Which CF Cards

steelerdean

steelerdean

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Dean
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Just picked up a Nikon D3 in the classifieds on here and need to sort some storage out quick smart. I've never had to buy CF before (always been SD) so could do with a bit of advice on what to go for please. I've seen references to 'Ultra' and 'Extreme' along with CF1 and CF2 and i'm a little bamboozled. Don't want to go for something and find out its not up to the job when I receive it.

Thanks! :thumbs:
 
Something like Sandisk Extreme IV UDMA 45mb/s would do you fine.

Basically the faster the card, the faster the buffer in the camera will clear and the faster images will download from the camera (depending on the USB port speed you have on your laptop / PC).

The latest Extreme Pros cost an arm and a leg and I'm not sure whether the D3 would get full benefit out of them, so defo Extreme 3s or 4s would be fine
 
Well depending on what you want to spend on them then you cannot really beat the Sandisk Extreme Pro for speed and build quality, both in SD and CF those are the only cards that I use :thumbs: as to where you can get them from the best price that I've seen are from http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sandisk-Ext...MBS/dp/B002OP5UCM/ref=pd_bxgy_computers_img_b

I've had all mine from there and even on the free delivery option I've had them within a couple of days

Matt
MWHCVT
 
Yikes Matthew, they look like serious pieces of kit :eek:. I think they may have to be a 'future' purchase! :D

Mark - I'll be shooting sports in bursts of probably 5-6 - would the Extreme 3's (30mb/s) do the job or am I going to be noticing reasonable amounts of lag when shooting with those?
 
Dean if your going to be shooting bust's like that for me it would be even more reason to go for a fast card :thumbs: as you will want to have to buffer cleaning nice and fast :thumbs: I find with my 5D3 I can shoot and unhindered burst of 8 files I should add that I shoot a 22mp RAW and a 10mp Jpeg to my cards so could get slightly more with just RAW or a lot more burst if I shoot just 22mp jpegs :thumbs:

Matt
 
When i'm shooting action it'll be jpeg fine as the kind of work I do doesn't require shooting in raw. I could do with at least 4 4gb cards asap, but unfortunately can't afford to go for 4 of the fast ones you've linked to. Bearing in mind the type of shooting i'll be doing, what would you recommend?
 
steelerdean said:
Mark - I'll be shooting sports in bursts of probably 5-6 - would the Extreme 3's (30mb/s) do the job or am I going to be noticing reasonable amounts of lag when shooting with those?
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thats what i use on 1dmkIVs.. I usualy do bursts of 2 maybe 3 shots.. the only time my buffer fills quick is if shooting a lot of bursts (eg a goal celebration) at night under high iso (files are bigger) But its never been a massive problem.. 5/6 shots you should be OK with Extreme 3's (30mb/s)
 
I bought a couple...you can even see how slow these are when you format them in camera.... barge pole time mate :)
 
MWHCVT said:
I should add that I shoot a 22mp RAW and a 10mp Jpeg to my cards so could get slightly more with just RAW or a lot more burst if I shoot just 22mp jpegs :thumbs:

Matt
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Why do you shoot both raw and Jpeg?
 
gman said:
I use these: http://www.amazon.co.uk/SanDisk-Ext...7Q26/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1339421073&sr=8-2 which have caused me no problems. Good price for decent storage and speed. You can buy direct from Amazon for peace of mind.
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do you do any continous shooting of big files? just wanting to know if you ever tested in extreme conditions such as fast multi frames at high MB ? genuine question as i cant find any of the cards i have always used anymore:( so loking for best replacement ..
 
Was testing it at 9fps last night using uncompressed 12MB RAW 14-bit and seemed fine, although I don't consciously recall how long each burst went for. I can test tonight if you like?

EDIT: Is there a way this can be worked out on paper?
 
I have always used sandisk extreme III CF 30mb speed 4GB cards and they are are solid as a rock.. they dont make em anymore and i dont fancy used..

I bought 4 of the ones dean links to above which are simmilar to yours but slower.... Anyway i thought OK until I tried bursts of high iso files... all 4 cards are now in the "just in case" pouch :(

I need somehting reliable and can keep up... usualy prefer 4gb though but might need 8gb as my next camera will be FF and bigger files..

so any info/test/help/insight appreciated :)
 
No worries, I'll see what I can do.
 
Thanks for the link Graham. Like Tony, i'm very interested in your feedback on how they perform. For the price they seem very good - assuming they perform at the speeds they suggest.
 
I've never had any problems with this card. Just tried a burst with my 50D on full size RAW + large fine jpeg - got 10 out of it before it slowed down - and then it maintained about 2fps without a break. Managed about 12 or 13 large fine jpegs (without RAW) before it slowed down. Just for the test - manual, 100 ISO, 1/200s f4.

