Read a review on Canon, interesting "complaint"

In the review they talked about a couple different Canon cameras, and one thing they highlighted and considered a detraction was the use of CF cards.

I do not understand why people consider CF cards "bad". Any ideas?

About the ONLY think I could come up with is that most laptops don't seem to take CF cards in their built in card readers.

Obviously written by someone who's never had to change cards in bad conditions. I've had SD cards launch themselves out of the slot.

People who come from point and shoots usually only have SD cards for memory. Then its a shock when they find out that the Rebel they want (since they rarely go higher than the rebel series) only uses CF cards. Which is probably why Canon opted to switch the new Canon XS and XSi over to SD cards.

Anyone that thinks SD cards are an advantage has never shot in cold weather. They have never tried to swap cards in a hurry...especially if they have to try to get the replacement SD out of some kind of holder. CF cards make more sense on so many different levels...hell...I wish Canon would swap the 1D series over to dual CF card slots instead of one of each.

Those SD cards are so tiny I'm afraid I'd lose it in the grass or down the drain. Why does it have to be so small that you can barely hold it??

SOT wrote in post #5830939
In the review they talked about a couple different Canon cameras, and one thing they highlighted and considered a detraction was the use of CF cards.

I do not understand why people consider CF cards "bad". Any ideas?

About the ONLY think I could come up with is that most laptops don't seem to take CF cards in their built in card readers.

My thoughts as to "why"? (not facts just my best guesses)

1. CF appears to carry the label of *old* technology - (seems SD is becoming the "standard" for memory storage - heck, even Fuji is moving away from their xD in favour of SD)
2. Smaller = More advanced (better). Like many other things, smaller and sleeker (SD) are seen as more modern and advanced (and hence desirable) than larger things (CF).
3. To a lesser extent, the possibility of breaking a pin when inserting the CF card. I believe that makes the CF system more vunerable to mishap as opposed to simply sliding in the SD card and letting the contacts do their thing

Personally, I prefer the size of the CF cards but I really don't care passionately about the issue.

Just my .02

I doubt that physical size & ability to easily swap cards were of any consideration to Canon in chosing CF over SD. IIRC the only reason they used CF cards in the first place was that until relatively recently, SD cards were limited to something like 2-4 GB and you had to use CF cards to get higher storage. SDHC were still a bit expensive and quirky a year or two ago. So Canon seems a bit conservative to go the SDHC route - can't blame them, but I think eventually they would switch over. That's the way memory market is going and they have to follow.

Not in the initial choice by Canon since SD didn't even exist that far back, but the point is that SDHC cards have distinct disadvantages for heavy users. I seriously doubt that Canon will stop using CF cards as the primary storage device in their high-end DSLRs until those cards start getting extremely hard to come by.

I'll take a CF card any day. At least it's a little substantial, unlike those stamp-sized SDs. They feel like they'd snap in half if you look at 'em funny.

I am often reminded of the original Star Trek when messing with CF cards. I always remember Spock pushing something that looked like bigger SD cards into their computers.
The little SD cards and the like are way too small for my hands...and sometimes I think they are skittles and try and eat them.

I've had both P&S cameras with SD and now the 30D with CF. I can handle them both just fine, and I even appreciate the added bulk of the CF cards. They feel more substantial. I understand SD will be the standard soon though.

Canon will go the way of the market or the way of the dinos. That's simple. I think in a few years CF cards are going on a trip to see what happened to cassette tapes. Not saying it's good or bad, just that that's the way it is.

BTW, I looked at XSi next to XTi and I think this would be my camera of choice if I was buying today. Seems to have all XTi has + spot metering. How is AF compared to XTi ?

I much prefer CF but I've prepared myself for the switch to SD when it goes that way. And it looks like it will go that way.

I have small hands, but even I can't stand the SD cards. I lose them all the time! The CF cards are much easier to negotiate in a hurry and I've never had problems with them, except putting them into the card readers, but that my weirdness, not the card's.

Woolburr wrote in post #5831387
Anyone that thinks SD cards are an advantage has never shot in cold weather.

Does -4 degree celsius at 18,000ft+ altitude count?