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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> What size storage card do you use?
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 03/07/2007 11:16:40 PM · #1
OK. So I've updated my camera to a 5D. I have two 1G CF cards that I was using with my D70s. I could store 178 RAW images on each card with the D70s. However, I can only get 60-something on each with the 5D, so I need to buy more cards, and possible larger. After reading some reviews in Practical Photography, I have decided to purchase the SanDisk Extreme III, or maybe even Extreme IV now that they are available. But I don't know what size to get. It would be nice to have a larger card so I can get tons of images on it. But, at the same time, the more images on a card means the more lost if something happens to the card, so maybe I should just buy a few more small cards. What size do you professionals out there use?
 03/07/2007 11:22:25 PM · #2
You definitely need a bigger card, but spend some serious time thinking about whether or not you need the speed of the Extreme III or IV models. You will most likely find that the Extreme II will cover your needs quite well and save you some money.
 03/07/2007 11:26:43 PM · #3
I currently shoot with a Lexar 2GB 133x and have plans to purchase the SanDisk 4GB Ultra II. Although I might spring for the Extreme IV version if it is in stock at B&H soon.

I too am worried about carrying around too large of a card. SanDisk has a 16 GB Card but that just scares me way too much.
 03/07/2007 11:33:58 PM · #4
I use a 2GB card as my primary, with a couple of 1GB cards for backup.

For me, the prices of the higher capacity cards right now are just too high. It'd be worth it, in the long run I think, to buy a pocket storage device at higher capacities.. (say 40-80GB), and get a bunch of 2gb or 1gb cards, and just dump when you need to. The price of a storage device is on par with a couple of 4gb cards (or maybe just a little more expensive), but has considerably more capacity and diversity.

Just a thought.
 03/07/2007 11:37:45 PM · #5
I should mention that I am switching from Lexar to SanDisk because dwterry and I are worried that it has compatibility issues with the Epson P-2000 storage unit. He copied some images from my card to his unit and almost half of them were corrupt. We did this twice with the same card but different images. All other cards used that night worked just fine.

Edit: Other than that experience I am quite happy with the card.

Message edited by author 2007-03-08 01:14:44.
 03/07/2007 11:41:30 PM · #6
Originally posted by skylercall:
I should mention that I am switching from Lexar to SanDisk because dwterry and I are worried that it has compatibility issues with the Epson storage units. He copied some images from my card to his unit and almost half of them were corrupt. We did this twice with the same card but different images. All other cards used that night worked just fine.

Edit: Other than that experience I am quite happy with the card.


Interesting.. I used Lexar cards solely when I had an Epson P-2000, with no problems whatsoever.
 03/07/2007 11:46:07 PM · #7
I currently have Lexar cards, and am satisfied with them. But every article I have read recently points to the SanDisk cards. I would still be leaning toward the Extreme III. They are only $5 more expensive than the Ultra IIs after a rebate. Not too bad of a deal. As far as mega storage, I take my laptop with me when I go on trips and load the images on it, so I mostly need the ability to shoot 3-400 photos at least without having to return to the laptop. That may change in the future, but for right now that is what I am thinking.
 03/07/2007 11:54:29 PM · #8
this week i'm buying an 8 gig cf card ... i'll need it for shooting this weekend.

anyone know much about transcend? that's a popular brand in korea (where i am now) ...
03/08/2007 07:29:22 AM · #9
I currently use a 4GB transcend card, recommended by one of the DPC ribbon hogs. Fast and inexpensive, I also have a 2GB SD SD card in my camera, and 2-2GB cf cards as backups. I dont shoot raw so I have plenty of space even if I shoot several tournaments in a week.

MattO
 03/08/2007 08:01:02 AM · #10
Transcend is a Taiwanese brand and I have had good experiences with them. That involves approximately 6 1GB cards over the last 4 years. I did have an odd problem with compatibility with a cheap card reader and their 30X 1GB card, but they switched it for a newer one and it is still working in a PDA I have loaned long-term to a friend. He bought the card (and the software that I had on the PDA) for half the price of a 4GB card, so now I have a 4GB in the 30D and a 4GB in my PDA which is mostly (2.5GB) free.

The best way to shoot is to load up one card, when it's finished, shove it into an image bank, and when it is finished, get it back in the camera and load it up. Then put the card back in the data bank and rip it off, while still shooting on your 'backup' card.

If I had an 8GB CF, I'd do it in a similar way. If I expected to go well over my capacity, I'd start shooting with the smaller card, and use it as the workhorse, filling up my 8GB only when the 4GB was in the data bank.

I moved around 9GB (more than 800 images including those shot before the shoot that I needed to clear off during setup) of data with a 1GB and a 4GB card in a 3.5 hour shoot. It was around 20-25 minutes per GB to move data to the data bank.

