7D users: New fast UDMA 7 memory cards

Were you aware of this fact?

Note:
UDMA 7 CF memory card read/write speeds are not fully supported with the EOS 7D Digital SLR camera, if using UDMA 7 memory cards, the read/write speeds will be equivalent to UDMA 6.

The statement doesn't mean they won't work, just that they won't deliver all the UDMA-7 spec states with respect to speed. This is a normal course of events with memory designed to new standards and older cameras that predate the standard. An analogy would be a USB 3.0 reader on a USB 2.0 capable PC. It works fine, just can't deliver it full potential.

I was about to buy one to be compatible with a USB3 card reader for faster downloads until I became aware of this.

mrgooch wrote in post #16686818
I was about to buy one to be compatible with a USB3 card reader for faster downloads until I became aware of this.

Personally I feel you should "buy forward" so long as the hardware will work. Compatibility to UDMA-7 may come via a camera firmware update and if you bought old technology, then you need to consider another possible purchase.

mrgooch wrote in post #16686818
I was about to buy one to be compatible with a USB3 card reader for faster downloads until I became aware of this.

The body is close to five years old. Technology changes in minutes. Get the new card and wait for a new body.

I'm so on the fence on getting one. I need a 16gb CF card but I am thinking of changing to a 70d...

Any advice

I bought a Lexar card udma7. Unfortunately my card reader will not handle it. Therefore my future holds a new card reader.

Would like to have it a little bit faster for my raw videos.

SilverTip wrote in post #16693579
I bought a Lexar card udma7. Unfortunatly my card reader will not handle it. Therefore my future holds a new card reader.

Don't necessarily blame the card, assuming it is genuine. Go to http://www.lexar.com/s​upport/cf-professional-faqs where Lexar feels it should be backward compatible. You might check to see if there is a newer driver for your current reader.

If your former reader is a Lexar new drivers are at http://www.lexar.com/d​ownloads.

John from PA wrote in post #16686917
Personally I feel you should "buy forward" so long as the hardware will work. Compatibility to UDMA-7 may come via a camera firmware update and if you bought old technology, then you need to consider another possible purchase.

You very seldom see any firmware updates that adds support for a later transfer standard. The hardware is normally designed to fullfill the requirements of a specific standard. Then the next standard comes out with higher demands from the hardware.

pwm2 wrote in post #16693796
You very seldom see any firmware updates that adds support for a later transfer standard. The hardware is normally designed to fullfill the requirements of a specific standard. Then the next standard comes out with higher demands from the hardware.

But it has happened, most recently to my knowledge with the 1D Mk IV. A firmware update in the camera addressed the write speeds of UDMA 7 CF cards.

My point as well is buy current product when you have the need and funds to do so. It is getting harder and harder to buy CF cards that don't meet UDMA-7. Do you trash the camera or buy the card that has untapped capability?

Note that it isn't uncommon with updated, more optimized, drivers making a product work better.

That isn't the same as if the driver updated the camera from UDMA 6 to UDMA 7.