Canon 40D

[fastfocus]

I am going to purchase a Conon 40D.My question is what speed and capacity CP card do you recommend?Thank you.

[mn shutterbug]

From what I've read, most people aren't overly concerned about the speed. I use Sandisk Ultra II for my 30D. As far as size goes, it all depends. Are you going to be shooting raw or jpeg? How much shooting do you plan on doing? What kind of shooting, wildlife, landscapes, sports, portraits? Most shooters advise at least a couple smaller cards rather than 1 huge one. This way, if a card goes bad, which can happen, at least you still have 1 or 2 to go on and still salvage some images.

[fastfocus]

Mike I'll be shooting both raw and jpeg.Thanks very much for the information.

[Photo-John]

I have four 2 GB cards that I share between a few cameras. I buy memory cards based on the current cost sweet spot rather than by capacity. For the 40D, I think a couple of 2 GB card would work for most people and most purposes. I shot a ski wedding in the backcountry last week with my 40D. Shooting all RAW I used about 3 GB of memory. Speed isn't that important unless you shoot mostly long bursts. Like capacity, I buy something in the middle, based on price. I shoot a lot of action sports and I rarely hit the limits of a camera's buffer. And with a fast camera like the EOS 40D, that's even less likely.

[fastfocus]

So your saying if I buy a couple 2GB SanDisk Ultra II cards that would be fine.In other words buying Ultra III cards would be a waste of money.

[Photo-John]

So your saying if I buy a couple 2GB SanDisk Ultra II cards that would be fine.In other words buying Ultra III cards would be a waste of money.

Pretty much. No doubt the Ultra III cards perform better. But you have to ask yourself whether that performance will make any difference for you. I shoot a lot of action and it doesn't matter to me. So I think you should probably save your money and buy the Ultra II cards. I usually look for previous generation cards that are on sale. But memeory is so cheap now, it's not a really big deal like it was when I bought my first serious card a 1GB Microdisk for about $350

[fastfocus]

Thanks very much for the advice.

[gryphonslair99]

Have to toss my 2cents in here just for food for thought. I use the ultra III's in my 30D and 40D. Not so much for the in camera speed. Both are faster than the camera can write, but for the download speed. A difference of almost double in my card reader. When I have 8 to 10, 2gig cards full that is about 30 - 45 minutes difference in download time. Just food for thought.

[open_shutters]

I think a 2gig cf card will be ok for your 40d. This dslr is one of the best to date.

[adamsti]

An 8GB Extreme III Sandisk is less than $100, why not get as much memory as you can. It's cheap.

[mn shutterbug]

An 8GB Extreme III Sandisk is less than $100, why not get as much memory as you can. It's cheap.

What if your 8 GB cards somehow gets corrupted? This can happen to anyone at anytime. If that is the only card you have and it's been filling up, you'll end up with possible nothing. This is why it's recommended to get a few smaller ones. This way, if you have a bunch of photos on each cardsmaller card, and one gets corrupted, you still have images on 1 or 2 other cards. This way, the shoot or trip isn't a complete bust. Never put all your apples in 1 basket. It would make much more sense to pick up four 2 GB cards rather than one 8GB card, if you think you'll ever need that much memory in one day.

[adamsti]

Sandisk cards don't get corrupted. 4 years of solid shooting never had a single problem, ever. Many photogs over at Naturescapes.net report the same thing, and they shoot thousands more images than I do. Sandisk cards will never give you problems. I have read of a few problems on Naturescapes, each and every time it was the photographers fault, not the card. Format the card every time you put it in the camera, you will never have an issue. I for one don't want to be carrying around a bunch of cards when I'm at a race, or an airshow. I have enough crap to haul around, I don't need a bunch of CF cards. Right now I have the 8GB in the 40D, and a 4GB in the MKIIN, and I carry three more 4GB cards. That's plenty. I also don't want to have to swap cards if I'm in the middle of trying to shoot something. Get the 8GB and don't look back, or two 4GB cards.

[mjs1973]

Never say never. Cards can fail without warning, no matter what the brand. I too have not had any problems with my Sandisk cards, yet, but I'm still not putting all my eggs in one basket. I trust them much more than some of the other cards I have, and I use them first, but that doesn't mean they can't fail at some time.

