5D3 poll - How do you use you CF & SD slots?

How do you use the 5D3 dual card slots? After a bit of time playing with different settings (I started off “CF: raw SD: raw”, then went “CF: raw SD: jpeg”), I’ve settled back to just recording raws to the CF slot and nothing to the SD except to use it as a back up when the CF card is full. This doesn’t really take advantage of the full functionality of the system, but when I’m not taking huge numbers of photos every day and can download everyday, I’m not seeing the need for another option and this is simple, fast and effective. However, I will certainly go “CF: raw SD: raw” on vacations / more important shoots.

Please also add your reasoning…

i like raw.

I like to keep my buffer rate as smooth as possible so I write to my fast CF card in RAW and only use the SD when the CF is full. If I write to both at the same time the max burst suffers for it.

If I need buffer, I will run what Christina recommends...I prefer RAW shots, so I use the CF for those in full resolution.

IF I am just doing run of the mill, not speed intensive shooting, I will use CF:RAW, SD:JPEG setup. Using this setup, I can have RAW for editing if I get that miraculous shot and I can have JPEG, If I just wanna get something quickly, but not need absolute best quality.

I guess I would be other. I shoot RAW + L, record to multiple, mirrored to both cards.

FWIW I start with CF and then switch to SD when the card is full. But I didn't vote in the poll since I actually have a 1Ds Mark II, not a 5D Mark III.

RAW SD card only when CF card fills up, I don't shoot anything so important as to require backup

I use the SD as a 'backup' card, to provide some insurance should the CF card crap itself. Hence, I record every shot in RAW to both cards. This is for weddings etc, where speed isn't an issue.

Raw on 1000x CF only. I can make jogs later if desired. SD cards are too slow if you are doing high speed shooting of sports and wildlife.

I only use the SD slot for the eyefi card to tether to my iPad.

I never shoot more than a couple hundred shots at a time (and that would be a pretty big day) so I never need the space. I have a great 32GB CFcard that I shoot RAW and I will NEVER fill. I have thought about going the CF RAW mode and SD jpeg so I don't have to convert the run of the mill shots. How much will this actually slow me down?

idsurfer wrote in post #14676822
I never shoot more than a couple hundred shots at a time (and that would be a pretty big day) so I never need the space. I have a great 32GB CFcard that I shoot RAW and I will NEVER fill. I have thought about going the CF RAW mode and SD jpeg so I don't have to convert the run of the mill shots. How much will this actually slow me down?

If you're bursting it'll decrease the buffer size considerably. If you're doing low fps then you won't notice at all.

CF card: RAW, SD card: S1 jpeg

I use the SD card to put the images on the iPad quickly when I want to show pictures before editing them on the computer.

If I'm shooting Jpegs for fun (non critical photos) then I just use the SD as an overflow but if I'm shooting anything important (critical or paid work) then it would be CF for RAW and SD for Jpegs.

I only use CF for RAW. I never do JPEG and I never use the second card because it is slower. For me it is useless, I would prefer to have 2 CF cards with same speed capability.