I could have shot another 40 shots before getting totally stymied. With a faster data bank and an 8GB card, I'd be surprised if I couldn't shoot upwards of 100GB in the same time frame. Granted, I was shooting machine gun style in difficult lighting circumstances and using my 5FPS, which you might not be doing with a 5D, but the principle should hold.

So in short, my vote would be for a pair of 4GB's, a 4GB and an 8GB or a pair of 4's and an 8GB. A fast data bank would be a must. Get them to demonstrate that it really can rip a Gig of data in a minute if that is what is claimed. For really heavy shooting, it's pretty likely that you could jury rig up some charging either from a wall socket on location or from a car charger for the data bank. I think I was able to get around 10-15 card rips per charge. Haven't used it in a while though.
 03/08/2007 08:15:11 AM · #11
Like you said, the more images on one card, the worse it is when you lose it.

And I've had cards corrupt (more than once even though I format before each use) :-(

I don't use any card larger than 512. Admittedly I don't shoot in RAW so maybe stick to 1 gig cards.
 03/08/2007 08:48:17 AM · #12
I recently bought a 2GB Kingston card.

Of course, now I just need a camera to go with it !
 04/13/2007 07:38:15 PM · #13
I use a 2gig CF card and a 1gig XD Card in my camera at the same time. I have NEVER came close to filling them up.
 04/13/2007 07:44:14 PM · #14
8MP Camera

2x 2GB cards. But i rarley use the second card.
 04/13/2007 07:45:20 PM · #15
I use a cheap 8gb card made by aData. I fill it up all the time and have never had a single problem with it.
 04/13/2007 07:48:19 PM · #16
I use a 4 gig microdrive and have 3-2 gig cf cards in my bag for the XT, and a 2 gig SD for the A530.
 04/13/2007 08:05:33 PM · #17
I have been using 2gig cards I have 5 but I just got this email from Adorama and they have SanDisk 2 GB, 60x Speed Ultra II Secure Digital (SD) Memory Card on sale for $29.95 so I bought 3 more today. :-)
 04/13/2007 08:13:53 PM · #18
Like many others, I am afraid of using cards bigger than 2GB. Losing 2GBs of photos due to a failed cf card would suck hard but not nearly as bad as 4GBs or even 8GBs. I don't like to have all my eggs in one basket, if you know what I mean.

I shoot mostly raw and I use (2) 2GB Sandisk Ultra II cards. For $35 each, they are hard to beat. I also carry a cheap 1GB card in case I run out of space. For me I have yet to use all 5GBs in one trip. If money were no issue, I would own 4-6 2GB Sandisk Extreme IV cards and a decent sized photo storage device like the Epson mentioned above.

04/13/2007 08:14:39 PM · #19
I have 4 cards, but only really use one of them. I have:

- 2 Gb which is always in my camera unless I'm transferring images to the PC.
- 2 ea. 4 Gb which I don't tend to use since a) I can't format them in camera, and b) I can't use them in the Epson P200 at all.
- 512 MB which is always in my Treo 650 as a backup.
- 128 MB which I have no idea where it came from or where it's gone off to. (Yes. It's THAT useless. I don't care where it is. lol)
 04/14/2007 03:45:56 PM · #20
Check out //www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=6007-8198

Note that some 2GB cards are faster than the 4GB version. And two smaller cards are often cheaper than one card that is twice as large (e.g. two 2GB are cheaper than a 4GB...) In fact, a Sandisk Extreme 2GB is faster than a Sandisk Extreme III 4G, according to that page.

Message edited by author 2007-04-14 15:47:22.
 04/14/2007 04:08:17 PM · #21
No one says you HAVE TO fill up an 8 gb card. If you're only comfortable losing 2 gigs of data then copy the stuff off after 2gb but having that extra space when you need it sure can come in handy. A big card just offers more flexibility.
 04/14/2007 04:16:05 PM · #22
I have two 512MB cards, which on my 6MP camera yield an average of 160 shots each, and an off-brand 2GB card I use as a backup or if I want to shoot video. I prefer having two smaller cards to one larger one, and this size is convenient for backups in that each card fits onto a CD.
 04/14/2007 04:22:03 PM · #23
I have a Sandisk Ultra II 2Gb and a Sandisk Extreme III 1Gb SD cards.

I used to have some generic CF cards with the 30D and I have had no problems with any storage media. But, I don't like to risk all with big Gb cards, I prefer 1Gb/2Gb cards, although I might invest in one of the 4Gb SDHC cards soon.
 04/14/2007 04:45:27 PM · #24
I use the Ultra II Sandisk cards of which I have 3-2 gig cards and a 1 gig. Shooting RAW I get 57 shots on the 1 gig and 107 shots on the 2 gig

Message edited by author 2007-04-14 16:46:21.
 04/14/2007 04:55:01 PM · #25
I also use the Sandisk Ultra II, and I have 1 Extreem III. I've got six cards I think total, all 1GB in size, and I like the amount of storage per card. I like the idea of spreading my images out over more cards.
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