7D Card GB Limitations ???

I have a CF-to-SD adapter that we use with the 7D.

I have a 64-GB Delkin "Advantage" SD card that we use in the adapter in the 7D.

When the card is formatted/empty, the RAW/Large jpeg "count" shows 999.

I tried three Transcend 32-GB cards and each of them showed 799; I might not have ever caught it had I not been messing with the 32-GB cards.

To my way of thinking, if a 32-GB card holds 799 images, then a 64-GB should hold 1598, some 600 more than the 7D is showing.

In the card-reader, the capacity gauge says 58.+ GB for the 64-GB card.

I stuck the 64-GB card in the 7DMkII just to see what it said = I didn't format it; I left it formatted for the 7D; allowing that the 7DMkII (if memory serves) is 24MP, whereas the 7D is 18MP, the 7DMkII showed 1299 images available; I will take that as the identical Delkin 128-GB card in the 7DMkII shows 2598 = exactly twice the 64-GB.

To eliminate the possibility that it may be a limitation of the adapter, I stuck the adapter/SD card in the 7DMkII CF slot and got exactly the same 1299 as it showed in the normal SD slot.

I don't have a 64-GB CF card to compare and see if it shows the correct number.

Could someone who has a 7D and a 64-GB CF card, please check and see how many available RAW/Large jpeg it shows for an empty/formatted card ?

Is the 7D limited as to card capacity ?

It will not even recognize the 128-GB SD card in the adapter; it just says reload the card or try a different card.


Thanks for reading and all help is appreciated; I hope I didn't lose anyone in all that confusion.

Doesn't the 7D have 3 digits in the 'shots remaining' window?

I know the 7D2 has 3.5.

Yep, that's the problem. You'll need to get half a digit installed.

Choderboy wrote in post #19075020
Yep, that's the problem. You'll need to get half a digit installed.

Thanks for the illustrations and thanks for solving the mystery.

That "half a digit" business threw me off for a bit; but, I take it you mean the 7DMkII has the ability to display a "1" in the first position, but it can't display anything else.

I didn't even know that the top screen displayed the remaining count before you posted those illustrations; I always look at the bottom/right of the rear screen; I can kind of see it; whereas, I must resort to the big magnifying glass to read anything on that top screen.

I looked at the 7DMkII with the 128 GB card; and, sure enough, while the back screen was displaying the correct 2598, the little top screen shows 1999.

The 7d only shows 999 in both positions, so it must only have capability of three digits on the rear as well.

I believe you have hit the nail on the head in this mystery.

I guess that once the count drops below 1,000, then the 7D will count them down correctly from there on.

You said "You'll need to get half a digit installed" ; is that even possible ? If so, how would I go about it ?

BuckSkin wrote in post #19075225
Thanks for the illustrations and thanks for solving the mystery.

That "half a digit" business threw me off for a bit; but, I take it you mean the 7DMkII has the ability to display a "1" in the first position, but it can't display anything else.

I didn't even know that the top screen displayed the remaining count before you posted those illustrations; I always look at the bottom/right of the rear screen; I can kind of see it; whereas, I must resort to the big magnifying glass to read anything on that top screen.

I looked at the 7DMkII with the 128 GB card; and, sure enough, while the back screen was displaying the correct 2598, the little top screen shows 1999.

The 7d only shows 999 in both positions, so it must only have capability of three digits on the rear as well.

I believe you have hit the nail on the head in this mystery.

I guess that once the count drops below 1,000, then the 7D will count them down correctly from there on.

You said "You'll need to get half a digit installed" ; is that even possible ? If so, how would I go about it ?

No, I was just joking.

Regarding the '3.5' digit, that is real terminology and yes, you're right, it can only be off, or 1.
3.5 digits provides 0 to 1999 instead of 0-999 of 3 digits.

You are also right regarding the count working correctly once there is only space for 998 images.

Choderboy wrote in post #19075489
No, I was just joking.

Regarding the '3.5' digit, that is real terminology and yes, you're right, it can only be off, or 1.
3.5 digits provides 0 to 1999 instead of 0-999 of 3 digits.

You are also right regarding the count working correctly once there is only space for 998 images.