If Sandisk cards are perfect, I guess that recovery CD they include with their cards is just for decoration.

[SpeedingSphere]

Looks like we'll both be enjoying new 40D's!! I'm ordering mine w/ 2 day shipping tomorrow and then taking it down for a weekend to Florida for my sisters birthday! Ill have the whole plane ride to toy with it. :-)

Hope you like the body!!!

I myself just use 1gb 133x Lexar cards along with a Lexar card reader. If I were you, I wouldn't put all my ..stones? in one basket. Get about 4x1gb cards and you should be set for anything.

**haha.. didnt even see your post about eggs in the basket mike! i suppose mike's think alike.. they also are always getting into trouble.. you always hear parents yelling at their kids in the mall - "no mike! dont do that!!"

[mn shutterbug]

I myself just use 1gb 133x Lexar cards along with a Lexar card reader. If I were you, I wouldn't put all my eggs in one basket. Get about 4x1gb cards and you should be set for anything.

**haha.. didnt even see your post about eggs in the basket mike! i suppose mike's think alike.. they also are always getting into trouble.. you always hear parents yelling at their kids in the mall - "no mike! dont do that!!"

Mike, I mentioned putting all your apples in 1 basket, the other Mike said eggs, you have to come up with something else for your basket.

Also, this Mike has never got into trouble. At least not that I can remember.

Be sure to get a photo of the airline stewardess, especially if she's cute.

[SpeedingSphere]

edited! ;-) haha..

anyway.. back on topic!

[adamsti]

A 1GB card only holds about 76 RAW files from a 40D, that's less than 30 minutes of shooting at a car race.

[mn shutterbug]

A 1GB card only holds about 76 RAW files from a 40D, that's less than 30 minutes of shooting at a car race.

Not too many people shoot car races though.

That's why my original question to the thread starter was, what type of photography he was going to be doing. Also, not everyone shoots raw.

[Keithb260]

I use and Sandisk Extreme III 2g card in my 40d because it was on sale. I also use a Ultra II 2G in my power shot because it was on sale for $19 at Best Buy. I see Newegg has the Transcend 4gx133 for 24.99 and the 8gx133 for 37.99. So far the reviews for these cards have been pretty good. At that price I am actually going to try one. Anyone use them?

[mjs1973]

I have never used the Transcend cards from Newegg, but I have been tempted. I got some 2gb RiData cards from them a few years ago, and I love them. They are slow, but in my DRebel, they are great. I also have a couple of the A-data Turbo cards, and I would advise everyone to stay away from them. They claim a speed of 266x or something like that, and they are SLOWER than the 80x RiData cards I have.

I use 4gb Extreme III's in my 40D, and shooting RAW (only), I get about 300 photos, give or take a few.

[xystren]

I'll pretty much be mirroring what a lot of the other have said...

Speed of a modern card doesn't make a lot of difference unless you doing lots of continuous shooting. On the transfer from card to computer, the speed will make a significant difference in a card reader.

As for size, depends what your shooting, how many, how long, etc. I'd rather have a couple cards (for redundancy) than the one huge card. Nothing worse than a card failing at the most opportunistic time. But the argument could also be said Nothing worst that a full card at the most opportunistic time

For what I tend to shoot (not professionally, just as a hobby) Two cards gives me enough redundancy, where as a professional may prefer four cards (more cards, more redundancy.)

So if I was wanting 8gb in total; I'd personally go with two 4gb card. And if 4gb total, then two 2gb cards... But since I shoot raw+jpg I wouldn't go much lower than 1gb per card if I could help it. If I was shooting jpg only, for my needs, I would consider it.

Professionals on the other hand, they can't afford to have any failures. So if it turns out there is a failure, then the more cards, the less overall loss. But that comes with a price of the potential of loosing a shot due to a full card or swapping out a card.

It's a real game of balancing out what your needs are. I used to work in information technology, so a lot of my thoughts stems from that background. Capacity come with a cost, as does redundancy, and there is no one right answer that will fit everyone perfectly.

Remember the old adage... He who laughs last, probably had a backup