View Full Version : Help - CF card choice


Liz
04-15-2005, 12:13 PM
I'm looking at the 4 below at the moment. I want to get one soon, so will probably get it from B&H. So far they are the least expensive. The electronic store prices are double - and most don't carry the better ones. I may get a 2nd one if I find a great deal on the net.

Sandisk 512 Extreme - the only one that comes with software - Rescue Pro $60
transfer rate 9-10
Sandisk 512 Ultra II - no software $58
transfer rate same as above

Lexar 40x - 512mb with WA $60
transfer rate 6mb
Lexar 80x - I read here they are having a problem with this one.

I don't understand the difference between all of these - the Extreme, Ultra II and 40x WA
Thanks for any clarification and advice.

Liz

another view
04-15-2005, 01:54 PM
I hadn't heard that Lexar was having problems with their 80x cards - and I was thinking about adding a 1G before my road trip... What have you heard?

Are you filling up the buffer with shooting so much fast enough that the camera can't keep up? If not (like most people) then you probably don't need the extra speed. With at least their current 40x and 80x cards, you get lifetime warranty, but with the 80x you also get Image Rescue 2.0. I have the old version of Image Rescue but (thankfully) haven't needed yet - would be nice to upgrade to 2.0 though. And the 80x cards aren't much more than the 40x. This is the reason why I'll get the 80x, because I've never filled the buffer in my S2 in real life with 24x and 40x cards, and this camera doesn't even take advantage of WA Technology.

I can speak from experience with Lexar cards but no others because they took care of me with their great customer service, so I'm sticking with them. I'm sure others are fine though.

mjs1973
04-15-2005, 03:31 PM
I have been using the Sandisk 512 Extreme for a couple months now and I haven't had any problems with it. It has replaced my 1GB Kingston as my main shooter. Not sure about the others on your list but I'm happy with my Sandisk, and would buy them again in the future if/when needed.

Liz
04-15-2005, 04:08 PM
I hadn't heard that Lexar was having problems with their 80x cards - and I was thinking about adding a 1G before my road trip... What have you heard?

Steve,

I tried to find where I read about the Lexar 80x, but couldn't find it. However, I did find these posts in the process of searching. Just hearsay - but worth reading. I thought I read it here, but maybe not. But I did remember it because after that corrupt image problem, I don't want another problem. I believe I have all Lexar cards - maybe one Sandisk - all 256 except one 512.

Read the follow-up messages for more info

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1031&message=13060591

Liz

Peter_AUS
04-15-2005, 05:39 PM
Liz,

I have a Sandisk Ultra II 1 GB card for the past year, no problems at all, fast enough for me. Unless the new Canon 350 is able to take advantage of the WA, which it might you will have to ask, then either of the Sandisk Ultra II or extreme will do fine. But get a price on the 1GB card as well, and work out the cost per meg, it might be a cheaper in the long run alternative to a 512mb card.

I have a Lexar WA 256MB card but the 10D doesn't take advantage of the technology. I have found the Sandisk Ultra II quite fast writing on the 10D.

Hope that helps in some way.

What happened with the other card you were having problems with ?

Liz
04-15-2005, 06:11 PM
I just read this (posted the link to the whole thread above in reply to Steve's post). It states that Canon does not support WA - including the XT.

Other people have reported problems with Lexar 80X with the WA technology which is not supported by Canon.

As far as the 1GB goes - I prefer the 256 to be honest - because I separate them into categories. However, I got my first 512 a couple of months ago - and it's working great. After that corruption problem, it's a little scarry. BTW, the pictures were fine - the corrupt image didn't even show up on the Costco machine. Go figure.

Thanks for your insight - I appreciate all the help and advice you give me. It is well taken. ;)

Liz



Liz,

I have a Sandisk Ultra II 1 GB card for the past year, no problems at all, fast enough for me. Unless the new Canon 350 is able to take advantage of the WA, which it might you will have to ask, then either of the Sandisk Ultra II or extreme will do fine. But get a price on the 1GB card as well, and work out the cost per meg, it might be a cheaper in the long run alternative to a 512mb card.

I have a Lexar WA 256MB card but the 10D doesn't take advantage of the technology. I have found the Sandisk Ultra II quite fast writing on the 10D.

Hope that helps in some way.

What happened with the other card you were having problems with ?

Michael Fanelli
04-16-2005, 06:09 AM
I'm looking at the 4 below at the moment. I want to get one soon, so will probably get it from B&H. So far they are the least expensive. The electronic store prices are double - and most don't carry the better ones. I may get a 2nd one if I find a great deal on the net.

Sandisk 512 Extreme - the only one that comes with software - Rescue Pro $60
transfer rate 9-10
Sandisk 512 Ultra II - no software $58
transfer rate same as above

Lexar 40x - 512mb with WA $60
transfer rate 6mb
Lexar 80x - I read here they are having a problem with this one.

I don't understand the difference between all of these - the Extreme, Ultra II and 40x WA
Thanks for any clarification and advice.

Liz


The Extreme is made to withstand bad environmental conditions. Considering the abuse that my "regular" cards have endured and survived, I really doubt they are worth the extra money.

I have two Ultra cards and they work fine in my Rebel.

Lexar has been a problem for me, both cards and USB keys. I just don't trust their quality control anymore.

Look at the speed ratings at Robgalbraith's CF Card test site:

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=6007-7699

Liz
04-16-2005, 06:31 PM
Thanks Michael,

The Sandisk and Lexar are running neck to neck. :cool:

I think I'll get the Extreme - simply because it include Rescue Pro. After having a bad experience with a corrupt image on a CF card, I'm checking them out. I finally got the image off the card after trying many almost everything.

Liz

The Extreme is made to withstand bad environmental conditions. Considering the abuse that my "regular" cards have endured and survived, I really doubt they are worth the extra money.

I have two Ultra cards and they work fine in my Rebel.

Lexar has been a problem for me, both cards and USB keys. I just don't trust their quality control anymore.

Look at the speed ratings at Robgalbraith's CF Card test site:

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=6007-7699

dno36
04-27-2005, 04:28 AM
I have been using the Sandisk 512 Extreme for a couple months now and I haven't had any problems with it. It has replaced my 1GB Kingston as my main shooter. Not sure about the others on your list but I'm happy with my Sandisk, and would buy them again in the future if/when needed.

Michael:
I have a Canon G1 and am upgrading from my 128MB chip.
I am on a budget here, and looking at a 1 GB regular Kingston, a 30X Transcend, and a 512 MB Sandisk CFII.
DO you find much in the way of speed difference between your Kingston and the Sandisk Extreme??
TIA,
DNO.
PS - I've bicycled through your "berg" a couple of times.....awesome area.

deedee2
06-13-2006, 09:58 PM
I'm using transcend CFC 8GB very long, and I have no problems, card works perfect