EDIT: Just found this - you can see for yourself this card being used with a 7D in burst mode: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MisqFoYaGC4
 
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I just did a test in the 1DIV with the 60mb Sandisk extreme also bought from amazon and I got 18 large+RAW out of it at 10fps when it showed a sign of slowing down
 
Seems that those seem to be performing pretty well then!!

I'd be interested in feedback from the ones samems has linked too. I'd not realised that the 4gb version dropped 20mb/s in speed. Based on the 60mb/s 8gb ones i'm guessing i'd be ok but has anyone used the 4gb ones?
 
Little John said:
I just did a test in the 1DIV with the 60mb Sandisk extreme also bought from amazon and I got 18 large+RAW out of it at 10fps when it showed a sign of slowing down
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cheers.. there like 40 quid plus on ebay.. 29 on amazon.. any reason anyone?
 
KIPAX said:
cheers.. there like 40 quid plus on ebay.. 29 on amazon.. any reason anyone?
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Not sure but i'd be much more inclined to trust Amazon bought ones compared to eBay - especially as they are direct from Amazon themselves.
 
well based on positive feedback by fellow users on here I just bought 2 of the 8gb cards from amazon.. I have some stuff coming up that will require a lot of shooting so.. more than usual.....never used 8gb before.. summat new..

cheers for the help folks:) hope the OP gets sorted as well :)
 
Glad you're sorted Tony. Its the 4gb ones i'd prefer but would feel a ton safer if someone was to pay the thread a visit who uses them. If they really are 40mb/s (or even if they're on a par with the Extreme 3 35mb/s), they should be more than enough for me.
 
Tony,

I also keep one of these in the other slot for backup and just delete the files now and then when it fills up.
 
I prefer to keep the cards small for safety..I worried a bit about going to 8GB


admirable said:
Tony,
I also keep one of these in the other slot for backup and just delete the files now and then when it fills up.
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hhm you know I ahve never actualy ever used the dual slots.. and wiht 2 cameras its gonna gte expensive... but i dont need the backup for things like cricket.. But I have a big boxing event.. all dayer.. in 2 weeks.. so the extra cards for that as you tend to take a lot of pics per bout... might be a good idea to have the extra slot in use.. never needed and never tried... but best to be safe

cheers gonna think about that one :)
 
I've never had a card fail on me but for £25 or so it's not worth taking the risk. I was 9-6 both Sat and Sun and I'd be gutted if I lost half a days images never mind a full day.

It's fine for those not selling images but to go out and do a shoot and get home to find a blank card............apart from the embarrassment it's very unprofessional
 
admirable said:
I've never had a card fail on me but for £25 or so it's not worth taking the risk. I was 9-6 both Sat and Sun and I'd be gutted if I lost half a days images never mind a full day.

It's fine for those not selling images but to go out and do a shoot and get home to find a blank card............apart from the embarrassment it's very unprofessional
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hence why i do the smaller cards..two aint gonna fail and so i always ahve somehting.. I have had one fail terrible and lately a couple have corrupted pics.. just one or two pics.. so as soon as that happens the cards are not used again..... to be fair i have had them a lot of years and they ahve recorded ...well i shudder the think how many tens of thousands of pics :)

presume its the record funcyion? just looking. on standard now.. and you ahve it on rec to multiple? if the CF is my primary card.. will it say full as it does now.. presumably so..
 
Yep, record to multiple.

With my setup you can use bigger cards, if an 8GB was ever to fail I would still have the images on the sd card.
 
Dexy101 said:
Why do you shoot both raw and Jpeg?
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I shoot that because when scrolling through the files on the computer I use the small jpeg as a preview of the file :D I know there are better ways but that's what works for me :thumbs:

Matt
 
Not as good as I thought. It did 12 frames in RAW at the highest settings before stopping. Strangely, no matter what I choose though (TIFF, JPEG etc) it's always the same?

EDIT: I've got Active-D on, ISO NR on etc. I'll try without.

It's 15 now and clears a hell of a lot faster also. That's with 14-bit uncompressed NEF @ 9fps. D3.
 
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I take about 4 shots max at any one time but every now and then something exciting happens and that's when you need the 20 or so continuous shots.
 
admirable said:
Yep, record to multiple.

With my setup you can use bigger cards, if an 8GB was ever to fail I would still have the images on the sd card.
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well ya just cost me another 26 quid :) no seriously.. sometimes i need a nudge and i probably should have done this ages ago... will see how it goes and maybe get another for the other body...ta.
 
I shoot in bursts max 3 shots.. more likely 2..its rare i need more but yes.. there are occasions when you just have to rattle a load off.....


I hate the "good photographers get it in one" tosh people roll out :)
 
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