I may screenshot and frame this; me being right twice in one discussion and even getting credit for it.

I appreciate you shedding light on this scenario; it may have taken me years to stumble on the possibility that 999 was as high as the 7D could count.

I figured it was some limitation or other that was actually limiting the capacity of the card; we have an old HP camera that, no matter what capacity SD card we put in it, it formats them to be 1-GB; put a 16-GB card in it and as soon as you turn the camera on, it becomes a 1-GB card. (that's not many pictures, by the way)

I had about half-hoped that there was a firmware hack or someother that would add a digit or so.

Thanks for answering.

BuckSkin wrote in post #19075499
I had about half-hoped that there was a firmware hack or someother that would add a digit or so.

In fact there is a hack that does add a few digits at the back screen.
It is called MagicLantern.

https://www.magiclante​rn.fm/

Canon Amateur wrote in post #19075532
In fact there is a hack that does add a few digits at the back screen.
It is called MagicLantern.

Thanks for that.
I have procrastinated trying Magic Lantern for years; I have even gotten so far as downloading it for our T3s a couple times, but never quite got the nerve to go any further.

Several years ago, I at first had the impression that it actually installed in the firmware --- and maybe it did at the time; but now, it is my understanding that it resides completely in a memory card and removing the card removes all traces of it from the camera --- is that right ?

It appears you have it and know a bit about it; what other beneficial features does it add for a non-video "still" photographer ?

I intend to read through those FAQs again, but I would appreciate some experienced user feedback as well.

I thought it might just be a simple math solution but my raw files vary in size from 18 mb (black screen) to 33 mb in the few dozen I checked. If you figure at 32mb per file it is 1000 for a 32gb card and 2000 for a 64gb card. I assume the exposure, detail, ect account for the file size variation.

Press the INFO button instead of the Q button and you can see the correct count on the rear display. Pressing Q will just mimic what's shown on top, but the INFO screen shows some other camera information, including the real number of images that it predicts can be stored on the card.

The thing MagicLantern (ML) does to the camera is enabling a "bootflag".
If a memory card is "bootable" then the additional software on that memory card wil be loaded.
If ML is missing on that bootable card then the camera cannot continue any further.
So always leave ML on a bootable card or disable bootdisk on the card.
When using Windows, take a look at:
https://pel.hu/eoscard​/

ML enables me to use "auto ETTR".
And "silent picture" in full resolution. M mode and LiveView only.
This enables me to take pictures at a classical concert without being noticed.
Camera on a tripod, disable Beeps (also in ML), LiveView on, half press to focus, press Set to ETTR, and then a quick halfpress to shoot silent.
When focussing a Magic Zoom box appears and shows a 3x magnification with a rudimentary SplitScreen.
SplitScreen tries to mimic the focus circle (I used to have on my old Canon AE-1) where the top and bottom half lign up on focus.
Useless for sports but perfect for classical concerts.

ML also lets me overlay a cropmark in LiveView and playback pictures. In some cases it is usefull.
I once made a custom cropmark to assist me in a specific situation.

I did experiment a little bit with Dual ISO and Advanced Bracketing, but I am not using it at the moment.

You might even try to seach on Youtube for some more info on MagicLantern.

And for some fun:
https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=CmjeCchGRQo
https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=RCT-YMgjm9k (viewers discretion is advised)

All in all: Silent Picture is the 'killer app' for me.

Canon Amateur wrote in post #19075589
If ML is missing on that bootable card then the camera cannot continue any further.

Thanks.

I guess the key word there is "bootable" ; the camera will always still work normally with a plain old memory card, right ?

I have had some experience with a similar program, CHDK, on a little pocket camera, Canon SD880 I think; it gave that little camera a ton of useful features.
I still have it in a drawer with about a dozen other Canon pocket cameras; since all the non-photographer photographers have been using their phones instead, I can pick these little pocket cameras up at yard sales and swap meets for little of nothing.

Canon Amateur wrote in post #19075589
When using Windows, take a look at:
https://pel.hu/eoscard​/

That is a good source; thanks.

apersson850 wrote in post #19075568
Press the INFO button and you can see the correct count on the rear display.

Thanks; it even shows the GB capacity.