[epeace]

i use the standard sandisk 2 GB card and im less than happy with it . . . i cant use it for runway work because its so unbelievably slow at times and I end up missing shots as a result of it . . . . . I use my IBM microdrive 1GB for that stuff . . its great . . no waiting . . although according to that matrix on Rob Galbraith's site it gets even better than that . . .

does anyone here have any experience with Magicstor CF cards? they're pretty cheap cost wise . . .but ive found that in the world of CF you get what you pay for . . . just curious . . .

[Jon]

Don't even THInk about the MagicStor. The failure rate observed around here's around 90+ %. IOW, you can bet on losing a bunch of shots somewhere down the road. SanDisk's Ultra II cards are definitely good. I haven't compared my IBM/Hitachi microdrives to my SanDisk cards though.

[pcasciola]

I use 1Gb Sandisk Ultra II, Extreme, and Extreme III. The Extreme III is the fastest transferring from the reader to the computer, but in the camera I don't see any difference between the three.

[gkas]

I use 1Gb Sandisk Ultra II, Extreme, and Extreme III. The Extreme III is the fastest transferring from the reader to the computer, but in the camera I don't see any difference between the three.

The XT won't see a very big difference but in the 20D it makes a BIG difference. It writes to the card very fast.

[pcasciola]

The XT won't see a very big difference but in the 20D it makes a BIG difference. It writes to the card very fast.Not true. In RAW mode, the XT is actually slightly faster than the 20D writing to the card. The 1GB Extreme III can write 6.2MB/sec on the XT, and only 6MB/sec on the 20D. You start to use cards like the Kingston Elite Pro on the XT, and you're down in the low 4MB/sec range.

Any of the Sandisks I mentioned will be fast in the XT, as well as the 80x Lexar's.

[Bullseye]

I have the 80x Lexar 2GB card. It's the only one I've ever used, so I can't compare, but I haven't managed to make it say uncle yet. No matter what I'm doing, it can keep up with me. Even burst mode won't make it pause. So far anyway. :)

[epeace]

Don't even THInk about the MagicStor. The failure rate observed around here's around 90+ %. IOW, you can bet on losing a bunch of shots somewhere down the road. SanDisk's Ultra II cards are definitely good. I haven't compared my IBM/Hitachi microdrives to my SanDisk cards though.yah after further research the general consensus is do not buy magicstor . . .. i picked up a 2GB Ultra II yesterday for about $85US . . .

on a different topic . . how often do you guys have batteries fail on you . . . i mean have a battery go completely dead on you never to be used again . . . its happened to me twice in the past year . . . although they are the japanese clones not Canon product . . . that may have something to do with it . . but as far as i have read the japanese cells are supposed to be top notch . . .

[Longwatcher]

I want to know where you picked up a 2GB Ultra II for $85US?

They are usually going for around $179 at the lowest cost place I can find about two weeks ago. That price sounds more like either a 1GB Ultra II or maybe a standard 2GB sandisk card at some not so reputable on-line sources, but even I can't find those that cheap today.

[Leorooster]

I use SanDisk Ultra II 4 GB. I have no problem with it. It's pretty fast and reliable. The only thing is that the card really fill up fast (can hold about 300pics) if you use raw+jped. BTW, I got mine for about $260 at Dell a few weeks back when they have one of those crazy sale where you could use multiple coupons. Dell has those sales from time to time, it might be worth to wait a little.......

[epeace]

I want to know where you picked up a 2GB Ultra II for $85US?

They are usually going for around $179 at the lowest cost place I can find about two weeks ago. That price sounds more like either a 1GB Ultra II or maybe a standard 2GB sandisk card at some not so reputable on-line sources, but even I can't find those that cheap today.ebay my friend . . . one of the greatest discoveries i have made in the past couple years. . i have gotten almost all of my equipment at a mere fraction of what youd see it at B&H for . . . . brand new at that :cool:

just make sure you follow a few guidelines and you cant go wrong . . .

[the.digital.guy]

yah after further research the general consensus is do not buy magicstor . . .. i picked up a 2GB Ultra II yesterday for about $85US . . .

on a different topic . . how often do you guys have batteries fail on you . . . i mean have a battery go completely dead on you never to be used again . . . its happened to me twice in the past year . . . although they are the japanese clones not Canon product . . . that may have something to do with it . . but as far as i have read the japanese cells are supposed to be top notch . . .


No Way !!!!
A Sandisk Ultra II 2GB for $85.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Prove It!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mcaldwell]

Followed many threads, but can't find any real data. In addition, can we separate the issue of transferring to the PC from maximum burst / recycle time in the camera? I'm willing to eat dinner while the thing transfers to the PC, but don't want to slow down the 20D at all.

So my question is: disregarding PC download, what is the slowest CF card (or microdrive) one can use and still get maximum performance from the 20D??

Mike

[DwightMcCann]

Mc ... there's a link to great data on the Gailbrait website above in this thread ... I think it's just what you want or there is a dropdown for almost every CF and SD card and camera combination.

