Dual Card Cameras - What memory card size do YOU use?

futureal33

futureal33

Messages
2,390
Name
Nick
Edit My Images
Yes
Just a quick question really based on a decision I am trying to make right now.

Now I own 2 dual-card cameras, I am just wondering what card size to buy. Previously I have been a follower of the "smaller size and many cards" but that was when using a single card slot - as the risk of a failure was greater.

But now Im shooting dual cards, Im thinking maybe of sticking a 64GB SD card in there and leaving it in there 100% of the time (Im unlikely to ever fill 64GB during a wedding, especially when shooting with two cameras both with 64GB cards...) and maybe a 32GB in the other slot... and never changing cards during the day..

OR

Sticking to old system of lots of smaller 4 and 8GB cards, but having to swap more frequently.

Based on my RAW file sizes, I am getting:

16GB = 500 RAWs / 750 mRAWs
32GB = 1000 RAWs / 1500 mRAWs
64GB = 1999 RAWs / 1999+ mRAWs

Thoughts / opinions welcome :)
 
Not all cameras can take the larger sizes, so check that first. Otherwise it's probably more convenient to go for as large as you can as you already have the backup of dual cards.

None of the cameras I've got take dual cards, so I tend to stick to 16Gb max size and swap around when they fill up.
 
I'd always stick with smaller cards. A card that can take 300-400 seems about the right size for me.

When I got my D300S, I went up to 8gb cards (from 4gb with a D200) for the CF slot, and 4gb for the SD slot. For some reason I decided to to suddenly write Jpegs as a back up (because I could) after years of only shooting RAW for many years. :bonk: After awhile I went back to RAW only, and use the extra slot mostly as an overflow. In critical situations though, I will write to each card simultaneously, but because I have mismatched card sizes, the capacity of the smaller card is shown.

Maybe one large card and lots of smaller cards, written to simultaneously, is the best way to go. A card in the camera will all the images, plus lots of small cards with all the images, separate to the camera. It is not just the risk of the card failing, but also the camera being lost or stolen. :shrug:
 
32GB in both slots. I have slot 2 backing up to slot 1. The only real reason for having 2 slots if you ask me.
 
Pookeyhead said:
32GB in both slots. I have slot 2 backing up to slot 1. The only real reason for having 2 slots if you ask me.
Click to expand...

The only other reason I can think off and one I sometimes use, is when shoot lots of action and not having to worry about a card filling up just at the wrong moment, you can swap out a card when there is a gap in the action.

I guess with a bit more planning that can easily be overcome though. :)
 
Vids on SD card, CF as primary stills card,with any overspill going onto the same SD card.
 
fracster said:
Vids on SD card, CF as primary stills card,with any overspill going onto the same SD card.
Click to expand...

Shouldn't that be Vid on CF? Usually faster.

I set Vid to CF, but the role of slot 2 is to back up 1 for me. Anyone who's ever had a card crap out on them will appreciate the logic of this. Not trying to dictate my way of working on anyone by any means, but surely having a back up of your work trumps having more space.

Cards are cheap... a lost image is lost forever. If those lost images were part of a paid job, you may well regret it dearly.
 
Never lost an single shot down to a dud card bud.

I`m very much a beginner with video, so don`t do many and know nothing about it.But I will certainly try changing them around.

SD cards are far cheaper than CF,and the D800 munches space on them, so I will trial a swap next time i`m out.
 
fracster said:
Never lost an single shot down to a dud card bud.
Click to expand...


Yet.


I'd never lost a single file due to a faulty hard drive either... until I finally did.

Like I said... just explaining my method in case anyone hadn't considered the importance of setting up the camera to back up.
 
I don`t do much paid work anymore David, certainly not weddings, but if I did I would set the second as a back up. Seems sensible for that sort of thing.
 
I agree I lost nearly 400 photographs from 3 shoots. Now I back my paid work/family stuff to 3 different hdd's

Talk about embarrassment ringing the clients!!
 
fracster said:
I don`t do much paid work anymore David, certainly not weddings, but if I did I would set the second as a back up. Seems sensible for that sort of thing.
Click to expand...



LOL.. yes... mess up a wedding, and they don't want a refund... they want revenge :)
 
So the majority keep a large SD card (32/64 GB) as a kind of bulk storage backup, and a smaller interchangeable CF card (8/16GB) and swap the CFs in and out as required?

By my maths, a 64GB SD card would hold over 2000 RAW files... which is likely to be more than enough for any given wedding (given that I am shooting 2 cameras all day), and an 8GB card would hold about 250 RAWs and 16GB around 500 RAWs (5D Mark III files)....
 
Last edited:
SD - 64GB & 32GB

XQD and CF - 32GB and 16GB

Where possible I try to pair cards and swap both at the same time.

If I run out of those then I go to 8GB.

Always backup slot 1 to slot 2 - both RAW (rarely if ever shoot events now - only time I really used JPEG). I want to change cards as little as possible to minimise the threat of physical card loss. When I shoot in volume then I usually change out when I get down to the last 20-30 frames. At weddings I would have checked before the ceremony, speeches and first dance just to make sure I could swap out without the chance of missing a "must-have"..

I have lost files from corrupt cards (only ever use genuine Sandisk, Lexar and Transcend - Transcend only one of these brand to be faultless) - but only ever on one of them, never a failure to write correctly to both cards.

Older 4GB cards sit in a spare wallet in the car. Perfect for emergencies.
 
16GB in both slots for me, one for stills, one for video footage. Think the D7000 uses that second card as overflow in addition to video. Never had a failure yet...
 
futureal33 said:
Just a quick question really based on a decision I am trying to make right now.

Now I own 2 dual-card cameras, I am just wondering what card size to buy. Previously I have been a follower of the "smaller size and many cards" but that was when using a single card slot - as the risk of a failure was greater.

But now Im shooting dual cards, Im thinking maybe of sticking a 64GB SD card in there and leaving it in there 100% of the time (Im unlikely to ever fill 64GB during a wedding, especially when shooting with two cameras both with 64GB cards...) and maybe a 32GB in the other slot... and never changing cards during the day..

OR

Sticking to old system of lots of smaller 4 and 8GB cards, but having to swap more frequently.

Based on my RAW file sizes, I am getting:

16GB = 500 RAWs / 750 mRAWs
32GB = 1000 RAWs / 1500 mRAWs
64GB = 1999 RAWs / 1999+ mRAWs

Thoughts / opinions welcome :)
Click to expand...


This surely depend on the meg pix size of the camera? take for example the Nikon D800 32 MP, you wouldn't get anywhere near the shots your quoting

Realspeed
 
Currently using 16Gb and 8Gb cards - set to back up as I agree with a previous poster's view that it seems to be the most sensible use. I work in IT and I know that devices fail, and they will fail at the most inconvenient time possible!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top