HELP! err 02 on two Transcend 400x CF cards

Hi Folks, need a little help. I'm heading off to the Sahara and Atlas Mountains in a couple of days with my Canon 5D Mk2. I've been buying everything I need, including memory. I bought a 32GB Transcend Premium 400x CF card off a major seller on Amazon, thought it was pretty good and a couple of weeks later bought another off Amazon themselves. Whilst I had previously only been shooting and viewing stuff on the camera itself tonight I tried to download them to my MacBook to test properly. Well, I've discovered that neither of these cards can transfer any movies I've shot on them! I get an 'err 02' external media defect! I seem to be able to get photos off them, but not video. Both cards behave exactly the same. I've tried different import software such as Lightroom, Image Capture, etc. I've tried using the camera as the host, and also using a USB CF adaptor - no difference. To eliminate the camera as defective I went back to my older 16GB Kingston Ultimate 266x, and this shot and transferred video just fine. In fact it's never let me down.

I think I've eliminated every possible variable and everything points to the Transcend cards being the culprit. Anyone had this experience? It doesn't seem possible since these cards are very highly regarded...

My second question is a dilemma: given that I'm going on a trip and have no more time to order replacements, would it still be safe to use these???? I mean, I can shoot video, and view it on the camera, I just can't transfer it off. I'm in a real bind now. Are these incompatible with the 5D?

I think I'd be getting some Sandisk replacements from Amazon with Next-Day delivery.

Unfortunately there are quite a few fake cards out there. If you are currently in the States Best Buy currently has most of their memory at 1/2 price.

I doubt they are fakes. Both were purchased at different times through amazon. One sold _by_ Amazon. Both come with official serial numbers which I registered on the transcend website.

Anyone else seen this kind of behaviour, and what can it imply?

There is an extensive thread on this issue at http://vimeo.com …s_and_editing/t​opic:31848. Well worth a full read, even though it is with regard to the 7D, as some solutions are offered for recovery of file video files. Seems like it is primarily a video issue as opposed to stills, much like you are encountering.

Some interesting points are provided in that Canon supposedly acknowledged an issue, but more with the 7D than 5D. The firmware that came out late last year or early this year seems to have helped. One individual that had three 7D's, two with version 1.2.0 firmware and one with version 1.2.5 only had the issue with the 1.2.0 firmware cameras.

http://aeroquartet.com …n-7d-reliability-problem/ has some discussion, again with respect to the 7D. But it would seem as a minimum you should make sure your firmware is current (if not already).

Thanks John, that sounds plausible! I'm investigating and have found that I have v2.1.1 installed and there is a new version 2.1.2 available which specifically addresses issues with newer large capacity Lexar CF cards. Even though Transcend is not mentioned, it may help in this regard. I'll find out soon...

John, you're a life saver! Successfully shot and transferred 3 videos! This isn't yet conclusive as I did manage to transfer 1 tiny video yesterday too on the older firmware, but that was just 1 second long, so I'm sure it's a file size issue. Thanks for your help.

Alas, false hope It's playing up again and all the video I've shot is inaccessible now with the same err 02. Now I'm on v2.1.2 firmware I'm out of ideas and options. I'll be in the middle of the desert for a week with all my camera gear, but only one small kingston CF card to record on!

Can the 5dMkII handle an SDHC card in a 2nd slot? If so you might want to hurry over to Best Buy for the Sandisk high end cards on sale this week. I think an Extreme Pro 16 GB is $25, basically 1/2 price. I stuff around 500 RAW plus mediaum JPG's on a 16 GB SDHC in my 60D.

I'm fairly new to the 5D, but I'm pretty sure there's only one slot for a CF card. In any case, I'm in the UK. I don't have limitless funds and can't really splash out on cards at the airport, at their prices, but may have to do so. However I'll be in the same position as I am now and won't know if they'll work or not. The Transcend one is supposed to work, but it doesn't. The only way I'll find out is when I come back from the expedition and discover that none of the stuff will transfer to the computer. I really thought this stuff was much simpler than it is. I'm surprised other people haven't encountered this now!

efunc wrote in post #15071324
I'm fairly new to the 5D, but I'm pretty sure there's only one slot for a CF card. In any case, I'm in the UK. I don't have limitless funds and can't really splash out on cards at the airport, at their prices, but may have to do so. However I'll be in the same position as I am now and won't know if they'll work or not. The Transcend one is supposed to work, but it doesn't. The only way I'll find out is when I come back from the expedition and discover that none of the stuff will transfer to the computer. I really thought this stuff was much simpler than it is. I'm surprised other people haven't encountered this now!

Whereabouts in the UK, and where are you flying from? I'm fairly close to Gatwick and could lend you a couple of cards.

I've certainly heard of the error you are getting before. Don't recall off-hand if it was Transcend specifically but the cards were at fault from what I do remember, possibly even fake cards.

hollis_f wrote in post #15071389
Whereabouts in the UK, and where are you flying from? I'm fairly close to Gatwick and could lend you a couple of cards.

Really VERY kind of you, thanks a heap. Unfortunately I'm flying from Stanstead, so not really possible. Thanks all the same though. I guess I'll head down to Argos or Dixons and see how much they want for a couple of 32GB Sandisk Ultras.

djames wrote in post #15071429
I've certainly heard of the error you are getting before. Don't recall off-hand if it was Transcend specifically but the cards were at fault from what I do remember, possibly even fake cards.

Well, it seems so odd that two cards from two legitimate sources behave the same, but maybe I'll just skip Transcend from now on. My Kingston has been a real success story, so I should have just stuck with that.

efunc wrote in post #15071487
Well, it seems so odd that two cards from two legitimate sources behave the same, but maybe I'll just skip Transcend from now on. My Kingston has been a real success story, so I should have just stuck with that.

I guess so, maybe you have just been really unlucky.

Try next day delivery from Amazon or will that not work?