[Salleke]

Followed many threads, but can't find any real data. In addition, can we separate the issue of transferring to the PC from maximum burst / recycle time in the camera? I'm willing to eat dinner while the thing transfers to the PC, but don't want to slow down the 20D at all.

So my question is: disregarding PC download, what is the slowest CF card (or microdrive) one can use and still get maximum performance from the 20D??

Mike

You can use the Sandisk 1 GB standard CF cards in your camera.
They perform with the same speed as a Sandisk 1 GB EXTREME III.
I have both types of CF cards and in the 20 D camera they are equally fast.
Only when downloading to the computer the EXTREME II & III CF cards are faster,
if you have a (fast) USB 2 cardreader.

[Marshall]

Ref.the Rob Galbraith website-Lexar 80x has compatability problems with some Canon digital SLR's.There is a firmware card update that can only be performed by Lexar.See their website for further details.

[prime80]

You can use the Sandisk 1 GB standard CF cards in your camera.
They perform with the same speed as a Sandisk 1 GB EXTREME III.
I have both types of CF cards and in the 20 D camera they are equally fast.
Only when downloading to the computer the EXTREME II & III CF cards are faster,
if you have a (fast) USB 2 cardreader.

In a 20D, a standard Sandisk card is going to give you about 1MB/s write speed. An Extrememe III or Ultra II will give you 5-6MB/s write speed. If yours are performing equally, then you're not stressing your Extreme at all.

[Salleke]

In a 20D, a standard Sandisk card is going to give you about 1MB/s write speed. An Extrememe III or Ultra II will give you 5-6MB/s write speed. If yours are performing equally, then you're not stressing your Extreme at all.

Sorry for asking but inglish is not my native language so i don't understand what you mean by: "...then you're not stressing your Extreme at all?"

In many revieuws i read that the 20 D take advantage of faster CF cards but that's not so. And my own tests proof it.
I bought the more expensive EXTREME III CF card for having the camera perform (write) at a much higher speed to the faster CF card.

IMHO it's the 20 D that don't take advantge of the faster EXTREME III CF cards.
The 20 D can not write faster so the slower CF cards can handle the job with ease.
Is there some info on the write speed of the 20 D to the CF cards?

[Jon]

Is there some info on the write speed of the 20 D to the CF cards?

Yes. Rob Galbraith's CF database (http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=6007). The differences between the fastest and slowest cards are pronounced on every camera tested, including every Canon DSLR from the D60 on. If you're not seeing a difference, you're probably not testing write speed alone. Rob timed SanDisk standard at about 1 MB/sec, while the Extreme 3 wrote at between 5 and 6 MB/sec on the 20D. He states how he performed the tests there as well.

[Salleke]

Yes. Rob Galbraith's CF database (http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=6007). The differences between the fastest and slowest cards are pronounced on every camera tested, including every Canon DSLR from the D60 on. If you're not seeing a difference, you're probably not testing write speed alone. Rob timed SanDisk standard at about 1 MB/sec, while the Extreme 3 wrote at between 5 and 6 MB/sec on the 20D. He states how he performed the tests there as well.

On the Rob Galbraith's CF Database website i found the following notes and i quote:

"CompactFlash Write Speed - Canon EOS 20D (Firmware Version 1.0.5)
The data in the table below was derived by timing how long it took the Canon EOS 20D to write out 20 Large Fine JPEG and 6 RAW .CR2 photos to the card. Timing commenced when the camera's card status light illuminated, and stopped when the light went out. Each test cycle was performed 3 times (if the card's capacity allowed for that) to ensure accurate results.
All cards were secure erased prior to testing, then formatted in the camera. The same test scene was photographed, under the same illumination, for all tests. The identical camera settings and lens were also used for all tests.

Card-to-card speed variation within the same brand and model, photographing scenes of varying detail and at different ISO settings - these and other factors may slightly alter write speed performance. As a result, write speed differences of 5% or less from card to card in the table below should be considered insignificant. If one card's write speed is within 5% of another's, the two cards are likely to offer effectively the same performance in the real world." End of quote.

I have done these tests and like i said before: there is no difference in writing 25 files (with 5 fps) from the camera to a Standard 1 GB CF card and/or an EXTREME III Sandisk CF card.

If someone have the same CF cards i would ask if this person could please do the same tests. I'm just curios if the CF cards performs the same. I would like to know if i have a bad EXTREME III CF card or if it's normal.

Does anyone have official information from Canon about the write speed of a 20 D camera to the CF cards?

Thanks in advance to everyone.
Thanks Jon for the answer and the link to Galbraight's website.

[gastroboy]

GO either Sandisk Ultra's (either the II's or the III's) or the Lexar Pro's. All have lifetime warranty's so you won't be out of pocket if they die. I have used the Lexar x4 , Ulta II's, and Lexar X80. speed in that order. The Ultra III's are faster than the Lexar x80 by a small margin though and more expensive by quite a bit.