CF for 7D, which card & where to buy?

I am a long term San Disk user & have been using Sandisk Extreme III's for my 5D with great reliability
I use as a pair of 4 GB cards now, with one in the camera & one in the Card Reader
I am moving to a 7D & was thinking of picking up a pair of 8GB UDMA cards, dont plan on using video
Which cards would you recommend & where should I pick them up from ?

Transcend 400x have been working great for me. Fast, reliable and inexpensive. I was a long time Sandisk user until recently. B&H and Newegg generally have good prices on them.

Thanks, will check it out

I have been using Extreme III's in my 7D with no issues thus far. I have not needed to do an 8 shot/second JPG shoot yet but have not had any buffer issues with 1080 video and some fast shooting of full RAW.

I picked up a few 16gb Extreme III's a year or two ago with some great rebates. I am sure there is quicker storage out there now but have not seen evidence I need it yet.

16GB gives around 30 minutes of video or 500 raw's with the 7D

I wont be doing a a lot of FPS shooting either
The number of RAW images per card & to avoid any shot to shot delay is my priority

I am hearing good things about the Sandisk Ultra from Costco, any one here use them?

You have a new great camera that’s fast. I also will not be shooting video with my 7D. I have extreme IV 40 MB sec cards. They have made my 40D out perform the specs on the camera. Now with the 7D will probably go with the Extreme 60 MB sec. Adorama has good prices on sandisk and use them a lot. You only buy cards once don’t limit the camera for a few dollars. Get the most out of it. Raw files are big.

Ultra’s way too slow for this camera.

P.S. I might sell some Extreme IV cards.

I have been using two card companies and speeds.

For every day shots where speed (offloading the buffer) is not a factor, I have been using the Transcend cf 400x 16GB (bought 2 off of Amazon for just under $60 each)

When I shoot high FPS and need the buffer offloaded I use a local company to me the Delkin "combat" flash 625x 16gb they were highly recommended to me by a number of pros and their customer support is second to none. They come in a CF case that I have seen for sale in the upper $20 range. Delkin claims that their cards are waterproof but I am not going to test that one out.
I bought one from a local camera store for roughly $145 and another one at a photo expo/show for about the same price.

I have had zero failures out of both the Transcend or the Delkin. I have had numerous failures out of SanDisk, Kingston and patriot CF cards.

Thanks spectre & the mirror man
More options, good

i've used the transcend 400x series also, great prices on newegg/amazon as mentioned.

drama wrote in post #11575515
I am hearing good things about the Sandisk Ultra from Costco, any one here use them?

I got a pair from Staples on Black Friday for $25/each. So far, so good. I've had good luck w/ Sandisk cards in my 40D, so I'm probably going to stay w/ them. I just know that w/ the 7D, I'll be changing the 8gb cards more ofthen than I did w/ the 40D. 8fp AND 18mp chews up memory FAST!

I am a long term (10 years) exclusive SanDisk user who switched to theTranscend 400x 16GB when I bought my 7D. Performance has been flawless in both photo and video mode and the 16GB gives me 50 min of continuous 1080 video. Amazon and NewEgg have had great prices on these cards. Last time I checked they were less than HALF the price of SanDisk.

Great camera, you'll love it!!! I shoot photo high fps for sports a lot, and 3200 ISO with 70-200 at 2.8 at a gymnastics meet produced results far beyond anything I could dream of with the 40D.

Another vote for Transcend 400x series. I've been using them in my 7D and 5D Mk II, and both have been working great. They are fast, reliable and inexpensive.

Sandisk Ultras have been too slow for me. I have been using extreme 3's but recently got a 16gb extreme. No buffer problems. Great card. Yesterday, Amazon had Transcend 400 32gb card for $71. Bought it and hope to get it soon.

John Mc

I was forced to pick up a card today & I spend all day trying to find a decent card in store, most places do not have any CF cards & the one's that do charge an arm & a leg

My local Costco did not have any CF cards in store
Fry's had a lot of slow Patriots, many with damaged covering, returns I am guessing
Sears does not stock CF's in store any more, at least here
A Sandisk Extreme 8 GB was quoted at 100$ at Wolf Camera

I ended up buying a 8 GB Sandisk Ultra 30GB for 42 $ from my neighborhood Walmart

I will pick up a couple more online
Thanks guys for the personal insight & feedback, please keep the discussion going